Mysterious voice: We took the U of I Abe statue

URBANA — After more than 30 years, the University of Illinois still doesn't know who stole an Abraham Lincoln bust from Lincoln Hall.

But a mysterious, electronically masked voice on a recording recently sent to the school offers some clues.

The university said this week the recording was sent from a fictitious address in greater Chicago after an article in a campus newsletter mentioned the 1979 theft. The statue was found days later sitting on a tree stump on the campus golf course.

The article mentioned work to repair scratches and dings the bust suffered.

The voice on the recording denies the pranksters who stole the statue did any damage.

The voice says the pranksters now work as accountants, lawyers and other professionals.

Campus police say the case is closed.