It’s right out of a movie script; a perfect caper taken literally to the grave by a pair of expert thieves.

A decades-long investigation by the FBI – an agency that can’t seem to cross the finish line unless it concerns a Republican – focused on the now-deceased Rita and Jerry Alter. The couple was found to have stolen abstract impressionist Willem de Kooning’s “Woman-Ochre” from the University of Arizona Museum of Art in 1985.

Although the investigation is now concluded, it turns out there’s more where that came from, according to the Arizona Republic.

A pair of former New York City teachers who settled in New Mexico, the late Alters reportedly owned quite a few high-dollar works of art in addition to Kooning’s piece – roughly valued at $160 million today – which they would either sell or barter in order to facilitate their lavish lifestyle.

Rita Alter was paid an annual salary as a speech pathologist in Silver City, New Mexico, which only amounted to $16,171. Neighbors who were interviewed said they always found it odd that on just two teachers’ salaries, the couple would flippantly jaunt off to such exotic locations as Hong Kong, Chile, Tasmania, Nepal, India, Japan and the Caribbean.

In total, the FBI concluded the couple had visited 145 countries.

Although Jerry endured a major heart attack in 2002, the couple continued to travel extensively. Their last trip together was to the Caribbean islands of Grenada, St. Vincent and Dominica. In 2012, Jerry suffered a stroke that would end his life at age 81.

Following Rita’s death a short time after, her rat nephew told the FBI that the Alters had accumulated a lot of wealth via art; more than $1 million dollars worth of bonds in Rita’s name he claimed.

The previously unsolved mystery is the focal point of a 2018 documentary titled: “Discovering the de Kooning: A WFAA Documentary,” part of which can be viewed below.

It has a pretty good hook.

Ron Roseman was almost finished liquidating his late aunt’s estate last summer when the phone rang. It was the FBI. An agent wanted to know where his aunt, Rita Alter, got a painting that hung behind her bedroom door. Roseman had seen the abstract expressionist painting that the agent was inquiring about but had no idea where his aunt got it. “Why?” Roseman asked. Because it was stolen from a museum 32 years ago and is valued at $160-million, the FBI told him. That’s where this mystery begins into one of the biggest unsolved art thefts in U.S. history.

According to the University of Arizona, the newly-recovered painting will be up for display – once again – at the University of Arizona Museum of Art in May 2023 as the central piece in a new exhibit named, “Restored: The Return of Woman-Ochre.”

According to public records, the heist went down simply and quickly.

As the Daily Mail regaled:

A day after Thanksgiving 1985 a security guard at the University Of Arizona Museum Of Art unlocked the front doors to let an employee inside when a man and a woman walked in behind the staffer.

Because the museum was about to open for the day, the guard did not tell them to leave. The man walked upstairs to the second floor of the museum as the woman stayed and chatted with the security guard.

Roughly 15 minutes after entering the museum, the man and woman left in a hurry. Sensing something was wrong, the guard walked up to the second floor to discover that de Kooning’s ‘Woman-Ochre’ painting had been cut from its frame.

Eat your heart out, Danny Ocean.

Get the latest BPR news delivered free to your inbox daily. SIGN UP HERE

• Author
• Recent Posts

Frank Webster

Staff Writer

Frank (Chip) Webster is a musician and composer, former teacher of percussion and U.S. Army Infantry veteran. He holds a degree in English from Arizona State University.

Latest posts by Frank Webster (see all)

• The 2024 eclipse, a lesson in reverence and faith … and a reason to believe - April 10, 2024
• Ukraine lawmaker pleased with Dem performance, says early results from midterms ‘very good’ for us - November 9, 2022
• Casey Anthony sits for first TV interview since being acquitted for murdering her 2-yr-old daughter - November 9, 2022

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.