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Stolen black swans, eggs found safe as investigation continues: PCSO

By and
Updated  February 17, 2025 6:49pm EST
Polk County
FOX 13 News

Stolen Lakeland swans found in Miami area

Carla Bayron reports.

The Brief

    • Two black swans, along with their four eggs, are safe after Polk County deputies say they were found in the Miami area.
    • The swans and eggs were stolen from the Highland Village Mobile Home Park last Wednesday.
    • PCSO says the swans will be returned to the neighborhood, and the investigation is ongoing.

LAKELAND, Fla. - Two beloved black swans and their eggs have been found safe in the Miami area days after they were stolen from a Polk County mobile home community, the sheriff's office confirmed to FOX 13 on Monday.

The backstory:

The swans, named "Sterling" and "Luna," were taken from the Highland Village Mobile Home Park on West Brannen Road, where neighbors say they've lived for years. They were found in Cutler Bay, which is a town in Miami-Dade County.

Courtesy: Rebecca Zakostelecky.

Courtesy: Rebecca Zakostelecky.

Polk County deputies are searching for two suspects, Jordan Montoya and Alfredo Casanova, whom they say came onto the caregiver's property with nets and a bucket last Wednesday night and snatched the swans and their eggs right out of their nesting box – leaving the Highland Village Mobile Home Park community devastated.

Pictured: Jordan Montoya (left) and Alfredo Casanova (right). Courtesy: Polk County Sheriff's Office. 

"Today is probably the best day of my life," said Property Manager, Lynda Eddlemon. "We got our swans back thanks to Polk County Sheriff, the media and the news and everything that went out there." 

Surveillance video captured a pair of thieves sneaking into the swans' caregiver's backyard with nets and a bucket shortly after 9 p.m. last Wednesday, then taking about 30 minutes to snatch the two birds, along with their four eggs, before getting away.

Courtesy: Rebecca Zakostelecky.

Courtesy: Rebecca Zakostelecky.

Late last week, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called the theft "cruel," while the mobile home park's property manager said the community was devastated.

What they're saying:

"The swans and eggs have been located out of county and are doing well. We are currently working on the logistics of returning them to community. The investigation is still active and we appreciate all of the tips that were received," PCSO said in a statement.

CJ Webber, a swan hobbyist in the Miami area, says one of the suspects likely watched FOX 13's original story on the missing birds and asked Webber on Saturday if he could take in five swans, two of which were Sterling and Luna.

"They decided they wanted to return the swans, and they were remorseful for what they did so they decided to use me as a third party to get the swans back to the rightful owners," said Webber. 

Webber says the three other swans dropped off by him were stolen from a retirement center in Pompano Beach, so they'll be returned to their home too. He's familiar with thieves stealing swans all across the state to sell them for a high price. In fact, a few of his swans were nearly stolen last year.

"At the end of the day, they could've done other things with them, so this is the best outcome overall," said Webber. "Knowing the story beforehand and having it actually come to my backyard... it was a strange experience, but it makes a really good story with a happy ending." 

"That heavy burden and pain in my chest is gone," said Eddlemon. "I'm just so grateful, and the community has all missed them so much."

What's next:

Montoya and Casanova are both facing a charge of Burglary of a Structure and Grand Theft. 

The Source: This story was written using information from the Polk County Sheriff's Office and previous FOX 13 News reports.

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