While the exact value of the painting is unknown, other Thesken works have been known to sell for upwards of $1,500. But even then, Penrod said he was surprised someone had taken the painting, yet left behind all the band equipment also kept in the community room.
“My first thought was it just fell off the wall,” Penrod said. “But when we couldn’t find it we knew someone must have taken it.”
First United Methodist Church prides itself on its open-door policy — the church is open almost all day and runs a food pantry during the week. So Penrod said he knew there “were many entrances and exits” a thief could have used to remove the painting unseen.
After church officials posted a plea for the missing painting on Facebook with no success, Penrod said a police report was filed on Wednesday. By that evening, the portrait of Jesus was found tucked behind a door in the community room.
“It just showed back up,” Penrod said. “But we are just happy to get it back.”
No one knows who removed the painting. For now it will remain hidden in safe- keeping until it can be “more aggressively mounted, let’s put it that way,” Penrod said with a laugh.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.
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