María Victoria Bayo, the reigning Miss World Dominican Republic, had reported a theft at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, according to El Nuevo Dia in Puerto Rico. The beauty queen’s crown, valued at US$10,000, and her Miss World sash were stolen early in the morning of Wednesday, 24 July 2024.
The incident was referred to the Carolina Criminal Investigations Corps Property Division for further investigation.
The Puerto Rican authorities urged anyone with information to come forward.
And a 57-year old Puerto Rican woman did. As reported, the woman contacted the Police via social media and returned the crown and sash. She said she had found the package and took it to safeguard it. She is described as a traveler who was visiting in Puerto Rico.
According to the police report, Bayo inadvertently had left a brown case containing the royal regalia on a chair in the JetBlue terminal while she was picking up her luggage from the conveyor. It was around 3:30am. When Bayo returned to get the crown, the case was gone. The crown is described as silver-plated and adorned with various colored Swarovski crystals.
El Nuevo Dia describes Bayo as a 24-year-old volleyball player and aspiring pilot, who won the Miss World Dominican Republic title in 2023. She will not press charges.
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El Nuevo Dia
El Nuevo Dia
7 Dias
25 July 2024