It’s more than a who done it, it’s why did they do it and how did law enforcement find out about it more than a quarter century after the fact.

The 1950 bronze bust of American poet Robert Frost by Walker Hancock was stolen from Wichita State in 1987 and returned to the Ulrich Museum of Art this week. The suspect, 44-year-old Mitchel R. Potter of Lamar, Mo., was taken to the Barton County County Jail in Missouri Wednesday for receiving stolen property.

“They simply ripped that sculpture right off the pedestal,” said Ulrich Museum Public Relations Manager Teresa Veazey. 

The artwork was located in front of Wilner Auditorium.

WSU Police Detective Jeff Rider said he received a telephone call in June with information about where the sculpture might be. Due to this being an on-going investigation, he did not release the name of the person who made that call, but did say she indentified herself and that she was whom she said she was.

He said he needed to verify that the piece belonged to WSU.

“Unfortunately in 1987, we didn’t have computers. It was a chore,” Rider said. “We were able to run down it was property of the university.”

Rider said that he did not want to get to excited at first because it’s never certain until verification is complete.

After confirming the bust was WSU’s, he said he contacted the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

MSHP Sgt. Mike Watson said it was enough information to lead officers to a possible location.

“The information was good,” he said.

Watson said the bust was found and a suspect arrested.

“It was found in his garage,” Rider said. “We’re just fortunate that it was well maintained.”

He said he does not know what the person’s motivation for stealing the piece might be.

Veazey said the piece suffered minor scratches on the back of the bust, which will be repaired.

“It appears to be in pretty good condition,” Veazey said. “We’re thrilled. We’re absolutely thrilled.”

She said George and Virginia Ablah donated the sculpture, roughly estimated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol to be worth $25,000, to WSU in 1983.

Dean James Rhatigan said he had forgotten about the theft.

“That went out of my mind years ago,” he said.

It’s return came as a surprise.

“It was like getting a birthday present,” Rhatigan said.

Veazey said no decisions have been made regarding where the bust will be put after it is repaired.

An April 3, 1987 article in “The Sunflower” indicates one of four pieces in the sculpture “The Family Group” by Milton Hebald was taken from the wall on Ahlberg Hall the night after the Frost bust was stolen.

“The Family Group,” with all members present, is now high on the wall of the Elliott School of Communication. The bust of Auguste Renoir was stolen the Fourth of July weekend in 1985. It was located in front of the Lindquist Hall and was recovered in 1986 when it was found on the loading dock at KWCH-TV in Wichita.