After son’s arrest, St. Paul woman allegedly said she found stolen Suni Lee bust in bushes
Suni Lee bronze bust, sculpted by Hmong artist Seexeng Lee, was unveiled in July 2023 at Phalen Regional Park as a tribute to the Olympic gold‑medalist and a symbol of the East Side and Hmong community. Weighing roughly 45 pounds, the piece stands on a rock bearing the athlete’s name and celebrates her historic 2021 all‑around victory.
Less than a year later, the bust vanished, discovered missing by park staff on July 31, 2025. The pedestal remained, but the bronze figure and its supporting rock were gone, prompting a citywide search and online pleas for information.
Police traced a tip to an apartment in the Payne‑Phalen neighborhood, where a 22‑year‑old man was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property after a shots‑fired call led officers inside. The bust was found in plain view at the foot of a closet, along with a handgun. The suspect’s mother later told detectives she had recovered the sculpture from a nearby bush a month earlier and, unsure how to return it, brought it home.
The episode underscores how public art, especially works that embody cultural pride, can become vulnerable targets. While the bust’s recovery restores a tangible piece of community heritage, the surrounding legal saga—highlighted by the mother’s extensive felony record—reminds cities of the ongoing challenges in protecting and preserving celebrated artworks.