Two middle-aged California men are facing felony charges after authorities say a late-night stunt at a Missouri museum destroyed a woolly mammoth fossil tusk valued at roughly $200,000.
According to Western Journal, investigators with the Taney County Sheriffs Department arrested Brett Howard and Todd Azevedo of Petaluma, California, following an incident at the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum in Ridgedale, Missouri. The museum, part of the Top of the Rock attraction at Big Cedar Lodge, houses an extensive collection of Native American and prehistoric artifacts and has become a showcase for the regions natural and cultural heritage.
KOLR-TV reported that the trouble began shortly before 11 p.m. on March 8, when the two men were seen on security footage near the museums centerpiece woolly mammoth skeleton. The probable cause statement cited by the outlet said the men were captured on camera at approximately 10:53 p.m. in the vicinity of the massive fossil display.
According to the report, Azevedo waved Howard over and encouraged him to grab the tusk of the woolly mammoth fossil on display, apparently turning a moment of sightseeing into a reckless attempt at viral entertainment. Azevedo then lifted Howard onto his shoulders, giving him enough height to reach the tusk, the outlet said, describing behavior more befitting rowdy teenagers than men in their late 40s.
Once Howard had hold of the tusk, the situation escalated from foolish to destructive. Once Howard grabbed the tusk, he allegedly tried to hang from it, causing it to break free and fall to the floor, where it shattered into multiple pieces.
The men reportedly tried to flee the scene after the tusk crashed to the ground, but their escape was short-lived. A witness pursued them, brought them back inside the facility, and contacted law enforcement, ensuring there would be accountability for the damage.
Both Howard and Azevedo were arrested on charges of first-degree property damage, a Class E felony under Missouri law, KOLR reported. They were later released on $15,000 bonds, but the legal and financial consequences of their alleged actions are likely far from over.
The probable cause statement estimated the tusks weight at around 200 pounds, and security staff placed its value at about $1,000 per pound. That assessment puts the total damage at roughly $200,000, a staggering figure for what appears to have been a moment of alcohol-fueled bravado or social-media-style showboating.
The museum itself was closed at the time of the incident, but the mammoth skeleton is prominently displayed in a central passageway outside the main attraction. Positioned between a restaurant, gift shop, and golf course entrance, the fossil serves as a dramatic visual centerpiece for visitors moving through the complex.
As described in MainlyMuseums.com, As soon as you enter the building, you are dwarfed by the skeletal remains of a massive woolly mammoth that once walked the prehistoric lands of our modern-day Missouri. The site further notes, It is one of the largest artifacts, too tall to fit in the below-ground levels of the main museum.
The 35,000-square-foot Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum contains more than 75,000 artifacts, including extensive collections of fossils and Native American weapons, pottery, baskets, art, and clothing. The attraction was developed by Bass Pro Shops CEO Johnny Morris, a Springfield, Missouri, native whose investment has helped preserve and present Americas natural and historical legacy in the heartland.
The Western Journal reached out to the organization for comment via phone and email, but no response was received by the time of publication. Under Missouri law, a Class E felony carries a maximum possible prison sentence of four years and a fine of up to $10,000, penalties that underscore how seriously the state treats the protection of property and cultural treasures.
At a time when respect for institutions, history, and public property often seems in short supply, this case highlights the real-world cost of impulsive, juvenile conduct by adults who should know better. Whether driven by intoxication, a craving for online attention, or simple disregard for the value of shared heritage, the alleged actions did not just damage a museum piece; they undermined a painstaking effort to honor Americas past for future generations.
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