APPLETON - A 20-year-old Lawrence University student has been charged for taking a rabbit from a nearby day care.
Appleton police Sgt. Pat DeWall says Theodore Benner of Chalfont, Pa., was taken into custody Wednesday morning.
Benner is accused of breaking into the Memorial Presbyterian Church, which is about two blocks from his dormitory on the Lawrence campus.
The rabbit, named Twinkle, was reported missing from a day care at the church Nov. 13.
I felt sad, said Christian Adams, a 5-year-old who attends the day care.
They were sad, said Tricia Schuh, a teacher at the day care. They told everyone that walked in the room. They said somebody took Twinkle. Some bad people they kept saying.
Four days after the church burglary was reported, authorities went to Benner's dorm room for a medical call. According to search warrant records, that is when an officer noticed a rabbit matching a picture of the missing rabbit, Twinkle.
Benner's roommate told authorities the rabbit had been in the dorm for about a week.
During a search of the dorm, officers also found a pet store receipt for a rabbit cage. The receipt did not say a rabbit was purchased. DeWall says the rabbit was returned to the church's day care shortly after the search of the dorm.
Some of the kids had tears in their eyes, they were very excited, said Schuh.
Marijuana was also taken from Benner, according to the search warrant affidavit.
Benner is charged with burglary and possession of marijuana. He was released from jail on a $2,500 cash bond.
