Even after bringing the heat, Daniel Helfrich’s man-sized pepper is still missing, but the Internet-famous UF student has high hopes and police are on the lookout.
Social media sites exploded last week with pictures of Helfrich and his ill-fated pepper, which led Chili’s representatives to reach out to his girlfriend, Ellen Toneff, on Twitter.
They asked her if she could bring him to the Archer Road location today where they are planning to surprise him with an item they are bringing in a truck, Toneff said.
“He hates surprises!” Toneff said, joking. “He’s probably going to kill me.”
She said she thinks they are going to give him a replacement chili but isn’t certain.
Chili’s is now sharing the story on its social media to help catch the perpetrators.
If Helfrich’s generous $20 Chili’s gift card reward wasn’t enough, Chili’s is now doubling that amount to see the chili back to its rightful owner.
“Nobody has helped,” Helfrich said, unaware of what is to come.
Helfrich said the Pavilion on 62nd apartment complex failed to mention that cameras were near the entrance, possibly showing the pepper culprits.
Toneff said she feels that whoever took the chili is now feeling the heat due to all the media attention.
“Now, they probably ditched the chili,” Toneff said. “I would be freaking out.”
[A version of this story ran on page 1 on 7/29/2014 under the headline "UF student’s stolen chili remains hot subject"]
Daniel Helfrich, a 19-year-old UF classics junior, stands beside his newly bartered red pepper in the parking lot of Chili’s on Archer Road before it went missing.
