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A $7,000 violin was recently returned to its rightful owner, after a woman with ties to Pella stole the instrument and attempted to sell it online. The hand-made Mary Elizabeth Henning violin was stolen from Central College in early May, at which time the Pella Police Department opened an investigation into the theft.

The victim’s spouse later found the instrument for sale on Craiglist in San Antonio, Texas. Pella Police contacted law enforcement in San Antonio, who set up a a fictitious buyer and were able to arrange a meeting that resulted in the arrest of 20-year-old Kelsey Friedrichsen of San Antonio on a charge of possession of stolen property – a State Jail felony. Friedrichsen was formerly a student at Central College.

The instrument was shipped back to the Pella Police Department on June 9th, at which time they were able to return it to the owner, more than a month after it had been stolen.