1
00:00:02,458 --> 00:00:04,125
- A Boston museum with
over a billion dollars
2
00:00:04,208 --> 00:00:06,542
in priceless paintings:
3
00:00:06,708 --> 00:00:10,917
the site of one of the
largest art thefts in history.
4
00:00:11,042 --> 00:00:12,583
- The Vermeer is one
of the most valuable
5
00:00:12,708 --> 00:00:13,958
paintings in the world.
6
00:00:15,417 --> 00:00:16,375
[tense music]
7
00:00:16,500 --> 00:00:18,458
- Despite
security precautions,
8
00:00:18,583 --> 00:00:20,833
the thieves walk right in.
[buzzer buzzes]
9
00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:22,125
- This could have
been Fort Knox.
10
00:00:22,250 --> 00:00:24,167
But you let the people in,
11
00:00:24,292 --> 00:00:25,333
then it really doesn't matter
how much security you have.
12
00:00:25,458 --> 00:00:29,708
- The brazen theft is only
the start of the story.
13
00:00:29,875 --> 00:00:31,792
Soon, there are
multiple suspects
14
00:00:31,917 --> 00:00:34,333
and a trail of dead bodies.
15
00:00:34,458 --> 00:00:36,833
- His throat was
slashed so deep
16
00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,500
that he was nearly decapitated.
17
00:00:39,583 --> 00:00:40,417
- Now that's a message.
18
00:00:40,542 --> 00:00:43,625
- And above all,
one burning question:
19
00:00:43,708 --> 00:00:47,292
will the invaluable paintings
ever be found?
20
00:00:47,417 --> 00:00:50,250
- The paintings could be here,
the paintings could be there.
21
00:00:50,375 --> 00:00:51,917
What happened to the paintings?
22
00:00:52,042 --> 00:00:54,667
[dramatic music]
23
00:00:54,833 --> 00:00:56,167
♪ ♪
24
00:00:56,333 --> 00:00:58,667
- The masterminds
behind every great heist
25
00:00:58,792 --> 00:00:59,958
see what most people don't...
26
00:01:00,083 --> 00:01:02,250
♪ ♪
27
00:01:02,375 --> 00:01:05,542
Risking everything to pull
off the score of a lifetime.
28
00:01:05,667 --> 00:01:06,958
It takes a bold plan...
29
00:01:07,083 --> 00:01:08,167
♪ ♪
30
00:01:08,250 --> 00:01:10,333
The right team...
31
00:01:10,500 --> 00:01:13,292
and the skill to stay
one step ahead of the law.
32
00:01:13,375 --> 00:01:14,375
♪ ♪
33
00:01:24,167 --> 00:01:26,958
[suspenseful music]
34
00:01:27,042 --> 00:01:29,875
♪ ♪
35
00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,667
[energetic music]
36
00:01:32,833 --> 00:01:39,708
♪ ♪
37
00:01:43,458 --> 00:01:46,000
- [chuckles]
It's the 1980s,
38
00:01:46,125 --> 00:01:48,125
and as art prices skyrocket,
39
00:01:48,250 --> 00:01:50,667
professional thieves
turned from robbing banks
40
00:01:50,792 --> 00:01:52,333
to robbing museums.
41
00:01:52,500 --> 00:01:55,125
Boston's Isabella
Stewart Gardner Museum
42
00:01:55,208 --> 00:01:57,208
is one-of-a-kind.
43
00:01:57,333 --> 00:01:59,792
A gem of a target, thanks
to its peerless collection
44
00:01:59,917 --> 00:02:01,458
of old masters.
45
00:02:01,542 --> 00:02:04,417
When it opens in 1903,
the Gardner boasts
46
00:02:04,542 --> 00:02:09,708
the largest private collection
of art in America.
47
00:02:09,833 --> 00:02:14,417
♪ ♪
48
00:02:14,542 --> 00:02:17,333
- Isabella Stewart Gardner
is a force of nature.
49
00:02:17,417 --> 00:02:20,375
She's five feet tall,
shock of red hair.
50
00:02:20,542 --> 00:02:22,750
She was someone
who used her wealth
51
00:02:22,875 --> 00:02:27,500
to create something to leave
to the city of Boston.
52
00:02:27,583 --> 00:02:28,833
♪ ♪
53
00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:30,833
- She built, in my opinion,
54
00:02:30,917 --> 00:02:32,708
one of the most beautiful
museums
55
00:02:32,833 --> 00:02:34,500
that this world has ever seen.
56
00:02:34,667 --> 00:02:36,333
- Nothing can prepare you,
really,
57
00:02:36,458 --> 00:02:37,375
for the experience
of walking into the Gardener.
58
00:02:37,542 --> 00:02:39,708
It is a riot, a visual feast.
59
00:02:39,833 --> 00:02:42,667
[suspenseful music]
60
00:02:42,792 --> 00:02:44,333
♪ ♪
61
00:02:44,458 --> 00:02:48,167
- That museum is jam-packed
with very expensive artwork,
62
00:02:48,292 --> 00:02:49,417
priceless artwork.
63
00:02:49,542 --> 00:02:51,542
♪ ♪
64
00:02:51,708 --> 00:02:53,750
She had the Vermeer,
which is one of
65
00:02:53,875 --> 00:02:56,542
what, 31 or 32 in the world?
66
00:02:56,708 --> 00:02:59,083
- Vermeer's "Concert."
What an amazing painting.
67
00:02:59,208 --> 00:03:01,167
♪ ♪
68
00:03:01,250 --> 00:03:04,042
- You have various Rembrandts.
69
00:03:04,167 --> 00:03:07,208
- "Christ on the Sea
of Galilee."
70
00:03:07,333 --> 00:03:10,167
- A museum like no other.
71
00:03:10,333 --> 00:03:12,667
You'd find something new
every time.
72
00:03:12,750 --> 00:03:14,833
♪ ♪
73
00:03:15,250 --> 00:03:16,500
[upbeat music]
74
00:03:16,625 --> 00:03:20,417
- When Isabella Stewart
Gardner dies in 1923,
75
00:03:20,542 --> 00:03:22,667
her will
establishes an endowment
76
00:03:22,792 --> 00:03:27,167
to keep the museum open
exactly how she left it.
77
00:03:27,333 --> 00:03:29,667
- The will stipulates
that no paintings
78
00:03:29,792 --> 00:03:32,583
should be taken away,
and nothing added either.
79
00:03:32,708 --> 00:03:36,250
- She was not going
to lose this museum
80
00:03:36,375 --> 00:03:39,667
to some future generation
that had terrible taste
81
00:03:39,750 --> 00:03:42,292
or a bad vision or didn't share
her love for it,
82
00:03:42,375 --> 00:03:44,542
so she wrote a will
that stipulates that
83
00:03:44,708 --> 00:03:48,083
nothing can be removed
or even moved.
84
00:03:48,208 --> 00:03:49,500
- Unfortunately,
85
00:03:49,583 --> 00:03:51,792
Gardner's will
also prevents the museum
86
00:03:51,917 --> 00:03:56,125
from making necessary upgrades
to its security systems.
87
00:03:56,250 --> 00:03:58,792
- But without her leadership
it began to fray,
88
00:03:58,917 --> 00:04:02,083
and I think security
was one of the things
89
00:04:02,208 --> 00:04:04,500
that was fraying badly.
90
00:04:04,667 --> 00:04:09,417
- By 1981, the museum security
is so outmoded
91
00:04:09,542 --> 00:04:14,500
that one East Boston mob crew
can't resist an easy score.
92
00:04:14,625 --> 00:04:19,000
- The museum had classical
music concerts twice a week.
93
00:04:19,083 --> 00:04:23,042
They were going to set off
smoke bombs at the recital...
94
00:04:23,208 --> 00:04:24,958
[classical music being played]
95
00:04:25,083 --> 00:04:27,125
Cause all sorts of havoc,
96
00:04:27,208 --> 00:04:29,750
and then steal
what they wanted to steal.
97
00:04:29,875 --> 00:04:30,792
♪ ♪
98
00:04:30,917 --> 00:04:32,667
[alarm wailing]
99
00:04:32,792 --> 00:04:36,292
Well, they got caught
by the FBI.
100
00:04:38,292 --> 00:04:41,792
But now the idea
of the museum was vulnerable,
101
00:04:41,917 --> 00:04:44,583
that gets known.
102
00:04:44,708 --> 00:04:47,333
- After this close call,
the museum decides
103
00:04:47,458 --> 00:04:50,125
to finally make
several security improvements.
104
00:04:50,208 --> 00:04:52,833
[suspenseful music]
105
00:04:52,917 --> 00:04:56,167
- One of them was
a motion detector system.
106
00:04:56,292 --> 00:04:58,417
They put sensors
in the doorways
107
00:04:58,542 --> 00:05:01,167
of each of the galleries.
108
00:05:01,292 --> 00:05:04,750
- And there is a
dot matrix printout
109
00:05:04,875 --> 00:05:06,583
of all of their movements
110
00:05:06,708 --> 00:05:10,000
that's being fed through a
printer in the guard station.
111
00:05:10,125 --> 00:05:11,583
[dot matrix printer whines]
112
00:05:11,708 --> 00:05:13,833
- High-tech solutions
are only as good
113
00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:15,708
as the people who use them,
114
00:05:15,875 --> 00:05:19,333
so the board establishes
new security protocols
115
00:05:19,417 --> 00:05:21,000
for the guards.
116
00:05:21,083 --> 00:05:23,500
- There would be two
night shift guards on duty.
117
00:05:23,625 --> 00:05:25,833
One would be
walking through the museum
118
00:05:25,917 --> 00:05:27,833
going floor to floor,
checking the rooms
119
00:05:27,917 --> 00:05:31,250
to make sure there were
no issues or disturbances.
120
00:05:31,375 --> 00:05:33,458
The other guard would
be at the guard desk,
121
00:05:33,542 --> 00:05:37,167
and monitoring the systems
by the Palace Road door.
122
00:05:37,292 --> 00:05:38,583
- Now under the desk,
there's a button
123
00:05:38,708 --> 00:05:41,292
that he could push
and alert to the police.
124
00:05:41,375 --> 00:05:42,792
[suspenseful music]
125
00:05:42,875 --> 00:05:45,500
- The Palace Road door
leads directly
126
00:05:45,625 --> 00:05:48,208
into a last line of defense
for the guards.
127
00:05:48,333 --> 00:05:49,333
- There's a man trap.
128
00:05:49,458 --> 00:05:50,667
When you have those visitors,
129
00:05:50,833 --> 00:05:52,333
you can let them
in the first door.
130
00:05:52,458 --> 00:05:53,792
And then when that door shuts,
131
00:05:53,875 --> 00:05:54,958
they're kind of
locked in there, right?
132
00:05:55,042 --> 00:05:57,917
They can leave, but
they can't get in the museum.
133
00:05:58,042 --> 00:05:59,750
- Despite the new systems,
134
00:05:59,875 --> 00:06:04,083
a new pair of professional
thieves spot a weakness.
135
00:06:04,208 --> 00:06:07,875
They picked the perfect date
for a fresh heist attempt...
136
00:06:08,042 --> 00:06:10,792
March 17, 1990.
137
00:06:10,875 --> 00:06:12,333
[rowdy upbeat music]
138
00:06:12,500 --> 00:06:14,375
- March 17 is a holy holiday
in Boston.
139
00:06:14,500 --> 00:06:15,625
St. Patrick's Day.
140
00:06:15,750 --> 00:06:17,833
♪ ♪
141
00:06:17,958 --> 00:06:21,292
- [chuckling] It's a
boozy riot across the city.
142
00:06:21,417 --> 00:06:24,417
♪ ♪
143
00:06:24,542 --> 00:06:26,417
[suspenseful music]
144
00:06:26,542 --> 00:06:29,125
- The first few hours of
the St. Patrick's night shift
145
00:06:29,208 --> 00:06:31,000
start like any other.
146
00:06:31,125 --> 00:06:34,667
The two guards take turns
patrolling the museum.
147
00:06:34,833 --> 00:06:37,958
- It's these two young men
in their early 20s
148
00:06:38,083 --> 00:06:39,708
who are guarding the museum.
149
00:06:39,833 --> 00:06:44,167
Rick Abath, a Berklee College
of Music school dropout,
150
00:06:44,250 --> 00:06:47,375
with long ringlet
rockstar hair,
151
00:06:47,500 --> 00:06:51,208
and Randy Heston,
who is also a music student.
152
00:06:51,375 --> 00:06:53,917
He likes the night shift,
he says,
153
00:06:54,042 --> 00:06:58,000
because it gives him a chance
to practice his trombone.
154
00:06:58,125 --> 00:07:00,583
- So Randy takes the desk.
155
00:07:00,708 --> 00:07:03,667
His job is to sit at the desk,
monitor cameras.
156
00:07:03,792 --> 00:07:05,792
Rick does his first rounds.
157
00:07:05,917 --> 00:07:07,750
♪ ♪
158
00:07:07,875 --> 00:07:11,708
- All the lights were out in
the museum during third shift,
159
00:07:11,875 --> 00:07:14,208
and you would walk around
with a flashlight.
160
00:07:14,333 --> 00:07:16,292
♪ ♪
161
00:07:16,375 --> 00:07:18,500
- During the second rounds
that Rick does,
162
00:07:18,667 --> 00:07:21,750
a fire alarm goes off.
163
00:07:21,875 --> 00:07:22,875
[bell ringing]
164
00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:27,792
No smoke condition,
nothing that indicates a fire.
165
00:07:27,875 --> 00:07:29,042
They turn it off.
166
00:07:29,208 --> 00:07:31,000
[alarm falls silent]
167
00:07:31,125 --> 00:07:32,708
- What we understand is that
168
00:07:32,875 --> 00:07:37,167
Rick Abath
goes to the Palace Road door
169
00:07:37,292 --> 00:07:42,292
and opens it and closes it
170
00:07:42,417 --> 00:07:45,667
and comes back into
the museum.
171
00:07:45,833 --> 00:07:49,500
♪ ♪
172
00:07:49,625 --> 00:07:53,375
- So we're talking about
March 18, 1990.
173
00:07:53,500 --> 00:07:57,667
Early morning hours of the--
past midnight, 1:00.
174
00:07:57,750 --> 00:07:59,417
♪ ♪
175
00:07:59,542 --> 00:08:01,792
It's a little bit rainy,
misty.
176
00:08:01,875 --> 00:08:03,333
Not too cold.
177
00:08:03,458 --> 00:08:04,833
- And that's when
two individuals
178
00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:06,250
walk up
to the Palace Road door...
179
00:08:06,375 --> 00:08:07,375
♪ ♪
180
00:08:07,500 --> 00:08:09,542
Ring the doorbell.
181
00:08:09,667 --> 00:08:11,083
[tense musical crescendo]
182
00:08:14,167 --> 00:08:15,917
[suspenseful music]
183
00:08:16,042 --> 00:08:19,375
- The two thieves have
a clear, detailed plan.
184
00:08:19,500 --> 00:08:21,833
They start
by approaching the museum
185
00:08:21,917 --> 00:08:25,042
wearing stolen
police uniforms.
186
00:08:25,167 --> 00:08:30,500
The only question is
will their disguises work?
187
00:08:30,625 --> 00:08:33,333
- So there they are,
outside the door.
188
00:08:33,417 --> 00:08:36,083
There's a closed circuit
TV camera
189
00:08:36,208 --> 00:08:38,208
shining right down on them.
190
00:08:38,375 --> 00:08:41,167
Inside the museum
less than 30 feet away
191
00:08:41,333 --> 00:08:43,042
and Rick sees these two men
192
00:08:43,167 --> 00:08:44,750
announcing themselves
police officers.
193
00:08:44,875 --> 00:08:46,917
"We're here
to investigate a disturbance."
194
00:08:47,042 --> 00:08:50,417
"What disturbance?
There's no disturbance here."
195
00:08:50,542 --> 00:08:53,583
- The policy
at the Gardner Museum is
196
00:08:53,708 --> 00:08:56,833
nobody gets in the museum
after it's closed.
197
00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,458
Even if it's Boston Police
or law enforcement,
198
00:08:59,542 --> 00:09:03,042
what you're supposed to do
is call Boston Police.
199
00:09:03,167 --> 00:09:06,208
- Rick Abath is familiar
with the protocol,
200
00:09:06,375 --> 00:09:08,625
but he chooses
not to follow it.
201
00:09:08,750 --> 00:09:12,292
He lets the two men
inside the first door.
202
00:09:12,375 --> 00:09:14,500
Thanks to the man trap,
203
00:09:14,583 --> 00:09:16,542
he has one more chance
to look them over.
204
00:09:16,667 --> 00:09:20,333
- Rick, he was very trusting
205
00:09:20,417 --> 00:09:22,667
and a good-hearted person.
206
00:09:22,833 --> 00:09:25,167
He decided it'd be OK
to let them in.
207
00:09:25,333 --> 00:09:27,167
♪ ♪
208
00:09:27,250 --> 00:09:28,542
[buzzer buzzes]
209
00:09:28,667 --> 00:09:32,958
And unfortunately,
it went totally wrong.
210
00:09:33,083 --> 00:09:34,500
[tense music]
211
00:09:34,583 --> 00:09:36,500
- Instead of
following protocol,
212
00:09:36,583 --> 00:09:40,500
Rick buzzes them in
and the heist is on.
213
00:09:40,667 --> 00:09:42,167
- This could have
been Fort Knox.
214
00:09:42,292 --> 00:09:43,375
But you let the people in,
215
00:09:43,542 --> 00:09:46,833
then it really doesn't matter
how much security you have.
216
00:09:46,958 --> 00:09:50,750
- By letting those two men
into the museum,
217
00:09:50,875 --> 00:09:54,583
Rick Abath unleashed the
greatest art heist in history.
218
00:09:54,708 --> 00:09:58,250
♪ ♪
219
00:10:02,375 --> 00:10:04,333
[upbeat music]
220
00:10:04,458 --> 00:10:05,375
♪ ♪
221
00:10:05,542 --> 00:10:09,000
- March 18, 1:24 a.m.
222
00:10:09,083 --> 00:10:11,083
Two thieves
posing as policemen
223
00:10:11,208 --> 00:10:12,917
make it through
the first security door
224
00:10:13,042 --> 00:10:14,542
at the Gardner Museum.
225
00:10:14,667 --> 00:10:17,458
- He saw the uniforms
and just assumed
226
00:10:17,583 --> 00:10:19,667
that they
were telling the truth.
227
00:10:19,750 --> 00:10:23,000
- Guard Rick Abath
has one last opportunity
228
00:10:23,083 --> 00:10:25,542
to stop them
getting any farther.
229
00:10:25,667 --> 00:10:28,333
Instead, he buzzes them in.
230
00:10:28,458 --> 00:10:31,542
- Then Rick says to them,
"There's nothing going on."
231
00:10:31,708 --> 00:10:33,500
[dramatic tense music]
232
00:10:33,625 --> 00:10:36,583
They ask,
"Who else is in the museum?"
233
00:10:36,708 --> 00:10:40,042
"There's one other guard."
"Call him down."
234
00:10:40,208 --> 00:10:45,042
And Rick has a two-way radio.
He calls down Randy.
235
00:10:45,208 --> 00:10:47,792
- As that second guard comes
to the guard desk,
236
00:10:47,917 --> 00:10:51,042
the individuals claiming
to be Boston police officers
237
00:10:51,208 --> 00:10:53,875
tell the guard at the desk,
"Can I see your ID?
238
00:10:54,042 --> 00:10:57,625
And at that point,
the alleged officers say,
239
00:10:57,708 --> 00:11:00,500
"There's a warrant out
for your arrest."
240
00:11:00,667 --> 00:11:01,792
- And Rick says,
"Mo, no, no, no, no, no.
241
00:11:01,875 --> 00:11:03,833
I'm not wanted for anything."
242
00:11:03,958 --> 00:11:06,833
By stepping away,
he is going to be out of reach
243
00:11:06,958 --> 00:11:08,667
from hitting the alarm bell.
244
00:11:08,792 --> 00:11:10,833
The one security alarm bell
the museum has
245
00:11:10,958 --> 00:11:12,708
to the outside world.
246
00:11:12,833 --> 00:11:14,208
- And at that point,
247
00:11:14,333 --> 00:11:16,833
they place handcuffs
on the first guard.
248
00:11:16,958 --> 00:11:19,208
The other guard who came down
to the first floor,
249
00:11:19,375 --> 00:11:21,875
they tell him to get up
against the wall.
250
00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:24,167
- And Randy's going,
"Oh, my God.
251
00:11:24,292 --> 00:11:27,083
What is going on?
What did Rick do?"
252
00:11:27,208 --> 00:11:29,500
But then no sooner
is he wondering this,
253
00:11:29,583 --> 00:11:32,875
then he's being handcuffed.
254
00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,500
- That's when the
one bad guy declared,
255
00:11:35,625 --> 00:11:38,167
"Gentlemen, this is a robbery."
256
00:11:38,292 --> 00:11:40,667
- The fake police take control
of the real guards
257
00:11:40,792 --> 00:11:42,417
and tell them what will happen
258
00:11:42,542 --> 00:11:44,958
if they tell the cops anything
about the robbery,
259
00:11:45,042 --> 00:11:47,083
and it's not pretty.
260
00:11:47,208 --> 00:11:49,583
- Tells them, "We now know who
you are and where you live.
261
00:11:49,708 --> 00:11:53,625
"Keep quiet, cooperate,
and don't ever say anything
262
00:11:53,708 --> 00:11:56,833
or we're going
to come hunt you down."
263
00:11:56,917 --> 00:11:58,667
- They proceed
to tape their eyes
264
00:11:58,750 --> 00:12:01,792
so they can't see where they're
going and then they're moved.
265
00:12:01,875 --> 00:12:03,500
Both led down to the basement.
266
00:12:03,583 --> 00:12:09,708
♪ ♪
267
00:12:09,833 --> 00:12:12,167
- At that moment,
those guards didn't know
268
00:12:12,292 --> 00:12:14,083
if they were going to live
or die.
269
00:12:14,208 --> 00:12:16,042
- With the guards
under control,
270
00:12:16,167 --> 00:12:20,167
the men now have free reign
of the entire museum.
271
00:12:20,292 --> 00:12:22,167
But their movements
are still being tracked
272
00:12:22,292 --> 00:12:25,458
by the motion detectors
throughout the building.
273
00:12:25,583 --> 00:12:29,417
- The dot matrix printer
that is tracking movement
274
00:12:29,542 --> 00:12:34,208
through the galleries
shows exactly where they went,
275
00:12:34,333 --> 00:12:36,667
for how long,
and what they did there.
276
00:12:36,750 --> 00:12:38,625
It's the closest thing,
I think,
277
00:12:38,708 --> 00:12:40,208
to sort of peeking
through a keyhole
278
00:12:40,333 --> 00:12:43,167
and watching
the whole thing unfold.
279
00:12:43,292 --> 00:12:46,042
- The two thieves
head to the second floor
280
00:12:46,167 --> 00:12:49,458
filled with masterpieces
of the Dutch Golden Age.
281
00:12:49,542 --> 00:12:51,167
They start with a painting
282
00:12:51,250 --> 00:12:54,208
worth an estimated
$100 million,
283
00:12:54,375 --> 00:12:58,958
Rembrandt's "Christ in the
Storm on the Sea of Galilee."
284
00:12:59,042 --> 00:13:01,000
- It's an enormous painting
on which we see Christ
285
00:13:01,083 --> 00:13:03,375
and the Apostles at sea
in a storm.
286
00:13:03,500 --> 00:13:05,625
♪ ♪
287
00:13:05,708 --> 00:13:07,750
And the apostles look like
288
00:13:07,875 --> 00:13:10,042
they're staring death
in the face
289
00:13:10,167 --> 00:13:14,208
and Christ alone
is just serene among them.
290
00:13:14,333 --> 00:13:16,375
And if you look very closely,
there's Rembrandt.
291
00:13:16,500 --> 00:13:17,708
He's painted himself in it.
292
00:13:17,875 --> 00:13:19,500
So it's a remarkable painting.
293
00:13:19,625 --> 00:13:22,958
It's full of movement and fury
and it's his only seascape,
294
00:13:23,042 --> 00:13:24,833
so it is one of a kind.
295
00:13:24,917 --> 00:13:26,750
♪ ♪
296
00:13:26,875 --> 00:13:29,792
The way they take it is brutal.
297
00:13:29,875 --> 00:13:32,125
[abrasive dissonant music]
298
00:13:32,208 --> 00:13:34,708
They slash it from
its rosewood stretcher.
299
00:13:34,875 --> 00:13:38,333
[dramatic music]
300
00:13:38,458 --> 00:13:41,667
They slash it
right out of the frame.
301
00:13:41,792 --> 00:13:43,833
- They did
the same butcher job
302
00:13:43,958 --> 00:13:46,667
to the prize of the room,
Vermeer's "Concert."
303
00:13:46,792 --> 00:13:50,333
- So they're really
wreaking havoc inside the room.
304
00:13:50,417 --> 00:13:53,083
♪ ♪
305
00:13:53,208 --> 00:13:55,750
- What they did
to priceless art was violent.
306
00:13:55,875 --> 00:13:56,833
[jazz music]
[glass shatters]
307
00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,917
- There's broken glass
and splinters everywhere.
308
00:14:00,042 --> 00:14:02,375
- They take
a Rembrandt etching.
309
00:14:02,542 --> 00:14:04,042
It's about the size
of postage stamp,
310
00:14:04,167 --> 00:14:06,833
but it's in a very
elaborate frame.
311
00:14:06,917 --> 00:14:08,917
And we know that
they spend the time
312
00:14:09,042 --> 00:14:11,833
unscrewing every screw
on that frame.
313
00:14:11,958 --> 00:14:16,333
Requires a special tool.
314
00:14:16,458 --> 00:14:19,583
- If you're stealing millions
of dollars' worth of paintings,
315
00:14:19,708 --> 00:14:21,042
you would imagine
time would be of the essence.
316
00:14:21,167 --> 00:14:24,167
That you wouldn't be spending
time unscrewing this item
317
00:14:24,250 --> 00:14:26,875
and taking it out of the frame
when frankly,
318
00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:28,417
you probably could have
put it in your pocket.
319
00:14:28,542 --> 00:14:30,875
- And they took one more thing
from the Dutch room,
320
00:14:31,042 --> 00:14:34,000
which doesn't fit
with the theme of that room.
321
00:14:34,083 --> 00:14:37,708
A 12th century Chinese gu,
or beaker.
322
00:14:37,875 --> 00:14:41,708
- It's an ancient Chinese vase
that they decided to take.
323
00:14:41,875 --> 00:14:43,542
You'd think you could just
grab that off the table,
324
00:14:43,667 --> 00:14:45,833
but that was actually
screwed to the table.
325
00:14:45,958 --> 00:14:48,208
So somebody wasted
significant time
326
00:14:48,333 --> 00:14:50,583
getting that gu, which, again,
327
00:14:50,708 --> 00:14:54,833
is not close to being
in the top 300 items of value
328
00:14:54,917 --> 00:14:56,250
in that museum.
329
00:14:56,375 --> 00:14:59,833
♪ ♪
330
00:14:59,958 --> 00:15:03,458
- There seems to be no pattern
to the items they're taking.
331
00:15:03,542 --> 00:15:06,000
They aren't the most valuable,
nor the easiest to carry.
332
00:15:06,083 --> 00:15:07,458
The violent way the thieves
333
00:15:07,542 --> 00:15:09,125
cut the paintings
from the frames...
334
00:15:09,208 --> 00:15:10,500
[scoffing chuckle]
335
00:15:10,625 --> 00:15:13,833
Suggest they don't understand
the true value of the art.
336
00:15:13,958 --> 00:15:16,417
[dramatic music]
337
00:15:16,542 --> 00:15:17,958
- In the Short Gallery,
338
00:15:18,042 --> 00:15:21,542
they take five
equestrian sketches by Degas.
339
00:15:21,708 --> 00:15:22,833
Not his usual fare.
340
00:15:22,958 --> 00:15:25,833
- It just seemed like, "Oh,
those look like nice drawings.
341
00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:27,417
Let's take those, too."
342
00:15:27,542 --> 00:15:29,625
♪ ♪
343
00:15:29,750 --> 00:15:34,792
- And they also tried to
take a silk Napoleonic flag.
344
00:15:34,917 --> 00:15:38,208
- But they couldn't get
that banner out of its frame.
345
00:15:38,333 --> 00:15:40,750
But they take the finial...
346
00:15:40,875 --> 00:15:43,958
the eagle-shaped finial
at the top of the flagpole.
347
00:15:44,083 --> 00:15:46,208
[tense music]
348
00:15:46,375 --> 00:15:48,500
- They take the final painting
of the heist
349
00:15:48,667 --> 00:15:51,958
from an entirely different
part of the museum.
350
00:15:52,083 --> 00:15:55,792
- There's a painting taken
from the Blue Room,
351
00:15:55,875 --> 00:15:57,292
which is on the first floor.
352
00:15:57,375 --> 00:16:00,083
And that is Manet's
"Chez Tortoni."
353
00:16:00,208 --> 00:16:02,667
It's a portrait of a man
wearing a top hat.
354
00:16:02,792 --> 00:16:04,833
He has brown eyes and
he's kind of looking at you
355
00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:07,042
in this beguiling way.
356
00:16:07,208 --> 00:16:09,000
- And what's interesting
is that
357
00:16:09,083 --> 00:16:10,333
there's no motion detected
358
00:16:10,458 --> 00:16:12,375
in that room
during the robbery.
359
00:16:12,542 --> 00:16:14,667
- While they may not know
a lot about the art
360
00:16:14,792 --> 00:16:16,917
they're stealing,
they do seem to know a lot
361
00:16:17,042 --> 00:16:19,333
about the museum's
security setup.
362
00:16:19,458 --> 00:16:22,125
- The bad guys,
when they left,
363
00:16:22,250 --> 00:16:24,625
they saw the
motion detector transcript
364
00:16:24,750 --> 00:16:27,167
was being printed out
at the guard's desk
365
00:16:27,292 --> 00:16:30,000
and they ripped that out
to steal the transcript
366
00:16:30,125 --> 00:16:32,750
of where they had been,
how they had done it.
367
00:16:32,875 --> 00:16:34,375
- Now what they didn't realize
368
00:16:34,500 --> 00:16:38,333
is that the computer hard drive
kept a record
369
00:16:38,500 --> 00:16:39,917
of what was on that printout.
370
00:16:40,042 --> 00:16:41,208
So while they took the paper,
371
00:16:41,333 --> 00:16:43,333
we were able
to determine after,
372
00:16:43,458 --> 00:16:45,167
by using the hard drive
of the computer,
373
00:16:45,333 --> 00:16:46,750
where they had been.
374
00:16:46,875 --> 00:16:49,500
[VCR clicking]
375
00:16:49,625 --> 00:16:51,500
Then the thieves go
into the security office
376
00:16:51,583 --> 00:16:54,833
and take the videotape
from that evening.
377
00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,417
So obviously,
we couldn't see
378
00:16:57,542 --> 00:16:59,792
what the security cameras
showed during the robbery.
379
00:16:59,875 --> 00:17:02,458
♪ ♪
380
00:17:02,583 --> 00:17:05,083
One leaves first,
and a few minutes later,
381
00:17:05,208 --> 00:17:07,417
the second leave,
and that's it.
382
00:17:07,542 --> 00:17:09,292
They get in the car,
presumably, drive away.
383
00:17:09,375 --> 00:17:11,000
And those paintings
or individuals
384
00:17:11,125 --> 00:17:12,750
are never seen
or heard from again.
385
00:17:12,875 --> 00:17:15,542
- What we know is that
the thieves were in the museum
386
00:17:15,667 --> 00:17:18,542
for 81 minutes,
which is an astonishing length
387
00:17:18,708 --> 00:17:20,333
of time for a heist.
388
00:17:20,458 --> 00:17:23,292
Most heists are smash-and-grab.
389
00:17:23,417 --> 00:17:25,667
You know, three minutes tops.
390
00:17:25,833 --> 00:17:27,167
It makes me wonder...
391
00:17:27,250 --> 00:17:28,958
[laughing]
Why didn't they take more?
392
00:17:29,083 --> 00:17:31,167
- In those 81 minutes,
393
00:17:31,333 --> 00:17:34,167
the thieves take
13 priceless pieces of art
394
00:17:34,250 --> 00:17:37,208
and vanish into thin air.
395
00:17:37,333 --> 00:17:41,375
The museum sits quiet
for the next five hours.
396
00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:45,417
♪ ♪
397
00:17:45,542 --> 00:17:50,417
- So it's the morning
of Sunday, March 18.
398
00:17:50,542 --> 00:17:53,000
The guards for the next shift
show up.
399
00:17:53,083 --> 00:17:59,625
♪ ♪
400
00:17:59,750 --> 00:18:02,250
- The day shift comes
and realize there's a problem.
401
00:18:02,375 --> 00:18:03,167
The guards aren't here.
402
00:18:03,250 --> 00:18:06,125
[dramatic music]
403
00:18:06,250 --> 00:18:08,458
♪ ♪
404
00:18:08,542 --> 00:18:11,125
- We've reached
a new frontier here
405
00:18:11,208 --> 00:18:12,708
in the annals of art crime.
406
00:18:12,833 --> 00:18:16,417
♪ ♪
407
00:18:16,542 --> 00:18:18,000
I mean, this is brazen.
This is big.
408
00:18:18,083 --> 00:18:19,542
♪ ♪
409
00:18:23,708 --> 00:18:24,958
[dramatic music]
410
00:18:25,042 --> 00:18:26,500
- At 7:45 Sunday morning,
411
00:18:26,667 --> 00:18:29,375
the day shift arrives
at the Gardner Museum.
412
00:18:29,500 --> 00:18:32,708
Normally, the night guards
buzz them in.
413
00:18:32,833 --> 00:18:34,750
Not today.
414
00:18:34,875 --> 00:18:37,500
[tense music]
415
00:18:37,583 --> 00:18:39,417
♪ ♪
416
00:18:39,542 --> 00:18:43,333
As soon as they step inside,
they know something's wrong.
417
00:18:43,458 --> 00:18:45,625
After they enter
the Dutch room,
418
00:18:45,750 --> 00:18:47,833
they call the police.
419
00:18:47,917 --> 00:18:52,125
- Boston police come.
They sweep the museum.
420
00:18:52,208 --> 00:18:55,833
- They find a scene
of destruction.
421
00:18:55,958 --> 00:18:58,667
It's very clear that
this has been a very brazen
422
00:18:58,833 --> 00:19:02,000
and very violent robbery.
423
00:19:02,167 --> 00:19:05,792
- Investigators are alarmed
by the destruction they see
424
00:19:05,917 --> 00:19:07,667
and the art they don't.
425
00:19:07,750 --> 00:19:10,833
- They took all of the
Rembrandts off the walls.
426
00:19:10,917 --> 00:19:14,042
- It's a half a billion
up to a billion dollars' worth
427
00:19:14,208 --> 00:19:15,833
of paintings.
428
00:19:15,958 --> 00:19:19,333
- One of them, mercifully,
was not stolen.
429
00:19:19,500 --> 00:19:23,458
It's a large self-portrait
of Rembrandt at the age of 23
430
00:19:23,542 --> 00:19:28,417
that was off the wall and
turned away from the doorway.
431
00:19:28,542 --> 00:19:31,500
- It was worth many, many
times more than the etching.
432
00:19:31,625 --> 00:19:33,000
It seems like
they took it off the wall
433
00:19:33,083 --> 00:19:35,000
and then forgot about it.
434
00:19:35,125 --> 00:19:37,417
- Ten minutes
after they arrive,
435
00:19:37,542 --> 00:19:39,375
the police
locate the missing guards.
436
00:19:39,542 --> 00:19:41,667
- They find the two guards
437
00:19:41,792 --> 00:19:45,625
gagged and bound
in the basement of the museum.
438
00:19:45,750 --> 00:19:48,583
- Each is handcuffed about
50 feet away from each other,
439
00:19:48,708 --> 00:19:50,500
and their heads
are duct taped.
440
00:19:50,583 --> 00:19:52,167
They're duct taped this way,
441
00:19:52,333 --> 00:19:55,208
they're duct taped
around their eyes.
442
00:19:55,333 --> 00:19:57,500
- So of course,
that was traumatic for them.
443
00:19:57,583 --> 00:20:00,333
- Relieved that both guards
were alive,
444
00:20:00,500 --> 00:20:02,583
authorities immediately
work with them
445
00:20:02,708 --> 00:20:04,708
to build a description
of the suspects.
446
00:20:04,875 --> 00:20:06,667
- What these thieves
looked like
447
00:20:06,792 --> 00:20:09,625
depended on the memory of the
two men who had seen them.
448
00:20:09,708 --> 00:20:11,875
- They believe they had
Boston Police uniforms.
449
00:20:12,042 --> 00:20:14,042
One was, I think,
shorter and stocky.
450
00:20:14,167 --> 00:20:17,208
- Dark eyes, dark hair,
olive skin.
451
00:20:17,333 --> 00:20:20,500
- One was thinner, wiry.
One had glasses on.
452
00:20:20,625 --> 00:20:24,042
- The other has kind of
a bowl cut and dark eyes.
453
00:20:24,167 --> 00:20:25,875
- Both of them had mustaches,
454
00:20:26,042 --> 00:20:28,292
but they kept on
pressing the mustache down,
455
00:20:28,375 --> 00:20:30,083
so it gives a belief
that they were false.
456
00:20:30,208 --> 00:20:33,000
- That's about all.
457
00:20:33,083 --> 00:20:36,333
- Even more important
than what they looked like
458
00:20:36,458 --> 00:20:38,417
is how well they seemed
to know the museum's
459
00:20:38,542 --> 00:20:40,417
new security features.
460
00:20:40,542 --> 00:20:43,208
- They had gotten the guards
away from the panic button.
461
00:20:43,333 --> 00:20:45,708
- And they knew where
the cellar door was.
462
00:20:45,833 --> 00:20:48,708
- They know where
to get the videotape
463
00:20:48,833 --> 00:20:50,625
in the security
director's office,
464
00:20:50,708 --> 00:20:53,167
and they know
to take the printout.
465
00:20:53,250 --> 00:20:54,667
- In this case,
it could be an inside job.
466
00:20:54,833 --> 00:20:57,625
- As news of the robbery
shocks the art world
467
00:20:57,708 --> 00:20:59,667
and tips start coming in,
468
00:20:59,792 --> 00:21:03,792
the FBI focuses on
the most obvious possibility.
469
00:21:03,917 --> 00:21:05,292
This was an inside job.
470
00:21:05,375 --> 00:21:07,667
♪ ♪
471
00:21:07,750 --> 00:21:09,458
The FBI
takes particular interest
472
00:21:09,583 --> 00:21:11,292
in the security guard
473
00:21:11,417 --> 00:21:13,875
who made one too many mistakes
that night,
474
00:21:14,042 --> 00:21:16,708
Rick Abath.
475
00:21:16,875 --> 00:21:21,125
- Rick Abath is a 23-year-old
music school dropout
476
00:21:21,208 --> 00:21:23,458
who loves the Grateful Dead
477
00:21:23,542 --> 00:21:26,250
and jamming with his band,
Ukiah.
478
00:21:26,375 --> 00:21:29,167
- He was just a cool,
mellow guy.
479
00:21:29,250 --> 00:21:34,333
Nothing about Rick said
to me that he was subversive
480
00:21:34,500 --> 00:21:35,958
or he was up to no good.
481
00:21:36,083 --> 00:21:38,667
- I think that a lot of the
speculation in this case
482
00:21:38,792 --> 00:21:42,875
about Rick Abath's motives
and guilt
483
00:21:43,042 --> 00:21:45,333
revolve around that one act
of opening the door
484
00:21:45,458 --> 00:21:47,333
and closing the door
485
00:21:47,417 --> 00:21:49,750
and coming back inside
before the heist.
486
00:21:50,750 --> 00:21:52,625
That's a weird thing to do.
487
00:21:52,708 --> 00:21:54,542
- Why are you checking
the outside door?
488
00:21:54,667 --> 00:21:56,583
Because you can see it.
There's a window right there.
489
00:21:56,708 --> 00:21:58,583
You can just look
and see if it's ajar.
490
00:21:58,708 --> 00:22:01,167
- Is he just making sure
the door is locked,
491
00:22:01,292 --> 00:22:05,167
or is he signaling bad guys
that it's safe to come in?
492
00:22:05,292 --> 00:22:09,250
- There's one more thing that
makes Rick a prime suspect.
493
00:22:09,375 --> 00:22:11,458
- One of the masterpieces,
the Manet,
494
00:22:11,583 --> 00:22:15,792
is stolen from that
first floor Blue Room.
495
00:22:15,875 --> 00:22:19,583
- Based on the printout
from security,
496
00:22:19,708 --> 00:22:22,833
the thieves footsteps
are never found downstairs
497
00:22:22,958 --> 00:22:25,292
in the Blue Room where
the "Chez Tortoni" is taken,
498
00:22:25,375 --> 00:22:30,000
and the empty frame is left on
the security director's chair,
499
00:22:30,125 --> 00:22:33,500
which seems like a little
bit of a--you know.
500
00:22:33,583 --> 00:22:35,792
It's a little bit of a slap,
maybe.
501
00:22:35,875 --> 00:22:37,625
- Despite the
lingering questions,
502
00:22:37,708 --> 00:22:41,292
the FBI'S investigation
can't find any evidence
503
00:22:41,375 --> 00:22:43,667
tying Rick Abath to the crime.
504
00:22:43,792 --> 00:22:45,500
- I worked the case
for six years.
505
00:22:45,667 --> 00:22:47,542
There was never enough evidence
to charge anybody.
506
00:22:47,667 --> 00:22:49,833
Whether a guard,
an insider,
507
00:22:49,917 --> 00:22:53,875
never enough to pull
the trigger on an indictment.
508
00:22:54,042 --> 00:22:56,875
- Rick Abath is now a dead-end
for investigators,
509
00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:58,167
the first of many.
510
00:22:58,333 --> 00:22:59,625
Over the next several months,
511
00:22:59,750 --> 00:23:02,583
the FBI looks into
every clue they unearth,
512
00:23:02,708 --> 00:23:06,208
including a tip that the art
thieves have ties to the mob.
513
00:23:06,333 --> 00:23:07,542
[chuckles]
514
00:23:07,708 --> 00:23:09,875
More than a year
after the heist,
515
00:23:10,042 --> 00:23:11,167
they get a fresh lead
516
00:23:11,292 --> 00:23:13,667
from the Massachusetts State
Police who've been monitoring
517
00:23:13,792 --> 00:23:17,917
a crooked car shop
called TRC Auto.
518
00:23:18,042 --> 00:23:21,667
[suspenseful music]
519
00:23:21,792 --> 00:23:25,792
- TRC Auto is owned
by Carmello Merlino...
520
00:23:25,875 --> 00:23:28,375
♪ ♪
521
00:23:28,500 --> 00:23:32,583
An Italian mob guy
who has a crew of criminals.
522
00:23:32,708 --> 00:23:34,667
They're heavy hitters,
these guys.
523
00:23:34,792 --> 00:23:36,458
You need a criminal?
524
00:23:36,583 --> 00:23:38,333
You go there,
you can get yourself a criminal
525
00:23:38,458 --> 00:23:40,208
to steal anything you want.
526
00:23:40,333 --> 00:23:42,292
- The Massachusetts
State Police
527
00:23:42,375 --> 00:23:45,958
have been keeping eyes on
these guys for quite some time
528
00:23:46,083 --> 00:23:50,125
for, amongst other things,
drugs, stolen items,
529
00:23:50,250 --> 00:23:52,500
as well as the heist itself.
530
00:23:52,583 --> 00:23:54,125
- At the time,
there were informants
531
00:23:54,208 --> 00:23:56,458
who claimed that
Carmello Merlino
532
00:23:56,542 --> 00:23:58,750
had some hand either
in the actual heist
533
00:23:58,875 --> 00:24:00,125
or knew where the artwork was.
534
00:24:00,250 --> 00:24:04,667
- Law enforcement starts
to get ins on the TRC gang
535
00:24:04,792 --> 00:24:07,000
because very quickly,
they know that this is the gang
536
00:24:07,083 --> 00:24:09,750
that is most likely
the source of the heist.
537
00:24:09,875 --> 00:24:14,500
- The FBI takes a closer look
at drug dealers, thieves,
538
00:24:14,625 --> 00:24:16,833
and enforcers
surrounding Merlino.
539
00:24:16,958 --> 00:24:18,750
Two men quickly rise
to the top
540
00:24:18,875 --> 00:24:21,292
of a possible suspects list--
541
00:24:21,417 --> 00:24:26,000
George Reissfelder
and Lenny DiMuzio.
542
00:24:26,083 --> 00:24:28,917
- Some people thought
they matched the sketches
543
00:24:29,042 --> 00:24:30,625
that both guards
cooperated in.
544
00:24:30,750 --> 00:24:32,667
- Reissfelder in particular
does more than
545
00:24:32,792 --> 00:24:35,042
just fit the description.
546
00:24:35,208 --> 00:24:37,667
There are whispers that he may
have one of the paintings.
547
00:24:37,792 --> 00:24:39,458
- The thing for Reissfelder
548
00:24:39,542 --> 00:24:41,542
that elevated him
to the top of the list
549
00:24:41,667 --> 00:24:42,958
is the fact that
his own brother
550
00:24:43,042 --> 00:24:45,917
claimed to have seen
Manet's "Chez Tortoni"
551
00:24:46,042 --> 00:24:50,125
hanging over George's bed
at his apartment in Quincy.
552
00:24:50,208 --> 00:24:52,792
- Authorities are eager
to talk to Reissfelder
553
00:24:52,875 --> 00:24:56,125
and discuss
his personal art collection.
554
00:24:56,208 --> 00:24:57,500
They don't get chance.
555
00:24:57,625 --> 00:24:59,583
In March of 1991,
556
00:24:59,708 --> 00:25:03,750
he's found dead under
suspicious circumstances.
557
00:25:03,875 --> 00:25:06,292
And the Manet
he supposedly held?
558
00:25:06,375 --> 00:25:09,208
Nowhere to be found.
559
00:25:09,375 --> 00:25:14,708
- You have a guy who
is not an injector found dead.
560
00:25:14,833 --> 00:25:16,792
The needle was
still in his arm.
561
00:25:16,917 --> 00:25:20,292
And those who knew him
said he didn't inject drugs.
562
00:25:20,375 --> 00:25:22,375
He was afraid of needles,
actually,
563
00:25:22,500 --> 00:25:25,208
so it's a little suspicious.
564
00:25:25,375 --> 00:25:28,583
- What's interesting about
it is that Carmello Merlino
565
00:25:28,708 --> 00:25:30,625
was there at the house.
566
00:25:30,708 --> 00:25:33,708
He went into his apartment
before the police arrived.
567
00:25:33,833 --> 00:25:37,917
And if the "Chez Tortoni"
really was over George's bed,
568
00:25:38,042 --> 00:25:39,708
then Carmello
could have gone in there
569
00:25:39,875 --> 00:25:41,875
and moved it beforehand.
570
00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:43,375
♪ ♪
571
00:25:43,500 --> 00:25:46,000
- With Reissfelder permanently
out of the picture,
572
00:25:46,083 --> 00:25:48,875
investigators turn
to his alleged partner
573
00:25:49,042 --> 00:25:51,792
in the crime, Lenny DiMuzio.
574
00:25:51,917 --> 00:25:54,792
But just like
the Gardener paintings,
575
00:25:54,875 --> 00:25:56,875
DiMuzio is missing.
576
00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,125
- Lenny DiMuzio
visits his sister,
577
00:26:00,208 --> 00:26:03,000
disappears on that visit.
578
00:26:06,875 --> 00:26:09,708
[suspenseful music]
579
00:26:09,833 --> 00:26:12,917
- A year after the
Gardner Museum heist,
580
00:26:13,042 --> 00:26:16,500
and one of the possible
suspects is already dead.
581
00:26:16,625 --> 00:26:19,583
Another, Lenny DiMuzio,
is missing.
582
00:26:19,708 --> 00:26:22,292
Three months after
Reissfelder's body is found,
583
00:26:22,375 --> 00:26:25,917
DiMuzio resurfaces, dead.
584
00:26:26,042 --> 00:26:31,250
- Lenny DiMuzio is found
over in East Boston
585
00:26:31,375 --> 00:26:35,125
in the trunk of a car...
586
00:26:35,208 --> 00:26:39,250
and he's been shot
multiple times.
587
00:26:39,375 --> 00:26:41,333
- Another dead-end.
588
00:26:41,417 --> 00:26:44,792
Could this be Carmello Merlino
cleaning up loose ends
589
00:26:44,917 --> 00:26:46,833
or something else?
590
00:26:46,958 --> 00:26:48,833
A message to other
crew members
591
00:26:48,958 --> 00:26:50,667
who may have ties
to the heist?
592
00:26:50,750 --> 00:26:52,500
♪ ♪
593
00:26:52,583 --> 00:26:56,875
With their best leads stymied,
law enforcement gets creative.
594
00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:59,792
Some say it takes a thief
to catch one,
595
00:26:59,917 --> 00:27:03,833
so they turn to New England's
most notorious art thief,
596
00:27:03,917 --> 00:27:05,500
Myles Connor.
597
00:27:05,583 --> 00:27:07,667
[psychedelic rock music]
598
00:27:07,750 --> 00:27:09,958
- If Myles hadn't
been in prison at the time,
599
00:27:10,042 --> 00:27:12,167
people would have figured,
"Case solved. It's Myles."
600
00:27:12,292 --> 00:27:14,292
But there was some speculation
that perhaps,
601
00:27:14,375 --> 00:27:15,708
he knew who did it.
602
00:27:15,833 --> 00:27:18,083
- When authorities
interview him in jail,
603
00:27:18,208 --> 00:27:20,667
Connor tells them
quite a tale.
604
00:27:20,792 --> 00:27:22,500
- While Myles Connor
is sitting in federal prison
605
00:27:22,583 --> 00:27:24,708
in California,
he receives a visitor,
606
00:27:24,875 --> 00:27:27,667
a friend who said,
"We did this thing.
607
00:27:27,792 --> 00:27:30,167
We did it for you.
We're going to get you out."
608
00:27:30,333 --> 00:27:34,583
And by we,
he means Bobby Donati and him.
609
00:27:34,708 --> 00:27:37,375
And it makes total sense
to Myles.
610
00:27:37,500 --> 00:27:40,750
- Connor's connection
with Bobby Donati runs deep.
611
00:27:40,875 --> 00:27:43,833
They've stolen paintings
before.
612
00:27:43,917 --> 00:27:45,250
[energetic music]
613
00:27:45,375 --> 00:27:47,042
- In the 1970s,
614
00:27:47,208 --> 00:27:49,917
he and Bobby Donati
cased the Gardner.
615
00:27:50,042 --> 00:27:51,250
They were walking through
the Short Gallery,
616
00:27:51,375 --> 00:27:56,833
and Bobby Donati looked at the
top of a silk Napoleonic flag.
617
00:27:56,958 --> 00:27:59,583
He looked up at the bronze
eagle finial and said,
618
00:27:59,708 --> 00:28:01,667
"I like that."
[laughs]
619
00:28:01,792 --> 00:28:02,875
I mean, you can
kind of picture it soldered
620
00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:04,667
onto the hood of a Cadillac.
621
00:28:04,792 --> 00:28:08,125
♪ ♪
622
00:28:08,208 --> 00:28:10,625
- Investigators soon
uncover something
623
00:28:10,750 --> 00:28:12,792
even more interesting.
624
00:28:12,875 --> 00:28:17,833
Donati has close ties
to TRC Auto and its boss.
625
00:28:17,958 --> 00:28:21,208
- Bobby Donati is drawn
to this TRC gang.
626
00:28:21,333 --> 00:28:24,167
I think he finds
in Carmello Merlino
627
00:28:24,250 --> 00:28:27,500
a father figure, a patriarch
that they could please,
628
00:28:27,583 --> 00:28:31,333
that they could do things for.
629
00:28:31,458 --> 00:28:34,208
- And there's a further tie
to the heist.
630
00:28:34,375 --> 00:28:37,042
He's a race fan.
Donati loves the horses.
631
00:28:37,208 --> 00:28:39,333
- And it has been suggested
632
00:28:39,458 --> 00:28:42,750
that he just liked
these Degas horse sketches.
633
00:28:42,875 --> 00:28:44,833
He just liked them.
[laughs]
634
00:28:44,917 --> 00:28:46,917
Just took them.
635
00:28:47,042 --> 00:28:52,250
- Police scour the streets
of Boston looking for Donati.
636
00:28:52,375 --> 00:28:57,000
Unfortunately, someone else
finds Bobby first.
637
00:28:57,125 --> 00:29:00,875
- Donati is ambushed
outside his home.
638
00:29:01,042 --> 00:29:02,708
They surprise him at night.
They grab him.
639
00:29:02,833 --> 00:29:04,500
It's obvious
there's been a struggle.
640
00:29:04,625 --> 00:29:06,167
You know, blood on the porch.
641
00:29:06,292 --> 00:29:11,333
And then he's found days later
in the trunk of a car.
642
00:29:11,417 --> 00:29:13,958
- Bobby Donati was
stabbed multiple times,
643
00:29:14,042 --> 00:29:17,417
and his throat
was slashed so deep
644
00:29:17,542 --> 00:29:21,042
that he was reportedly
nearly decapitated.
645
00:29:21,167 --> 00:29:23,000
- Now that's a message.
646
00:29:23,083 --> 00:29:25,708
- Not only are the
leads drying up,
647
00:29:25,833 --> 00:29:28,000
but the bodies are piling up.
648
00:29:28,125 --> 00:29:31,292
- The issue with so many
of these theories and suspects
649
00:29:31,375 --> 00:29:34,750
is that almost all
of the prime suspects are dead.
650
00:29:34,875 --> 00:29:37,208
[suspenseful music]
651
00:29:37,333 --> 00:29:40,417
- In 1997,
seven years after the heist,
652
00:29:40,542 --> 00:29:43,583
a desperate Gardener Museum
ups the reward money
653
00:29:43,708 --> 00:29:45,667
to a whopping $5 million.
654
00:29:45,792 --> 00:29:47,250
It works.
655
00:29:47,375 --> 00:29:48,083
A few months later,
656
00:29:48,208 --> 00:29:50,333
an antiques dealer
comes forward
657
00:29:50,458 --> 00:29:55,750
with some bold claims
and some bold demands.
658
00:29:55,875 --> 00:29:57,333
[upbeat music]
659
00:29:57,458 --> 00:30:00,167
- Bill Youngworth
had a store in Brighton.
660
00:30:00,292 --> 00:30:01,833
♪ ♪
661
00:30:01,958 --> 00:30:02,917
He claims that
662
00:30:03,042 --> 00:30:05,292
he can broker the return
of the artwork.
663
00:30:05,417 --> 00:30:06,833
♪ ♪
664
00:30:06,917 --> 00:30:08,167
And he has demands.
665
00:30:08,292 --> 00:30:10,958
He wants the $5 million reward
666
00:30:11,083 --> 00:30:13,333
and he has some criminal
charges pending against him
667
00:30:13,458 --> 00:30:15,500
which he wants
to get dismissed.
668
00:30:15,625 --> 00:30:17,667
- And he wanted Myles Connor,
669
00:30:17,833 --> 00:30:20,333
the notorious New England
art thief,
670
00:30:20,458 --> 00:30:21,542
released from prison.
671
00:30:21,667 --> 00:30:24,833
♪ ♪
672
00:30:24,958 --> 00:30:26,667
- Billy Youngworth
is willing to prove
673
00:30:26,750 --> 00:30:31,125
he really has the goods,
but he doesn't trust the FBI.
674
00:30:31,208 --> 00:30:34,125
Instead,
he makes a tantalizing offer
675
00:30:34,250 --> 00:30:37,333
to a "Boston Herald"
journalist.
676
00:30:37,417 --> 00:30:39,500
Youngworth
will show the journalist
677
00:30:39,625 --> 00:30:42,333
one of the masterworks
stolen from the Gardner
678
00:30:42,458 --> 00:30:45,333
if he agrees
to write about it.
679
00:30:45,458 --> 00:30:47,625
- The journalist
gets into a car
680
00:30:47,708 --> 00:30:49,375
with people he doesn't know
681
00:30:49,500 --> 00:30:51,500
and doesn't know what's going
to happen on the other end.
682
00:30:51,625 --> 00:30:53,833
[suspenseful music]
683
00:30:53,917 --> 00:30:55,958
- He was blindfolded
and driven to someplace
684
00:30:56,042 --> 00:30:59,042
outside of New York
and taken to a warehouse.
685
00:31:00,208 --> 00:31:02,500
- You can imagine the anxiety.
686
00:31:02,667 --> 00:31:03,958
He enters a warehouse,
687
00:31:04,083 --> 00:31:06,958
which is completely dark
inside.
688
00:31:07,042 --> 00:31:09,667
There, he's walked in
and shown by flashlight
689
00:31:09,792 --> 00:31:11,833
some tubes in the corner.
690
00:31:11,917 --> 00:31:16,125
- And the reporter recounts
this canvas being unfurled,
691
00:31:16,208 --> 00:31:21,042
and what--he's only allowed
to see it for a glimpse.
692
00:31:21,167 --> 00:31:22,958
[suspenseful music]
693
00:31:27,375 --> 00:31:29,125
- Seven years
after it went missing,
694
00:31:29,250 --> 00:31:31,500
a Boston journalist
catches a glimpse
695
00:31:31,583 --> 00:31:33,250
of one of
Rembrandt's masterpieces
696
00:31:33,375 --> 00:31:37,000
in a dingy warehouse
in Brooklyn.
697
00:31:37,083 --> 00:31:39,333
- He sees "The Storm
on the Sea of Galilee."
698
00:31:39,417 --> 00:31:41,542
They roll it back up and said,
"There it is."
699
00:31:41,708 --> 00:31:44,042
And they take him back.
700
00:31:44,167 --> 00:31:46,792
The next day,
he starts writing his article.
701
00:31:46,917 --> 00:31:47,792
Big headlines:
702
00:31:47,917 --> 00:31:49,583
"We've seen it!"
703
00:31:49,708 --> 00:31:51,542
Front cover, "Boston Herald,"
704
00:31:51,667 --> 00:31:55,042
with a picture of "The Storm
of Galilee" on the front.
705
00:31:55,208 --> 00:31:57,333
And it makes a noise
throughout the world.
706
00:31:57,458 --> 00:31:59,083
- I mean, everyone was like,
"oh, my God.
707
00:31:59,208 --> 00:32:01,833
Is this the first credible
sighting of this painting?
708
00:32:01,917 --> 00:32:03,875
♪ ♪
709
00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:06,417
- After seven long years,
the museum is eager
710
00:32:06,542 --> 00:32:08,333
to make a deal
with Billy Youngworth,
711
00:32:08,458 --> 00:32:12,000
but the FBI is, well,
less trusting.
712
00:32:12,083 --> 00:32:13,667
They have some demands
of their own
713
00:32:13,792 --> 00:32:15,792
if Youngworth wants the money:
714
00:32:15,875 --> 00:32:19,125
more solid proof
than one man's word.
715
00:32:19,208 --> 00:32:20,333
[suspenseful music]
716
00:32:20,458 --> 00:32:22,833
- The "Herald" also asked
for some other proof,
717
00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:25,375
and was provided
some paint chips
718
00:32:25,500 --> 00:32:29,625
that Youngworth claimed
came from the Rembrandt.
719
00:32:29,750 --> 00:32:33,333
- A few months later,
the FBI analyzes the sample
720
00:32:33,500 --> 00:32:37,750
and says, "This is not
from that Rembrandt."
721
00:32:37,875 --> 00:32:39,250
- They're ruled out
722
00:32:39,375 --> 00:32:41,542
as being from
"Storm on the Sea of Galilee."
723
00:32:41,667 --> 00:32:44,167
- The FBI thinks
the painting is fake
724
00:32:44,292 --> 00:32:47,167
and Youngworth
is a con artist.
725
00:32:47,250 --> 00:32:50,250
They refuse to make a trade.
726
00:32:50,375 --> 00:32:53,500
- When I was interviewing
conservators about
727
00:32:53,667 --> 00:32:55,500
how likely it would be
728
00:32:55,625 --> 00:32:57,333
that "Storm on the Sea
of Galilee"
729
00:32:57,417 --> 00:33:01,000
could have been rolled
and then unfurled.
730
00:33:01,125 --> 00:33:02,917
They say the painting
would have been destroyed
731
00:33:03,042 --> 00:33:05,625
because there's so much
lacquer on it.
732
00:33:05,750 --> 00:33:07,625
- There was no follow-up
733
00:33:07,708 --> 00:33:11,042
from the U.S. Attorney's
office in Boston about it
734
00:33:11,167 --> 00:33:12,208
because they believed that
735
00:33:12,333 --> 00:33:15,875
he was peddling
in fake paintings.
736
00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:17,500
♪ ♪
737
00:33:17,625 --> 00:33:19,833
- Although interest
in the missing artwork
738
00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:22,958
is at an all-time high
since the heist,
739
00:33:23,042 --> 00:33:26,000
the investigation
is at an all-time low.
740
00:33:26,125 --> 00:33:27,667
With no new leads,
741
00:33:27,792 --> 00:33:30,542
the FBI circles back
to the nagging suspicion
742
00:33:30,708 --> 00:33:33,958
that the TRC gang
is responsible...
743
00:33:34,042 --> 00:33:36,542
so they plant someone
on the inside.
744
00:33:36,667 --> 00:33:38,792
- It was around the time
that this informant
745
00:33:38,917 --> 00:33:41,250
started working at TRC.
746
00:33:41,375 --> 00:33:45,042
Well, he reports back
to his FBI agent
747
00:33:45,208 --> 00:33:47,625
that they're talking
about the Gardener there.
748
00:33:47,708 --> 00:33:49,833
- With all eyes
back on the garage,
749
00:33:49,958 --> 00:33:53,458
investigators turn their gaze
to someone new...
750
00:33:53,542 --> 00:33:57,708
a frequent visitor there,
Bobby Guarente.
751
00:33:57,875 --> 00:34:01,000
- If you make a Venn diagram
of all the bad guys,
752
00:34:01,125 --> 00:34:03,208
and I did do this--
[laughs]
753
00:34:03,375 --> 00:34:06,625
Everybody kind of
crosses paths with everybody,
754
00:34:06,708 --> 00:34:09,875
and Bobby Guarente
is in the middle of it.
755
00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:12,875
- Guarente is an
interesting character.
756
00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:14,750
He's sort of a
jack-of-all-trades,
757
00:34:14,875 --> 00:34:18,083
and he is able to move fluidly
758
00:34:18,208 --> 00:34:20,208
through a lot
of different areas
759
00:34:20,333 --> 00:34:22,292
and amongst different groups.
760
00:34:22,375 --> 00:34:24,583
A lot of people used Guarente
761
00:34:24,708 --> 00:34:27,542
because he was trusted by
most people in this industry
762
00:34:27,667 --> 00:34:30,667
that they're in as much as
people can be trusted.
763
00:34:30,792 --> 00:34:34,292
- My sense is
Donati reached out to him.
764
00:34:34,375 --> 00:34:37,333
The only person I know
who had the network
765
00:34:37,458 --> 00:34:39,875
that could fence it
was Guarente.
766
00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:44,083
- If Bobby Guarente had
a hand in moving the artwork,
767
00:34:44,208 --> 00:34:46,833
the FBI is unable
to get any answers from him.
768
00:34:46,958 --> 00:34:49,417
He dies in 2004.
769
00:34:49,542 --> 00:34:52,708
Surprisingly,
from natural causes.
770
00:34:52,875 --> 00:34:54,458
But this time,
771
00:34:54,583 --> 00:34:57,625
Guarente's death
is not a total dead-end.
772
00:34:57,708 --> 00:35:01,333
- The FBI and the museum
get tips about a home
773
00:35:01,500 --> 00:35:03,458
that Bobby Guarente owned
in Maine,
774
00:35:03,583 --> 00:35:06,375
reported to have
a spot big enough
775
00:35:06,542 --> 00:35:09,333
to hide a very big painting
like "Storm in the Sea."
776
00:35:09,417 --> 00:35:12,625
And they find a hiding spot
777
00:35:12,750 --> 00:35:14,958
that fits
exactly this description.
778
00:35:15,042 --> 00:35:18,542
When they return the key to
Bobby Guarente's widow Elene,
779
00:35:18,667 --> 00:35:22,375
she said,
"I've seen those paintings.
780
00:35:22,542 --> 00:35:25,333
My Bobby had some
of those paintings."
781
00:35:25,458 --> 00:35:27,333
- Although the prize paintings
782
00:35:27,417 --> 00:35:29,667
are no longer
in their hiding place,
783
00:35:29,750 --> 00:35:32,500
the FBI believes
they were there.
784
00:35:32,625 --> 00:35:36,625
More importantly, they think
they know where they went.
785
00:35:36,708 --> 00:35:41,917
- Elene Guarente tells a story
about being in Portland, Maine
786
00:35:42,042 --> 00:35:44,167
with her husband,
Bobby Guarente,
787
00:35:44,292 --> 00:35:47,500
and another fellow,
Bobby Gentile,
788
00:35:47,583 --> 00:35:49,917
this Connecticut mobster.
789
00:35:50,042 --> 00:35:52,042
- [chuckles] Everyone
has a best friend here.
790
00:35:52,167 --> 00:35:54,625
Bobby Gentile is a small-timer
791
00:35:54,708 --> 00:35:56,333
out of Manchester,
Connecticut,
792
00:35:56,417 --> 00:35:58,333
right outside of Hartford.
793
00:35:58,458 --> 00:36:01,833
- Guarente and Gentile have
dinner with their wives
794
00:36:01,958 --> 00:36:03,333
at this seafood restaurant.
795
00:36:03,458 --> 00:36:05,542
At one point during that meal,
they got up
796
00:36:05,667 --> 00:36:08,625
and went to the parking lot
and went back inside.
797
00:36:08,708 --> 00:36:11,667
And then on the way home,
Guarente said,
798
00:36:11,750 --> 00:36:16,500
"You don't have to worry
about those pictures anymore."
799
00:36:16,625 --> 00:36:21,083
He passed them
to Bobby Gentile.
800
00:36:21,208 --> 00:36:22,958
[suspenseful music]
801
00:36:23,083 --> 00:36:25,833
- It's now May, 2012,
802
00:36:25,958 --> 00:36:29,375
22 years since
the Gardner Museum heist,
803
00:36:29,500 --> 00:36:31,667
and the FBI has chased leads
804
00:36:31,750 --> 00:36:35,042
from Boston to Brooklyn
to Maine.
805
00:36:35,167 --> 00:36:38,333
Their hunt now turns
to Connecticut
806
00:36:38,417 --> 00:36:41,458
and a small-time crook
named Bobby Gentile.
807
00:36:41,583 --> 00:36:44,792
- So here's Bobby Gentile
in his 70s,
808
00:36:44,875 --> 00:36:48,500
living on a leafy street
in Manchester, Connecticut,
809
00:36:48,583 --> 00:36:50,917
when he's served with
a warrant by the FBI
810
00:36:51,042 --> 00:36:53,042
to search his property.
811
00:36:53,167 --> 00:36:56,125
They don't find what they're
looking for in the house.
812
00:36:56,208 --> 00:36:57,417
They leave, they come back
813
00:36:57,542 --> 00:36:59,458
with a warrant
for the garden shed.
814
00:36:59,542 --> 00:37:03,167
- There were probably
ten, 15 vehicles.
815
00:37:03,333 --> 00:37:06,333
They had beagles
and golden retrievers
816
00:37:06,500 --> 00:37:10,042
and video cameras,
guys in lab coats.
817
00:37:10,208 --> 00:37:11,417
I mean,
this was the production.
818
00:37:11,542 --> 00:37:13,917
- They used side scan sonar
819
00:37:14,042 --> 00:37:16,500
to see if there was
anything buried in the yard.
820
00:37:16,583 --> 00:37:19,333
And there was a void
under the shed.
821
00:37:19,458 --> 00:37:20,708
- And that's
where they hit pay dirt.
822
00:37:24,542 --> 00:37:26,000
[tense music]
823
00:37:26,125 --> 00:37:29,000
- More than two decades
after the hunt began,
824
00:37:29,083 --> 00:37:33,167
the FBI is searching
mobster Bobby Gentile's home,
825
00:37:33,292 --> 00:37:34,917
and they find
a secret compartment
826
00:37:35,042 --> 00:37:36,667
under a backyard shed.
827
00:37:36,792 --> 00:37:39,458
- I'm sitting
outside of the shed,
828
00:37:39,542 --> 00:37:43,333
and they're
cutting into the floorboards.
829
00:37:43,500 --> 00:37:45,125
The excitement was palpable.
830
00:37:45,250 --> 00:37:47,500
And then they
pull the floorboard up,
831
00:37:47,625 --> 00:37:50,167
and everybody's
looking over the top.
832
00:37:50,292 --> 00:37:54,000
And then it's just...
833
00:37:54,125 --> 00:37:55,083
defeat.
834
00:37:55,208 --> 00:37:56,500
It's empty.
835
00:37:56,625 --> 00:37:58,083
- Despite
their disappointment,
836
00:37:58,208 --> 00:38:00,333
the FBI finds evidence
837
00:38:00,417 --> 00:38:02,958
that's both intriguing
and incriminating.
838
00:38:03,042 --> 00:38:05,292
- In the basement,
they have the "Boston Herald"
839
00:38:05,375 --> 00:38:07,583
from the day after the theft.
840
00:38:07,708 --> 00:38:10,250
Inside is a sheet of paper,
841
00:38:10,375 --> 00:38:13,000
and it has all 13 pieces
that were stolen
842
00:38:13,125 --> 00:38:16,042
with what the piece would buy
on the black market.
843
00:38:16,167 --> 00:38:18,083
- And unfortunately
for my client,
844
00:38:18,208 --> 00:38:21,292
they found a lot of guns
845
00:38:21,375 --> 00:38:26,125
and a few police uniforms,
uh, which was, uh,
846
00:38:26,208 --> 00:38:27,708
tough to explain.
847
00:38:27,833 --> 00:38:30,667
- It all looks really bad
for Bobby Gentile.
848
00:38:30,833 --> 00:38:33,333
The circumstantial evidence
is strong
849
00:38:33,458 --> 00:38:38,667
that he had something
to do with the heist.
850
00:38:38,792 --> 00:38:40,833
- Looking
at serious prison time
851
00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:42,667
for the illegal weapons,
852
00:38:42,833 --> 00:38:45,333
Bobby Gentile agrees
to tell the FBI
853
00:38:45,417 --> 00:38:47,333
everything he knows
about the stolen art.
854
00:38:47,417 --> 00:38:48,542
- The only way
that they're going
855
00:38:48,667 --> 00:38:51,333
to be able to verify that
information is on a polygraph.
856
00:38:51,458 --> 00:38:54,042
And he says, "I'll tell
them anything they want."
857
00:38:54,167 --> 00:38:57,167
So they put up a whole bunch
of pictures on the wall,
858
00:38:57,333 --> 00:38:59,000
of all of the objects
that were taken.
859
00:38:59,125 --> 00:39:00,875
And they say,
"Have you ever seen this one?"
860
00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:02,000
He says, "No."
"Have you ever seen this one?"
861
00:39:02,125 --> 00:39:04,875
He says, "No."
"Have you ever seen this one?"
862
00:39:05,042 --> 00:39:07,667
- Fails it.
Every question they ask him.
863
00:39:07,792 --> 00:39:10,417
- Like most aspects
of this case,
864
00:39:10,542 --> 00:39:12,333
the interrogation
of Bobby Gentile
865
00:39:12,500 --> 00:39:15,667
creates more questions
than answers.
866
00:39:15,750 --> 00:39:19,167
Gentile is sent to prison
for the rest of his life,
867
00:39:19,250 --> 00:39:21,583
which may not be very long.
868
00:39:21,708 --> 00:39:24,792
- I was called by the
U.S. Marshals office
869
00:39:24,875 --> 00:39:27,375
and they said,
"Your client is dying."
870
00:39:27,542 --> 00:39:30,208
I drive to the hospital.
871
00:39:30,333 --> 00:39:35,125
He was very upset and he kept
saying over and over again,
872
00:39:35,208 --> 00:39:37,333
I can't die here,
I can't die here.
873
00:39:37,458 --> 00:39:39,667
So I said to him,
874
00:39:39,750 --> 00:39:42,667
"Bob, there has to be
something that you know.
875
00:39:42,750 --> 00:39:46,375
"There has to be,
because there's all this smoke
876
00:39:46,542 --> 00:39:49,750
"around this case,
and it's all over you.
877
00:39:49,875 --> 00:39:52,375
You have to know
where this fire started."
878
00:39:52,500 --> 00:39:54,667
And I said, "And if you
just give that to me,
879
00:39:54,792 --> 00:39:58,667
you can die at home
in your bed with your wife."
880
00:39:58,792 --> 00:40:01,458
And he looked at me
desperately,
881
00:40:01,542 --> 00:40:04,167
and tears were coming down
both of his eyes.
882
00:40:04,250 --> 00:40:06,167
And he just said,
883
00:40:06,292 --> 00:40:08,000
"There ain't no paintings,
kid.
884
00:40:08,083 --> 00:40:10,833
There ain't no paintings."
885
00:40:10,917 --> 00:40:13,167
- Bobby Gentile
survives that health scare,
886
00:40:13,292 --> 00:40:16,250
but dies in September, 2021,
887
00:40:16,375 --> 00:40:20,083
and the location of
a $1/2 billion in stolen art
888
00:40:20,208 --> 00:40:21,708
may have died with him.
889
00:40:21,875 --> 00:40:25,500
- Authorities believe
that Gentile, at one point,
890
00:40:25,625 --> 00:40:27,542
knew where that artwork was.
891
00:40:27,667 --> 00:40:30,542
- You know,
maybe they were in the ditch.
892
00:40:30,667 --> 00:40:33,792
They were ruined in a flood
that took place
893
00:40:33,875 --> 00:40:36,375
in the back yard
of the Gentiles' house.
894
00:40:36,500 --> 00:40:39,792
- Though the FBI is still
trying to recover the artwork,
895
00:40:39,875 --> 00:40:41,417
they now believe they know
896
00:40:41,542 --> 00:40:43,875
who committed
the original robbery:
897
00:40:44,042 --> 00:40:47,417
suspects George Reissfelder
and Lenny DiMuzio.
898
00:40:47,542 --> 00:40:50,417
The fate of the art
is not as clear.
899
00:40:50,542 --> 00:40:51,958
- The FBI
holds a press conference
900
00:40:52,042 --> 00:40:53,583
that says, basically,
901
00:40:53,708 --> 00:40:55,583
"We know who did it and
we know where the artwork went.
902
00:40:55,708 --> 00:40:56,667
We just don't know
where it is right now."
903
00:40:56,792 --> 00:40:59,333
- They believe that
the thieves were dead.
904
00:40:59,458 --> 00:41:03,833
They had very good information
that the artwork changed hands,
905
00:41:03,958 --> 00:41:06,083
that it went through
organized crime circles
906
00:41:06,208 --> 00:41:10,875
from Boston to Connecticut
to Philadelphia.
907
00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:13,667
One theory is somebody had
them all together in one place
908
00:41:13,833 --> 00:41:15,583
and died or was murdered
909
00:41:15,708 --> 00:41:17,833
and they're buried
and we can never find them.
910
00:41:17,917 --> 00:41:21,542
But it's hard to imagine
that they're all in one place.
911
00:41:21,667 --> 00:41:23,958
- It's been over 30 years.
912
00:41:24,083 --> 00:41:26,000
I have a hard time believing,
if they were broken up
913
00:41:26,083 --> 00:41:27,917
amongst multiple groups
of people,
914
00:41:28,042 --> 00:41:31,000
that nothing would have come
forward after this much time,
915
00:41:31,125 --> 00:41:32,333
particularly
with a huge reward.
916
00:41:32,458 --> 00:41:36,542
- Today, the whereabouts
of the 13 pieces of artwork
917
00:41:36,708 --> 00:41:38,917
remains a mystery,
918
00:41:39,042 --> 00:41:41,667
and finding them is still
as urgent as it was
919
00:41:41,750 --> 00:41:45,917
on March 18, 1990,
the day of the heist.
920
00:41:46,042 --> 00:41:48,875
- I do think the key
for this investigation
921
00:41:49,000 --> 00:41:51,000
is for more people
to know about it.
922
00:41:51,167 --> 00:41:53,000
If they're still around,
923
00:41:53,125 --> 00:41:55,083
somebody will come across
one of them,
924
00:41:55,208 --> 00:41:57,917
and they need to understand
the significance of it.
925
00:41:58,042 --> 00:42:01,583
- These don't belong
in some crawlspace
926
00:42:01,708 --> 00:42:03,250
in an attic somewhere.
927
00:42:03,375 --> 00:42:04,875
These belong back on the walls.
928
00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:08,042
- We'll work to get them back.
And who wins?
929
00:42:08,167 --> 00:42:09,292
Our grandchildren win.
930
00:42:09,417 --> 00:42:11,625
[dramatic music]
931
00:42:11,750 --> 00:42:13,792
- Until the artwork
is returned,
932
00:42:13,917 --> 00:42:16,792
the frames hang empty
in the museum.
933
00:42:16,875 --> 00:42:19,333
The reward for any information
leading to the recovery
934
00:42:19,458 --> 00:42:22,875
now stands at 10 million bucks.
935
00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:24,042
The Gardner robbery remains
936
00:42:24,167 --> 00:42:26,875
the largest art theft
in world history,
937
00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:29,875
and one
of history's greatest heists.
938
00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:36,875
♪ ♪