PHOENIX — The statue of a Valley boy who died of leukemia that was stolen last week outside of Phoenix's Make-a-Wish offices has been found broken up into shards, police said.
A bronze statue of 7-year-old Chris Greicius, whose untimely death served as the inspiration for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, was taken by two thieves on the night of Jan. 3 near 16th Street and Highland Avenue.
The statue outside of Make-a-Wish America's offices in Phoenix had depicted Greicius dressed as a DPS patrolman because the boy dreamed of being a police officer before he died.
Troy Burke has been identified as one of the suspects who allegedly took the statue last week, according to the Phoenix Police Department. Burke allegedly admitted to being involved in the theft and has been booked into jail.
Pieces of the destroyed statue have been recovered by investigators.
Burke allegedly sold pieces of the statue to scarp yards and earned $180, court records show.
"The officers found him and not quite intact, but hopefully, we can put him back together again," said Chris's mother, Linda Pauling.
"Every officer who was looking for him, I salute you, I truly do, and I thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart," Pauling added.
Police are still attempting to find the other suspect.
"Do the right thing, do the right thing; somebody somewhere knows it, knows who he is, and make a phone call, call the police, make it happen," said Pauling.
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