By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Investigators are hoping some of the possibly stolen pieces from Alden’s Taxidermy will turn up so they can solve the arson fire that destroyed the Littlerock business early last month.
A person-of-interest identified by the victim has been interviewed and eliminated as a suspect, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives continue to look for a motive, Lt. Greg Elwin said in a news release yesterday afternoon.
After the nighttime blaze on Palermo Southwest, various taxidermy items that should have been present could not be found leading to suspicions of theft.
Elwin says detectives are working with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to create a database of all the taxidermy, which should be helpful if some or all of the property is discovered in the future.
More interviews are planned, there are no suspects, according to Elwin.
A reward fund of $10,000 has been set up by friends and family of Alden Johnson, for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Additionally, Crime Stoppers of Olympia / Thurston County will pay up to $1,000 for tips for the same information with the same results, according to the news release.
Crime Stoppers can be reached by calling 1-800-222-8477 or at www.crimebusters.org
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For background, read “Investigators: Littlerock business was intentionally burned” from Thursday December 12, 2013, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter