It seemed impossible that a painting worth more than most mansions could sit unnoticed behind a bedroom door for over three decades. Yet, in the quiet town of Cliff, New Mexico, a piece of art history gathered dust in the home of a seemingly ordinary couple. This 100% true story reveals how one of the 20th century’s most valuable stolen works was recovered in the most unlikely of places.
The Brazen Heist at the University of Arizona
On the morning of November 29, 1985, the University of Arizona Museum of Art in Tucson opened its doors to a quiet day after the Thanksgiving holiday. A man and a woman arrived just as the staff unlocked the entrance. While the woman distracted a security guard with questions, the man slipped up the stairs to the gallery.
In a matter of minutes, the thief located Willem de Kooning’s abstract oil painting, Woman-Ochre. He cut the canvas directly from its frame, rolled it up, and concealed it under his coat. The couple reunited and swiftly exited the building. They drove away in a rust-colored sports car before anyone realized the artwork was gone. The museum was left with only an empty frame and no leads strong enough to recover the 30-inch by 40-inch (76.2 cm by 101.6 cm) masterpiece.
A Quiet Life with a Dark Secret
For the next 31 years, the location of the painting remained a mystery. During this time, Jerry and Rita Alter lived a peaceful life in Cliff, a small community with a population of fewer than 300 people. Jerry was a retired music teacher and artist, while Rita had worked as a speech pathologist. To their neighbors, they were pleasant but private individuals who enjoyed travel and the arts.
Unbeknownst to the world, the missing de Kooning hung in their master bedroom. The couple had mounted the stolen canvas in a cheap gold frame and placed it behind their bedroom door. It remained there, visible only to them, until they both passed away—Jerry in 2012 and Rita in 2017.
The Discovery that Shocked the Art World
After Rita’s death, the Alters’ nephew hired David Van Auker, a local antique dealer, to purchase the contents of the home for a lump sum of approximately $2,000. Van Auker and his partners transported the items to their store in Silver City. Among the estate’s clutter was the abstract painting, which Van Auker found interesting but assumed was a reproduction.
He displayed the work in his shop, where customers immediately began to comment on its resemblance to a genuine de Kooning. Prompted by their reactions, Van Auker researched the artist and realized the painting matched the description of the long-lost Woman-Ochre. He contacted the University of Arizona Museum of Art, and a team of experts soon arrived to inspect the piece. They confirmed it was the stolen original, valued at roughly $160 million.
Clues Left Behind
The recovery sparked a new investigation into the Alters. Authorities found a photo of Jerry and Rita in Tucson exactly one day before the theft. A sketch of the suspects from 1985 bore a striking resemblance to the couple. Furthermore, investigators discovered a diary in which Jerry described a similar heist, suggesting the theft was a planned adventure rather than an impulse. The painting has since been restored and returned to the museum, closing the chapter on one of the art world’s most baffling cold cases.