Reward for Sam, the stolen bald eagle, upped to $20,000

Where's Sam?

As the mystery continues, the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person — or people — responsible for the theft of the bald eagle last week from the Quogue Wildlife Refuge has gone up again, this time from $12,500 to $20,000.

Sam, also known as Sammy, was stolen from his enclosure at the refuge on Old Country Road sometime between 2:15 a.m. and 4:15 a.m. on July 16, authorities said. The initial reward of $10,000 was increased earlier this week to $12,500.

The new reward will include $10,000 from the Suffolk County SPCA and up to $5,000 each from Crime Stoppers and the Nassau County SPCA.

Sam arrived at the refuge 31 years ago after a gunshot wound left him flightless, and he has been eating a combination of fish, venison or rats daily, supplemented with vitamins. 

"We are making progress" on the investigation, Quogue Village Police Lt. Daniel Hartman said Tuesday. "We've gotten a lot of information on the tip line and there are leads that our detectives and our sergeant are looking at right now. I'm hoping for a good resolution."

Hartman said authorities plan on charging anyone arrested in the case to the fullest extent of the law. Initial charges would likely include the felony charge of fourth-degree grand larceny, as well as misdemeanor charges. There is also the potential for a suspect — or suspects — to be charged under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, officials said. Maximum penalties under the act carry up to a $250,000 fine and 2 years in federal prison.

Anyone with information should call Quogue police at 631-653-4791 or Suffolk police at 800-220-8477, or text “SCPD” and the message to “CRIMES” (274637). Callers may remain anonymous.

The Suffolk SPCA can be reached at 631-382-7722. 

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”