Missing Dennis the Menace Statue Found 9 Years Later

If statues could talk, a life-size replica of the cartoon character Dennis the Menace would likely have some story to tell.

The 3 ½-foot bronze statue was reported missing in 2006 from a Monterey, Calif., park named in the cartoon character’s honor. That same statue has now turned up in an Orlando, Fla., scrap metal yard.

Dennis’ story began years ago when cartoonist Hank Ketchem commissioned Academy Award-winning animator Wah Ming Chang to make the replica for Monterey’s Dennis the Menace Playground. The teddy bear-toting bronze was installed at the park’s entrance in 1988 and there it sat for years, bringing “smiles to the faces of tens of thousands of children from around the world,” the city announced in a media release about its discovery.

Those smiles turned upside down on Oct. 26, 2006, when it was discovered the beloved statue had been swiped from the park sometime the night before. Monterey Police and city parks crews scoured the area for the statue, but Dennis was nowhere to be found, the city said.

Hoping that someone would step forward, a $5,000 reward was offered for the safe return of the statue valued at $30,000.

With nary a word on the statue’s whereabouts, the city had a new Dennis cast for the playground. Using a mold created from the original loaned to a local foundry by Hank Ketchum’s family, a replacement was made.

Figuring its original Dennis statue would never be seen again, the city had the replacement installed in the park five months after the October disappearance.

The whereabouts of the original remained a mystery until now.

On Aug. 22, an usual statue arrived at Brothers Scrap Metal of Orlando, Monterey officials reported. It seems the owner’s daughter instantly recognized it as a replica of the famous cartoon character and did some research. She managed to turn up old media coverage and photos of the long-lost statue and decided to reach out to Monterey.

Now, Brothers Scrap Metal, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Monterey Police are working together to bring Dennis back home to California where he belongs.

As for that reward, the city says it will make good on its promise.

Once Dennis returns to Monterey, the replacement will be moved to a new location. The original Dennis will resume its place of honor at the park’s entrance.

While the mystery of Dennis’ whereabouts has been solved, Orange County deputies and Monterey Police are investigating to reveal the truth behind the nine-year disappearance, the city said. If the statue is anything like the cartoon character, the story could be a good one.

Photo courtesy of the City of Monterey