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Gardner Heist: Ex-FBI Agent Names Suspects
18 Mar
Summary
- 1990 Boston museum theft saw 13 masterpieces vanish.
- Two men impersonating police committed the brazen heist.
- An ex-FBI agent reveals his theory on the culprits.
Thirteen priceless items, including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer, were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston on March 18, 1990. Two individuals disguised as police officers gained entry, subdued the guards, and absconded with the art. This event is the largest art theft in U.S. history, and its investigation has spanned over three decades.
Numerous theories regarding the culprits have emerged over the years, implicating various organized crime syndicates, including the Corsican and Irish mobs, as well as individual art thieves and even museum insiders. The FBI investigated many of these leads extensively.
Geoffrey Kelly, who led the FBI's investigation for 22 years, addresses these theories in his new book, "Thirteen Perfect Fugitives." He debunks many popular speculations and presents his own conclusions about the individuals he believes were responsible for the audacious theft, though they were never formally prosecuted.
