Popular Frightland mannequin stolen along Del. 13

Frightland Haunted Park and Middletown locals are without its favorite scream park employee after a man stole the female figure along Dupont Parkway early Friday morning.

The mannequin — affectionately known as model employee “DD Graves” by staff and patrons — stood atop a wing of the downed plane along Del. 13, holding various signs and helping to advertise the latest happenings at the haunted park.

But early Friday morning, a man attempted to steal DD, making off with one of her arms, and left behind a dismembered torso and legs still bolted to the plane with a “Now Hiring” sign hanging around her hips.

“DD is shaken but strong in her recovery,” Frightland posted on its website Friday. “We are saddened but supportive of her decision to retire from her duties at Frightland Haunted Attractions. ... She’s a survivor and we will sincerely miss her.”

Kyle McMahon, who handles marketing for Frightland, said they discovered the damage to “DD” Friday and immediately contacted Delaware State Police Troop 9.

The park is also offering a $500 reward for anyone with information leading to the successful arrest of the person who stole the figure, he added.

“At this point, we’re asking the public, ‘If you see this picture, does this guy look familiar? Did your buddy come home at three in the morning with an arm?’ he said, beginning to laugh. “I know it sounds kind of funny, but it really does represent something bigger.”

Surveillance footage from the park shows a man pull up on Dupont Parkway (Del. 13) in front of Frightland’s property at about 2:22 a.m. Friday, get out of his car and apparently leave it running, McMahon said.

He then ran up to the plane DD stood on, tripping into a drainage ditch which McMahon said currently has about two feet of water in it.

Not realizing the mannequin was bolted into the ground, the man tried to lift DD up, ripping her in half at her waist and breaking her into multiple pieces.

The man then grabbed one of her arms and ran off back to his car, where he quickly pulled away.

“I guess it kind of freaked him out, and then he panicked,” McMahon said. “It’s kind of crazy but what’s funny is how much the community has gotten around this.”

Many community members routinely share on Facebook what DD is wearing and take photos of her from the road, McMahon said.

“It’s something the community really seems to enjoy,” McMahon said. “People will stop on the side of the road, take selfies from the side of the road with her. There’s even a group of truckers that beep at her as they pass by.”

He’s not sure why someone would want to steal the mannequin, but did note that Frightland has increased its security since the incident early Friday morning.

The park, best known for its eight “terrifying attractions” from late September to early November, holds fundraisers at the property throughout the year to benefit the Leukemia Research Foundation of Delaware.

Frightland is scheduled to host a Delaware Mud Run on Sept. 20 to benefit the Leukemia Research Foundation and McMahon said they’re hopeful to have a replacement DD by race time. She’s officially retiring from her outdoor post, he added.

“It’s kind of sad that somebody’s got to ruin something that’s good,” he said.

Anyone with information can contact Frightland at (302) 838-0256 or haunt@frightland.com. Tips can also be provided to Delaware State Police Troop 9 at (302) 378-5749 in reference to the Frightland DD Graves case.

Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.