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Whatever happened to . . . the missing dinosaur?

By Ben Montgomery, Times Staff Writer
In print: Sunday, April 13, 2008

One Coelophysis was stolen from Dinosaur World in November. Several weeks later another was gone.
	[SKIP O\u2019ROURKE | Times (2007)]

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"Why did the dinosaur disappear?''; Dec. 17, 2007; See past coverage at life.tampabay.com.

THE STORY: On the night of Nov. 22, 2007, someone scaled the fence at Dinosaur World in Plant City and made off with a Coelophysis, a 2-foot-tall, 4-foot-long dinosaur made of Styrofoam, wire and fiberglass. The Coelophysis had stood in the same spot, undisturbed, for 10 years, since Dinosaur World opened off Interstate 4. Sheriff's deputies were baffled.

FROM THE STORY: "They put an APB out on it," said Shirley Rainbolt, who coordinates field trips at Dinosaur World.

Rainbolt surveyed the crime scene. She pointed out the thief's most likely means of entry: a wood and wire fence on the 8-acre park's northern boundary.

"I can't believe they got past this guy," she said, pointing to Ceratosaurus, a large predatory dinosaur with bladelike teeth and an imposing horn.

Since the theft, the staff at Dinosaur World has been wrestling with one big question.

"Why?" said Rainbolt. "What are you going to do with a dinosaur? Put it in your yard? Try to pawn it?"

This is where the mind runs wild. You picture Coelophysis positioned on a stained futon as a college dropout holds a water bong to her mouth. Or someone posting photos on the Web of a small dinosaur atop the Empire State Building.

"Who knows," said Rainbolt.

THE REST OF THE STORY: More than four months have passed since Coelophysis went missing.

"We have not found it yet," said Rainbolt. A few weeks after the theft, Rainbolt said, another Coelophysis disappeared. Dinosaur World officials think it was taken by the same person or persons. Another police report was filed, but no arrests have been made.

Ben Montgomery, Times staff writer