The iconic animatronic clown of Wichita has been found in the home of a known sex offender.

Louie the Clown, a popular member of Joyland amusement park in Wichita, Kansas is back after it went missing for more than a decade. The motorized, life-sized, always smiling, cone-hatted clown was found by Wichita police in the house of Damian Mayes, a convicted sex offender.

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Louie went missing a year after Joyland closed in 2004. It was only in 2010 that he was reported stolen. 

Louie spent decades playing the park's Wurlizter organ. He was a big part in the childhood days of Wichita locals' many generations.

Wichita police received a tip that led detectives to back Mayes' home, where they found Louie. 

Mayes, 39, was a former employee at Joyland who maintained Louie and the Wurlitzer organ. He was earlier suspected of keeping Louie, but authorities failed to gather evidence against him.

That did not stop authorities to search for Louie given that there were a lot of interest - even through social media, about his whereabouts. Wichita Police Det. Matt Lang said their visit to the residence brought quite a stir because they had been there before.

"They didn't expect us back, they thought it was a done deal, closed, forgotten case," Lang explained. "But like I said, through social media and a lot of interest not only in Joyland but the clown in particular, kind of kept it alive."

Mayes had been convicted of sexually abusing a child in Harvey County and is currently serving jail time. 

Louie, considered to be one of Wichita's priced possessions is valued at US$10,000. Police said another suspect may be involved in the case, but refused to reveal the identity just yet.  The suspects could face felony theft charges.

Louie is now 50 years old but his smile and the joy he brings to locals seem to have never aged.

TagsLouie the Clown, Wichita clown, sex offender, missing clown, Damian Mayes, Joyland