‘Freed’ gorilla back in East Machias
9/13/08 | 23 comments

‘Freed’ gorilla back in East Machias


By Diana Graettinger
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY JOHN CLARKE RUSS
Left to right: Gabe,7, Emmanuel,9 and Isaiah,11, wave to curious onlookers on Route 1 in Machias as their mother, Annette Farrington of Waterford (not pictured), drives their family truck loaded with "Seamore" the mechanical gorilla to his rightful home at Sandy's Sales in East Machias early Saturday afternoon. They traveled to Vermont to retrieve the stolen primate.

EAST MACHIAS, Maine — Suddenly, Seamore was back home — a little battered, a little broken, but still beautiful.

That’s how customers saw the mechanical gorilla on Saturday as a small caravan of cars, led by Sgt. Randy Perry of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department — with lights flashing and siren blaring — rolled into Sandy’s Sales flea market on U.S. Route 1.

Seamore was finally home after having been “kidnapped” from the store’s parking lot over Labor Day weekend and taken to Vermont.

Owners Lowell and Sandy Miller were delighted to see their longtime friend.

Shortly after 1 p.m., Annette Farrington of Waterford, the Good Samaritan who rescued Seamore, and Lowell Miller gently lifted Seamore into its cage in front of Sandy’s Sales under the watchful eye of Seamore’s “daughter,” Penny, a tiny stuffed gorilla wearing a sign saying, “Welcome home, Mommy.”

“I’m sorry, Seamore, but you have to go in the cage,” Farrington said with a smile.

Farrington’s sons, Isaiah, Emmanuel and Gabriel, put large stuffed orangutans and monkeys around Seamore’s neck. Farrington makes the colorful stuffed toys and sells them.

It has been a long two weeks for the Miller family. After the kidnapper had absconded with Seamore, the Bangor Daily News ran the story and within days Seamore’s escapades became part of the international news scene.

After learning that Seamore had been grabbed, Farrington mobilized her family to bring Seamore hom.

Farrington described going Friday to the state police barracks in St. Albans, Vt., where Seamore was in “protective custody.”

“I handed the woman that was in the office my license and told her I was here to spring Seamore, and she started laughing,” Farrington said.

The woman and another man carried Seamore to the truck and Farrington helped load her. The family left Vermont Friday afternoon.

Besides carrying a battle-weary gorilla in the back of their truck, members of the Farrington family had some mini-adventures as they traveled the roads toward Maine. In New Hampshire they came upon a lone calf standing on the side of the road. The Farringtons turned around and went to a nearby house where a young boy was looking for his pet.

When they arrived at Sandy’s Sales on Saturday they were greeted by the University of Maine at Machias ukulele band under the direction of Gene Nichols, associate professor of music. The band played “Sandy Sales in the Sunset,” “Mother and Child Reunion” and the “Gorilla of my Dreams.”

A small group of gorilla fans had gathered in front of the store to listen to the music, snap pictures and welcome Seamore home.

Much has happened since Seamore was snatched.

An Ohio man who owns the gorilla factory where Seamore was manufactured volunteered to help. He put a video on You-Tube offering a $500 reward.

The “kidnapper” saw the video and posted his own You-Tube video, saying he was sorry and offering to return Seamore. And he did — sometime during the early morning hours last weekend. He dumped Seamore in a cornfield in Swanton, Vt. The Vermont State Police retrieved her.

Although the kidnapper was in full disguise on his YouTube video, including his face, the Maine State Police said last week that Vermont authorities did have a suspect.

One thing was clear over the weekend: The kidnapper was feeling pretty secure in his disguise. He has made two more videos. In one he was wearing a white plastic mask and riding a tricycle. He said he didn’t think he should be prosecuted if he returned the gorilla.

Although the Millers had not planned to prosecute the perpetrator, Sandy Miller said his lack of remorse and treating the kidnapping as a joke had rankled her. Although she would like to see the man prosecuted, she wasn’t looking for much — just something to teach him a lesson about people’s property. She said she’d like the judge to order the man to pay restitution, fix the gorilla and participate in community service.

Seamore was a little worse for wear after her long trip. Her head had been severed from her body and there were holes and rips in her face. Her arm also was broken. “I think they must have really smacked her around a bit,” Sandy Miller said.

“She looks a little sick,” Lowell Miller added quietly.

Sandy Miller agreed. “After people see her battle wounds, we are going to have her have a face lift,” she said. “A new rubber face.”

The Millers said they are grateful to the Farrington family and Ken Booth, the owner of the Ohio gorilla factory. “He sure did make the difference,” she said of Booth. “We will remain in contact; we’re friends.”

Miller said she also planned to stay in contact with the Farringtons.

After the long ride, a tired Farrington said she was glad she had done it. “It’s all about teaching my boys community service,” she said. “When you do it, you end up reaping more than you sow, and I want them to know that, too.”

The Waterford woman refused to be reimbursed for her trip.

Last week, the Millers started a fundraiser. Now that Farrington has declined expenses for her trip, the Millers plan to donate the money to the Machias food pantry.

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Comments
23 comments on this item
On 9/14/08 at 12:54 AM, Johninphilippines wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Did Susan Collins ever receive a motorcade like the one Seamore had on his way back to the old store in East Machias? Maybe not as much news publicity, either!

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On 9/14/08 at 8:04 AM, eastman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Did this realy happen, or is it a publicity stunt?????

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On 9/14/08 at 9:16 AM, ydnar723 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

OK, great to see that someones Gorilla, Mechanical gorilla was returned to where it was stolen from. I thought it was pretty lame that the "kidnapper" has to use a You Tube video to respond to the theft, but then to find out a Mechanical Gorilla gets a Police Escort??? This is what the County/State does with tax dollars is give a mechanical gorilla a police escort.

Does this mean from now on when you have something stolen it gets a Police Escort home? Sorry but this was ridiculous, unless a police department was paid for this...this is stupid and the story itself is simply over done. To top it off the media wore this story out, when I heard someones Gorilla got stolen that was one thing, but to hear about it nearly EVERY DAY since it was stolen! I am sure there is more and better news the media could highlight. My garden rake got stolen, I just found out where it is, I will call the media and also ask the Police Department to escort it home.

Sorry but this was overdone, if you the owners want to have some bit of get together or something on it, that is one thing but when the media wears it out everyday, the police department has nothing better to do but escort mechanical Gorillas with lights and siren is pathetic.

I don't care if people from East Machias area, etc start making comments to curse me out or whatever, I really don't care, and will laugh at your stupid reasons why you think this was not a bit overdone.

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On 9/14/08 at 10:27 AM, pcme2000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Should these kids be standing up in the back of this truck while it is driving down the road!!!!

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On 9/14/08 at 12:50 PM, Showm77 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I am so glad that they Washinton County Sheriff’s Department can waste there time and the tax's dollars to ride the gorilla into town. I am so glad that I am not from Machias you people from that town look like a bunch of fool's...

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On 9/14/08 at 1:33 PM, nonyabusiness wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Gee - - although what this woman did was nice, don't you think she should be obeying the law? It's illegal in Maine to have anyone riding in the back of a pick up, and yet, here she is, being escorted BY the police, and photographed with three children riding in the back of her truck as she drives down the road. We even have a law that dogs must be tied up in the back of pick ups to prevent injuries to them, yet here are her kids, free to roam, play around, and FALL OUT should they play too roughly or should she half to slam on her brakes. It's one thing to teach about community service, but how about teaching them community service AND how to be a law abiding citizen? She missed the mark.

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On 9/14/08 at 3:01 PM, sunshines_932000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

ENOUGH W THE GORILLA ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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On 9/14/08 at 6:58 PM, Johninphilippines wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Of all the news stories to report on, I guess this one takes the cake for 2008. This story, er, Seamore the Gorilla, rather, has created international attention, way over here in the Philippines. When this story unfolded, my son told his 3rd year high school classmates about the story. In their computer class, the teacher allowed them to "tune-in" to the Bangor Daily News website that appeared regularly about Seamore's abduction. Everyone followed the story, to include some city officials that come to visit me often at my home. Now, the kids are overjoyed that Seamore has finally been so appropriately escorted back home to East Machias to stand, once again and ever so proudly, on the porch of Lowell's store. The city officials that come to visit me, just slugged their four shots of Chevas Regal down, made some belly laughs and went away smiling. The children at this private school my son attends, made a life-size poster of Seamore. My son's 3rd year high school class is preparing individual reports on theft, stolen property, personal possessions, malicious pranks and the like, for grades (would you believe...)! Seamore is now an "icon" for East Machias. Lowell could not have bought such wide-angle publicity even if he had the money to do so. The poster, it is said by Iloy Tumolva, the school's principal, will stand until the school year is over with, then put in the library for display. Oh, well...all's well that end's well - for Lowell.

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On 9/14/08 at 8:10 PM, elGuapo wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I glad that the gorilla got back home. I hope that the three kids in the pickup bed were all wearing seat belts.

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On 9/14/08 at 9:52 PM, jimbob wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

When is it ok to let children be in the back of a truck, standing up, going down Route 1? Guess they do not have to worry about second hand smoke! :-)

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On 9/14/08 at 10:26 PM, meadowlands wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

let's see.....the sherriff's dept escort for a gorilla. We hear all the time how police depts are under staffed....GOOD....makes sense to use the time to escort a gorilla when crime is being commited in Washington County

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On 9/15/08 at 7:40 AM, skyhawk wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

NO OTHER NEWS FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY BESIDES THIS?? HAD ENOUGH OF THIS NOW TO LAST A LIFE TIME. IF IT HAD BEEN SOME KID IT WOULDN'T GET THIS MUCH OF A WRITE UP ,NOW FOR ABOUT A WEEK EVERYDAY. COME ON ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, MUST BE SOME THING ELSE GOING ON IN WASHINGTON COUNTY BESIDES THIS. AND THE COPS ARE WASTING OUR MONEY RIDING AROUND WITH THIS THING. GO SOLVE SOME REAL CRIMES.

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On 9/15/08 at 10:36 AM, ydnar723 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Next time I hit up Washington County I am letting my kid ride in the back of the truck, I will make sure I have a copy of this story and photos with me so if an Officer has the nerve to pull me over for said violation I will present this story and tell the Officer to have a wonderful day and continue on my trip!

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On 9/15/08 at 4:36 PM, AshleyMaine wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Sooooo glad my tax dollars were spent on a police escort for a stuffed gorilla who nobody really cares about............ I am from East Machias and I think this is ridiculous. My trash can was stolen a few months ago....does anyone want to escort it home??

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On 9/15/08 at 4:37 PM, AshleyMaine wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

And I'm super glad the Washington County Sherriff's Department could waste their time on escorting this gorilla while we have people dealing drugs on the other side of the street.

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On 9/15/08 at 8:33 PM, Trisha wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

This is ridiculous.... When this story first aired the Millers didn't want to press charges. Now after all the media coverage they want to press charges. Funny how Sandy says that the kidnapper made a joke of this. I believe that they were the first to turn it into a joke.... Maybe Sandy should go back and read the first article that was printed. Honestly gorilla kidnapped from East Machias. They wouldn't have this much media coverage over a child. I don't believe that the kidnapper arranged a police escort for the gorilla (the Millers did). So I ask the Millers what kind of people are you to go back on your word? We don't want to prosecute we only want our gorilla back. THE MILLERS THEMSELVES ARE THE ONES THAT FIRST MADE THIS A JOKE IN THE MEDIA, ONLY AFTER GETTING ALL THIS ATTENTION THEY WANT TO PROSECUTE..... They aren't much better than the kidnappers, at least when he said he would do something he did........that's more than I can say for Sandy and Lowell...........

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On 9/15/08 at 10:54 PM, wspahn wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Oh, for pete's sake. Lighten up, you people. I swear, sometimes I feel like my fellow Mainers go looking for things to complain about, as if there weren't enough that's really wrong. Let the gorilla story amuse you. Laugh and be happy. It won't kill you, I promise.

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On 9/16/08 at 2:54 AM, Maurice_Fleckman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Could this story please DIE now?!?!

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On 9/16/08 at 4:58 AM, whitnmeme wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

OMG this story is ridiculous. I can't believe how much time has been wasted with this silly story. I hope none of those children got hurt in the back of that truck.

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On 9/16/08 at 10:03 AM, Lubecker wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

SeeMore The Gorilla is now more famous than all of us put together -- Lighten Up People, or we will think you are jealous?

This story has appeared in newspapers inLondon, Boston, MN, CA and places inbetween. It's just one of those silly stories we all enjoy reading. We can only imagine how other towns feel when their silly stories hit the big time.

Oh for the fun days when we rode in the back of pickups, but we are now PC and too careful. I am guessing only people in parades can now ride in the back of pickups, and this was a parade? As for wasting the taxpayer's money--sheesh! What about every time the sheriff's car drives through town??

If we are so concerned, perhaps we should look into the DA's office and ask why cases are not prosecuted?

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On 9/16/08 at 11:11 AM, David889327 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Johninphilippines, you sure are a prolific writer! Do you have any hobbies?

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On 9/17/08 at 6:32 AM, SteveyDee wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

We might want to do a green card check on the kids in the back too. ydnar723 come on down, you just might accidentally take a little trip down bad little falls LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

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On 9/17/08 at 11:54 PM, tju12008 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

They just aint right!!! I rest my case !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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