The woman who alerted police to the location of the disarticulated remains of a statue of Amelia Earhart stolen from Harbour Grace, wants to know where her reward money is now that the town is preparing a celebration for the statue’s return to its rightful place.
Elaine Traverse says she found it, cut into pieces, in the woods near Heart’s Content after taking her dog out for a walk.
Harbour Grace Amelia Earhart statue recovered, but in pieces. August 2025 (RCMP)
The town had offered a substantial reward for information leading to the recovery of the statue and/or the prosecution of those responsible.
She told VOCM Open Line with Brian Callahan that she’s been informed that she won’t be receiving the money, and she wants to know why.
Traverse says they’re about to have a ceremony to mark the return of the Amelia Earhart statue in Harbour Grace this coming Wednesday, and yet “I still haven’t received any acknowledgement or nothing for it.”)
The investigation into the theft and vandalism continues with rumours that Elaine’s son might have been somehow involved.
She says her son was in jail at the time and both she and her son passed lie detector tests. “Everything they’ve asked, I’ve done, and when they put it out first, they said the people that stole it have to be prosecuted, and/or the return of the statue. Well I returned the statue, and I’m still no further ahead.”
