Willie Nelson’s stuffed armadillo mascot is returned after being taken from Vegas-area resort

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This Monday, March 31, 2014, image provided by the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort in Henderson, Nev., shows Willie Nelson, left, during a performance at the resort, that also shows his stuffed armadillo, center. The stuffed armadillo that serves as an on-stage mascot for country music legend Nelson has been returned after being kidnapped from a Las Vegas-area show. Officials say the critter, named Ol\' Dillo, vanished while audience members were greeting Nelson after a Monday night concert. (AP Photo/Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort, Paul Citone)

HENDERSON, Nev. – A stuffed armadillo that serves as an on-stage mascot for country music legend Willie Nelson has been returned after being kidnapped from a Las Vegas-area show.

Officials at the Westin Lake Las Vegas resort in Henderson say the critter, named Ol’ Dillo, vanished while audience members were greeting Nelson after a Monday night concert.

Westin marketing director Matt Boland says Nelson’s crew called in the middle of the night from the road, asking the resort to scour surveillance footage after the mascot went missing.

Boland says he was outside the hotel Tuesday morning when an apologetic man drove up and handed him a shoebox and instructions to return it to Nelson.

Boland says the armadillo was inside and has been sent to the singer in California.

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