Big John standing tall in front of his Cape Coral shopping center before his disappearance.
Written by
Fort Myers News-Press
Cape Coral, Florida (News-Press) -- The big man is missing, but where is he?
The longtime, downtown symbol of Cape Coral, Big John, has popped his bolts. He is gone with the wind, but where?
Standing 28 feet tall and tipping the scales at a hefty 6,000 pounds, Cape's most famous landmark, with his big smile and welcoming arms, has vanished without a trace.
He was there in the plaza named for him on Wednesday, gone on Thursday.
More Statue Trouble: Teens arrested for vandalizing lion
Cape Coral police have launched a full scale investigation, going house to house, recycling bin to recycling bin to try to find our leader. They are asking other statues in the area, but they remain stone-faced.
The big man's owner, a distraught Elmer Tabor, has filed a missing person's report. He barely got through it, tears flowing over the fiberglass wonder.
"I have never lost a family member like this," a heavily medicated Tabor said. "He is an icon. If not for the medication I would not be able to sleep. I hurt bad over it."
"We are going to find Big John. Don't count him out."
On Monday morning, Tabor found a ransom note on his door made in cut-out letters, reading:
Elmer Tabor,
We have Big John. Wait for further instructions. Do not call police or he will be floating with the fishes.
Police had already been contacted about the disappearance. They have no clues, just an empty base behind the bushes where the big man used to greet shoppers at the old Big John's Discount Food Supermarket from as early as 1966.
He never said much, but he has seen a lot. He has stood there for every arts festival, every Christmas tree lighting, every drunk during bike night and watched business after business move in and out. He's watched the city's population grow from about 3,000 to 154,000, milk climb from 99 cents to $3.39. Gas go from 32 cents to $3.55.
He once held grocery bags and wore an apron, representing a grocery clerk. Those bags went missing a long time ago, but word is they are safely stored in a nearby warehouse -- minus the food.
But now, the giant manhunt begins to find the beloved town symbol.
Tabor is putting up a reward for anyone who might have any information to his whereabouts. Tabor isn't saying how much he'll give for the big man's return, but I wouldn't expect to get rich.
I poked around a bit downtown to see if anyone may have spotted the kidnapper, or if Big John just walked off on his own. No one is talking.
If you know of his whereabouts or have any clues, please email me at thayden@news-press.com.
And if you have him, give him back. The downtown and the city is lost without the shadow he casts.
More mug shot galleries...
Strange: Most notorious or unusual mug shots we've seen
Local Mugs: Hillsborough County Mug shots
Teachers: Teacher arrest mugshots
Prostitutes: Prostitute mug shots
More Locals: Pinellas County
Jaw droppers: Open mouth mug shots
Smilers: Happy mug shots
Laughers: What's so funny mug shots
Athletes: Professional athlete mug shots
Porn arrests: Child porn arrest mug shots
More unusual mug shots and galleries: 10 News slideshows and galleries
Tom Hayden, Fort Myers News-Press
You Might Be Interested In