MPD: Historic grave site statue stolen

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A historic Mobile cemetery is now missing a piece of its history. The Mobile Police Department said a statue of a dog was stolen from a local grave site.

FOX10 News is taking a closer look at the significance of the statue.

Back in the 1800s a well-known man, Dr. Josiah Nott, lived and worked in Mobile. Four of Nott’s children, ranging ages 3 to 19 died from yellow fever in 1853.

They were buried in a historic cemetery in Mobile.

"He wrote in his diaries about how his children were just covered in mosquitoes, and there was literally nothing he could do about it,” said Mobile Public Library Spokesperson Amber Guy.

Guy said while the children were sick, their family dog stayed by their bedside.

"The dog was a constant companion to the children,” said Guy.

Soon after the children’s death, the dog died too. Records show Nott placed a statue of the dog at his children's grave site, perhaps to continue watching over them. But now, Mobile Police said the statue was stolen.

"Sometime in the month of February, a wrought- iron statue of a dog was forcibly removed and unlawfully removed from the grave site,” said Mobile Police Department Spokesperson Ashley Rains.

Authorities the statue stood at the grave site for more than 150 years and is worth $5,000.

Guy said the statue meant a lot to the family but was also a treasured piece of Mobile history.

"It's such a great thing that we have all of these reminders of the past, and we do need to take care of them and respect them,” said Guy.  

If you know anything about the stolen statue, you’re asked to call the Mobile Police Department.