Multimillion-Dollar Art Heist May Be Hoax
Art Collection Owners Not Being Ruled Out As Suspects
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/21219526/detail.html
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/21219526/detail.html
BOSTON -- A former Harvard doctor and his business partner are not being ruled out as a suspects in an alleged art heist at their California home in which millions of dollars of artwork was stolen, officials said Tuesday.
The Monterey County Sheriff's Department said they are not ruling out that the heist, which could be worth as much as $80 million, is a hoax.
During the news conference, Cmdr. Mike Richards repeatedly said that his department has asked the collection's owners, A. Benjamin Amadio and Dr. Ralph Kennaugh, who worked at Harvard, to come forward and cooperate.
"It's hard to conduct an investigation when the victims aren't being cooperative," Richards said.
Richards also said they arrested Danny Griffith, who Amadio and Kennaugh said was a suspect, and he was released after giving an "airtight alibi," and that both Amadio and Kennaugh are suspects.
"Our office has been taking this case seriously since it came to us. We are doing the best we can with what we have," Richards said.
Amadio and Kennaugh unveiled the identity of a local insurance broker who they said was one of two agents working to make sure the art was insured prior to the theft.
In the release issued by lawyers for Amadio and Kennaugh, they said David R. St. John, an insurance broker with Insurance Consultants, had visited the Pebble Beach home several times prior to the theft, and personally saw the art collection, which was stolen on Sept. 25.
Richards said that Amadio and Kennaugh haven't told the sheriff's office anything about an insurance broker.
Last week, Monterey County called in crime experts from southern California to help out with the case. The owners of the collection, meanwhile, have called in their own private investigator and have contacted the FBI.
Adding another twist to the case was a ransom note that was found in the home several days after the heist. Amadio and Kennaugh said the note read, "Pay up or die."
The owners have said from the beginning that they think the heist was an inside job and that the chances of getting their art back are slim.
The Monterey County Sheriff's Department said they are not ruling out that the heist, which could be worth as much as $80 million, is a hoax.
During the news conference, Cmdr. Mike Richards repeatedly said that his department has asked the collection's owners, A. Benjamin Amadio and Dr. Ralph Kennaugh, who worked at Harvard, to come forward and cooperate.
"It's hard to conduct an investigation when the victims aren't being cooperative," Richards said.
Richards also said they arrested Danny Griffith, who Amadio and Kennaugh said was a suspect, and he was released after giving an "airtight alibi," and that both Amadio and Kennaugh are suspects.
"Our office has been taking this case seriously since it came to us. We are doing the best we can with what we have," Richards said.
Amadio and Kennaugh unveiled the identity of a local insurance broker who they said was one of two agents working to make sure the art was insured prior to the theft.
In the release issued by lawyers for Amadio and Kennaugh, they said David R. St. John, an insurance broker with Insurance Consultants, had visited the Pebble Beach home several times prior to the theft, and personally saw the art collection, which was stolen on Sept. 25.
Richards said that Amadio and Kennaugh haven't told the sheriff's office anything about an insurance broker.
Last week, Monterey County called in crime experts from southern California to help out with the case. The owners of the collection, meanwhile, have called in their own private investigator and have contacted the FBI.
Adding another twist to the case was a ransom note that was found in the home several days after the heist. Amadio and Kennaugh said the note read, "Pay up or die."
The owners have said from the beginning that they think the heist was an inside job and that the chances of getting their art back are slim.
Art Hostage Comments:
-Please, no self harm, drug overdoses or other symantics.
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