6:10 p.m.
Freedom, the giant chicken statue, has been local landmark in the Westlake area for years.
"A lot of people use it as a directional landmark. Like where the chicken is, and people will know exactly where to go. It's pretty much a symbol on the lake,” said Larry Altadonna.
The feet are all that's left outside Lake Plaza. The owner's son, Larry Altadonna, says he's shocked that someone would take their feathered friend.
"We just couldn't believe it. I mean we couldn't believe someone would actually go to the extent of just breaking something that big and stealing it,” said Altadonna.
Mourners have even left flowers at the scene. Altadonna says it's got people clucking.
"Some people have contacted us being concerned about it, wondering what happened,” said Altadonna.
Franklin County Sheriff Ewell Hunt tells us deputies found Freedom on Monday, along Lakewood Forrest Road, just a few miles from where it was taken.
Larry's got 'Freedom' back, and is keeping the statue in storage for now. It was broken off at the ankles, and has other cracks in the legs.
One investigator told us this vandalism was likely done by kids. Officers do not have any suspects at this time.
The Altadonna family is just relieved.
"It's great just to have it back. Now we have it and it's just a matter of fixing it and putting it back,” said Altadonna.
They even have an extra giant chicken to put out, incase freedom can't be fixed.
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11:04 a.m.
From Jarett Henshaw, WSLS Reporter in the field
Deputies are searching for whoever is responsible for a series of vandalisms in the Westlake area of Franklin County, near Smith Mountain Lake.
One of the victims of the vandals, an infamous giant chicken that's a local landmark along Scruggs Road. The 8-foot tall statue is at the entrance to Joe Altadonna's mini-golf course, near the Carter Bank.
Investigators say someone ripped the chicken statue from its foundation over the weekend, and left nothing but its feet. WSLS viewer Jean Fields noticed the chicken missing, took pictures, and sent them to us (see to the right). Deputies tell me the chicken statue was found in a ditch, not far from the mini-golf course.
The chicken became well-known locally after a controversy over it back in 2001. Altadonna eventually won a court case to keep the chicken at the entrance to his business.
I'm working on finding out more about the case for WSLS at at 5:00 p.m.
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