
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A religious icon stolen from a Catholic church in Wichita has been found in an antique shop.
Spencer Hewitt of Hewitt’s Antiques tells The Wichita Eagle that he realized the store had purchased the rendering of Our Lady of Perpetual Help after reading about the theft from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in the newspaper Sunday.
Hewitt says a prospective seller visited the store Wednesday afternoon to get a price for what the man claimed was his grandmother’s icon. Hewitt declined to say how much the store spent on the icon.
Pastoral assistant Mike McDaneld says he was thrilled to hear the icon was found. He says he asked Hewitt about crucifixes the church is also missing, but Hewitt said only the icon was brought to the store.
An investigation into the theft is ongoing.