Help Find Zeke The Melrose Zombie’s Missing Arms

MELROSE, MA — The search is on for the missing limbs of a lawn-ornament zombie display that has become a beloved fixture for some in Melrose’s Horace Mann neighborhood over the past year.

Decorated year-round with various seasonal decor, Zeke appeared to have had his arms taken overnight on Tuesday night, according to Melrose residents Amy Vanko and Andrew Rhodes, prompting a call for help on Wednesday morning.

“If you happen to come across grey grasping forearms anywhere, can you please return them?” Vanko wrote in a message on social media.

Zeke traces his history back two years, Vanko said, as she and Rhodes initially placed a trio of mini zombie heads in their yard to celebrate Halloween in 2020. They decided to leave the heads on display through the following year, decorating them with new wares depending on the season.

Come 2021, they upgraded to Zeke, a full zombie display that appears as though it is crawling out of the ground, Vanko said. The seasonal tradition continued, with Zeke wearing bunny ears and a nose for Easter, a party hat and glasses for New Years and a full Santa hat and beard for Christmas.

“It’s become a thing that the neighborhood kids look out for, and clearly a subset of people really appreciated,” Vanko told Patch on Wednesday.

Vanko said she and Rhodes awoke to “a startling sight” on Wednesday morning.

“Our family’s yard zombie, Zeke, has been assaulted and had his appendages pilfered!” she wrote on Facebook alongside pictures of the now armless Zeke. “You can see from the expression frozen on his face that his screams for help went unheard and unanswered.”

“I’m sure he’s not beloved by all, but he brings us and many friends much joy and comic relief,” Vanko continued.

Vanko called the display “a source of silliness in this uptight, cruel world,” asking anyone who sees Zeke’s missing arms to reach out.

“If you’re the culprit, we’ll require no retribution, but wouldn’t turn down a manicure if you kindly return him,” she added.