Man Who Found Oscars Robbed

Sat., June 3, 2000

The man awarded $50,000 for finding dozens of missing Oscars days before this year’s Academy Awards program says he lost $40,000 of it to burglars who broke into his apartment while he was on vacation.

“I didn’t get a chance to even enjoy my money,” a dejected Willie Fulgear said Friday.

He said he returned home Thursday to discover burglars had made off with a 500-pound safe containing the cash and jewelry. Fulgear said he kept the cash at home rather than in a bank so his son would have no trouble getting to it if anything happened to him.

Officer Ed Funes, a police spokesman, said Fulgear reported the burglary shortly after midnight Friday and the case was under investigation.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Man Who Found Oscars Robbed

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Updated: U.S., Iran stall on Hormuz reopening as oil supplies tighten

Updated: Was California mayor a spy? L.A. suburb left wondering about China’s effort to influence

ISIS second-in-command killed by U.S., Nigerian forces, presidents say