FAIRHOPE – Unlike the brown pelican it was modeled from, “Pelican ‘Bill’ With a Grill” might not return from the brink of extinction. The fiberglass and resin sculpture, stolen in late May from its perch at the corner of Church Street and De La Mare Avenue in downtown Fairhope, is still missing.

The pelican, molded from a carving by the late Craig Sheldon and embellished by artist Kathleen Taupeka, was wrenched from a mounting post in front of Church Street Inn during the night. Some suspect it was a teenage prank, and no stone has been left unturned in the hunt for the absent avian.

“We’ve even searched in and around the gully to no avail,” said Dean Mosher, co-chairman of the Eastern Shore Art Center’s Art Takes Flight committee.

The pelican was one of more than 70 created to help raise money for the placement of more public art in the Fairhope area. Most were placed in the city’s downtown area, but a handful were placed elsewhere, including one inside the Mobile Regional Airport.

Each pelican was sponsored by an individual, group or business for $1,000, which covered to cost of casting the pelican as well as artist fees and supplies. The funds will be raised on the back end, when the sculptures are taken down, cleaned and placed in the Art Center for final display and a Sept. 29 auction.

“Pelican ‘Bill’ With a Grill” was sponsored by Daphne orthodontist Dr. Glenn Glass. Organizers hoped someone might simply drop the pelican off at Glass’ practice after office hours, but that has not yet happened.

An initial reward offered for the arrest of those responsible for the theft as well as the pelican’s return was eventually raised to $2,250, but that has produced no solid clues.

Mosher said, “The last time I checked with them (police), the lead that was promising turned out to be an anomaly.”

Investigators are not giving up, however, but they acknowledge it’s becoming more unlikely the pelican will be recovered.

“We have no viable leads right now,” said Fairhope Police Sgt. David Martinez. “We have nothing to go on at this time.”

Although the investigation remains active, he added, “It’s one of those you’ll probably never solve, but you want to keep it in the back of your mind. I’m going to leave that on my desk for at least a year.”

After that it goes into the cold case file, where it will remain unless someone comes forward with additional information about the brazen theft.

Martinez said the attention generated so far might prevent someone else from considering a copycat heist, but an arrest would be a stronger deterrent.

“If we could catch one of them and put them in jail, that would be better,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mosher pointed out ‘Bill’ is not forgotten. He said, “For several days after it was stolen, there were several bouquets of flowers placed at the post, and I think that’s charming. For some reason, that really strikes a chord with people.”