FBI: Partygoer broke off 2,000-year-old statue's thumb, took it home after selfie shot

Cox Media via WPXI ^ | February 20, 2018 | Natalie Dreier

[rightwingintelligentsia]

PHILADELPHIA - A statue that stood guard, buried and undamaged for more than 2,000 years, couldn’t contend with a man at a private party in Philadelphia who just had to sneak off and take a selfie, according to multiple media reports.

The man, later identified as Michael Rohana, 24, was seen in a restricted area at the Franklin Institute during a party on Dec. 21 that was held after-hours at the museum, The New York Times reported.

FBI officials said Rohana used his cellphone’s flash as a light source to see the displays. He then put his arm around one of the famous Terracotta warriors to snap a selfie, The New York Times reported. After the photo-op, the FBI said Rohana then snapped off the thumb from the statue’s left hand and took it home to Delaware.

FBI officials said Rohana admitted to taking the thumb from the statue. He then took agents to his bedroom to retrieve the thumb from his desk, The Washington Post reported.

The statue is at the Franklin Institute with nine others currently on loan from China. It is worth $4.5 million, USAToday reported.

[SunkenCiv]

• Chinese anger after terracotta warrior's thumb stolen in US [02/20/2018]