WILTON MANORS, Fla. — A beloved piece of public art was ripped away from a park in Wilton Manors.
Neighbors told Local 10 News they believe the town’s rainbow manatee might have been snatched by someone around 1 a.m. Tuesday from the public park on Wilton Drive and Northeast 21st Court.
The piece was originally commissioned in honor of former Wilton Manors Mayor Justin Flippen, who died unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm in 2020.
Claudia Castillo is the artist who painted the statue.
“It’s sad -- sad because of what it represents to me,” she said. “I did this also for the community and public art is for everyone.”
Anyone with information about the manatee or the crime is urged to contact Wilton Manors police at 954-390-2150.
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
