FBI Recovers Two Stolen Paintings After 40 Years in New Mexico

Two oil paintings, "Aspens" by Victor Higgins and "Oklahoma Cheyenne" by Joseph Henry Sharp, stolen from the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico, in 1985 were recovered and returned in May 2025 after nearly 40 years. The theft occurred when the museum was primarily a public library, and the culprits, believed to be Rita and Jerry Alter, were never caught; the artworks remained in their home until the estate's dispersal brought the theft to light. The FBI's Albuquerque Art Crime Team reopened the case in 2024 after the museum notified them, leading to the successful recovery of the paintings with cooperation from multiple parties. The recovery highlights ongoing FBI efforts to reclaim stolen cultural property and underscores the importance of reporting stolen art to the National Stolen Art File Database. Although the 1994 Theft of Major Artwork statute, which criminalizes such thefts federally, was not in effect at the time, the FBI pursued the case under its broader mission. The paintings were publicly rehung at the museum, bringing closure to a decades-long mystery and celebration among staff and the community.