A statue stolen from Jim Morrison’s gravesite has resurfaced 37 years after it mysteriously vanished.
The marble bust of the frontman of The Doors was recovered by Paris’ financial and anti-corruption police during an unrelated search, according to Agence France-Presse.
After its discovery, French police shared a photo of the sculpture, which was already missing its nose and covered in graffiti at the time of its theft.
A representative for Morrison’s estate told Rolling Stone they were “happy to hear the news,” adding, “Obviously it’s a piece of history, and one Jim’s family wanted there on his grave, so it’s gratifying to see that it’s been recovered.”
After his death in 1971 at age 27, the “Light My Fire” singer was buried in Paris’ Père Lachaise Cemetery, which is also home to the graves of icons like Édith Piaf, Marcel Proust, Gertrude Stein and Oscar Wilde.
The 280-pound sculpture, designed by Croatian artist Mladen Mikulin, was installed in Morrison’s memory a decade later, only to disappear in May 1988.
Two anonymous individuals later claimed responsibility in an interview with Globe magazine, but the case went cold for decades.
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Morrison’s grave remains one of the most visited in the world.
The site has also attracted chaos. In 1991, on the 20th anniversary of Morrison’s death, a riot broke out that prompted the cemetery to boost security around the tomb, according to the BBC.
The rock legend, who was behind hits like “Riders on the Storm, “Love Me Two Times,” “Break On Through (to the Other Side)” and more, was living in Paris’ Marais district when he was found dead in the bath by his girlfriend, Pamela Courson.
Doctors determined the cause of death to be from heart failure aggravated by heavy drinking.
