It was about 20 years ago when USC reported the school’s copy of the 1968 Heisman Trophy, awarded to former running back O.J. Simpson, had gone missing. It took a while, but the search for the real thief has finally led to the recovery of the trophy by Los Angeles police.
The Los Angeles Times reports USC’s copy of the Heisman Trophy was reported stolen in July 1994, and was finally recovered in December 2014. The announcement confirming the recovery was made Tuesday, but no further details about the crime were made available by LAPD due to the investigation still ongoing. A warrant to review phone records of a person believed to be connected to the theft 20 years ago was received by the LAPD’s art theft unit.
USC had its copy of Simpson’s 1968 Heisman Trophy on display in Heritage Hall, but removed it once he was arrested in connection to the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Simpson was found not guilty of the murders, but a life of court battles later led Simpson to sell off his property to pay for court costs and a civil suit. Among the items believed to have been sold off by Simpson included his Heisman Trophy.
At some point, USC put its trophy and Simpson’s uniform back on display in Heritage Hall, but they did not stay there for long. At the time, police reported two suspects broke into the room with the trophy and uniform on display and unscrewed the display cases before making off with the trophy and jersey. For years, police were never able to make much progress on the case. Until recently.
Simpson is currently serving time in a medium-security prison in Nevada for a dozen counts including robbery and kidnapping assault with a deadly weapon.