Prized viola found smashed after being stolen from Philadelphia musician

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A prized viola, which was recently stolen from a Philadelphia musician, has been found smashed to bits in West Philadelphia.

It's owner tells Action News that she feels as if she's lost a family member.

The remains of the instrument were discovered Wednesday in a vacant lot on the 3900 block of Haverford Avenue.

The thieves swiped the beloved viola from Nancy Drye's home on Hamilton Street in Powelton. It's valuable, it was last appraised in 2008 for $9,000. But more than that, musicians become attached to their instruments and this one meant a lot to its owner.

"It's very precious to me, and it's going to be hard to replace," said Nancy Drye.

Nancy is talking about her viola - "her baby," she calls it.

She is a community member in the University of Pennsylvania Orchestra, playing alongside the students, and has owned the viola since 1978.

But now her beloved viola, possibly made in Paris in 1790, is gone.

Earlier this month Drye left to go out for dinner, and within the two hours she was gone someone broke into her home and took the instrument, along with three laptops.

The next day somebody found the case discarded a few blocks away, but the viola was not in it.

Nancy says, "It feels like a death in the family, but at least I don't have to worry anymore."