EPS seek witnesses in Emily Murphy statue theft

Investigators are searching for witnesses and tips after the Emily Murphy statue was stolen from a river valley park last month.

The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) was notified on Feb. 26 that the bronze statue had been removed from Emily Murphy Park as of Feb. 24.

A stand-alone plaque next to the statue had also gone missing, with city staff last seeing it on Feb. 19. The statue and plaque were both intact as of Feb. 4.

“The statue was removed from the base using specialized cutting tools and, due to its weight, was likely moved out of the park using heavy-duty transport equipment,” said Det. Mona Gill with the EPS Investigative Response Team.

“We are hopeful that someone using the park after hours may have noticed this type of suspicious activity near the statue and can provide information that will assist with our investigation.”

Emily Murphy was a Canadian women's rights activist and author. In 1916, she became the first female magistrate in Canada and the fifth in the British Empire, according to Wikipedia.

Anyone who visited Emily Murphy Park between Feb. 4 and Feb. 24 and may have seen suspicious activity is urged to contact EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250.