The Flighty Case of the Missing Turkey

Miller Foods may have participated in the , but they never expected their oldest and largest turkey, Tom to trot away – an inflatable turkey that is.

The 8-foot tall turkey went missing from the family-run food distributor sometime between 9 p.m. Tuesday. and 5 a.m. Wednesday during its week of events that feature local businesses and organizations all while celebrating the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.

“He’s part of our family,” said Capri Frank, project manager for Miller Foods’ Oma’s Pride.

Tom normally sits outside the Thanksgiving tent that will open on Saturday at 9 a.m. and has done so for 18 years.

"He's our main greeter," Frank said. "People expect to see him."

He has yellow, orange and brown markings and deflates easily, Frank said.

"He's a handsome, 8-foot tall [turkey], rather heavy," Frank said. "Rather flighty," she added, quoting a family member's quip

Jokes aside, the Millers are sad he is gone, so much so that they are offering a free fresh Miller Foods turkey in exchange for Tom's "safe return."

Chief Mark Rinaldo said Avon police are investigating the incident. There were no leads as of Wednesday evening.

Tom's disappearance has caught the attention of statewide media, including The Hartford Courant, NBC Connecticut, MSNBC and WFSB.