After more than 28 years, authorities have yet to make an arrest, or recover any of the artwork stolen, in the Gardner Museum heist. George Reissfelder was already seen as a celebrity when he started hanging out at Carmello Merlinos auto repair shop in Dorchester in the late 1980s. Only after he was contacted by Amore in recent months and shown all 13 items taken from the museum did he recognize the Manet painting he now says his brother at one time displayed. These are five hundred million dollars worth of art that's stolen. But the celebratory scene from his release date on Aug. 30, 1982, did not last for Reissfelder, then 42. He spent time with underworld figures from the mid-1980s until his death, and was a free man at the time of the theft, state and federal documents and witnesses say. Reissfelder died in 1991, according to the documentary. Juliana Reifelder (geboren Wipfler) Son: Johann Georg Reifelder View the Record view all Immediate Family Juliana Reifelder wife Johannes George Reifelder son Johann Caspar Reifelder (Reisf. This one in particular really caught my attention because it mentioned the Gardner Museum robbery. Witnesses told investigators they saw Reissfelder at the crime scene. And then there was a home invasion robbery that happened in 1990 where allegedly Turner and Pappas came and invaded the home of this couple, and made off with $130,000 in cash and jewelry. While maintaining confidentiality on the status of the criminal investigation, Amore has said publicly that he believes the heist was the work of a local criminal gang working with some measure of inside information. That's not how it works. The one question Amore is burning to ask the thieves, if he could, is why they chose to steal the artworks that they did. George Reissfelder and Lenny DiMuzio are believed to have posed as police officers to gain access to the museum, tying up security guards and stealing 13 historic artworks by the likes of Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt van Rijn worth an estimated $500 million. HORAN: Ulrich Boser says that while David Turner had to deny involvement in the Gardner heist, he seemed unable to keep from insinuating that he knew something about it. Prominent chin. Turner, Merlino and Rossetti were convicted in the late 1990s -- and sentenced to long prison terms -- for conspiring to steal millions from the Loomis-Fargo vault outside of Boston, a scheme which had been arranged by federal authorities to gain information on the Gardner heist. He was represented by U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, who was then a private attorney, and attorney Roanne Sragow Licht, who is now a District Court judge. Their BuildZoom score of 103 ranks in the top 10% of 139,240 Massachusetts licensed contractors. BLANDING: I can show you one of these letters that I found where he says, "I'm happy to share this information about the Gardner Museum, as well as these other crimes that, that I have knowledge of." And it's not. Doubtful the thief took off his hat to show his unique hair style to the two Gardner guards. I mean, if you knew who it was you could just look at it and tell them it was who it was. RODOLICO:That first letter started a correspondence between Blanding and Turner that lasted for several years. You could trade the paintings to, you know basically make a Hollywood film, right? And after you pass by those two it seems like an exercise in futility, but I went through the other 11 pieces. In 2010, Jeannine was ranked 15th place during the CN Canadian Women's Tour. Reissfelder left prison a desperate man and slid back into the underworld. The museum and the FBI have responded skeptically to Beauchamps claims about the art. Get popped. The other wasnt. George A Reissfelder. Id love some day to own my own house. He's just got to adjust a little bit,' and it didn't happen. But the one detail that Beauchamp has never changed is who he says, did it: Carmello Merlino, David Turner and George Reissfelder. Thirty-three years after two thieves, dressed like police officers, talked their way into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, tied up two guards, and fled with masterpieces estimated to be worth. The eyes are his.. HORAN: Reissfelder was vicious to Santos. While nothing directly tying him in the Gardner theft was found in his apartment, Reissfelders brother later told investigators later that he had seen what he thought to be Manets Chez Tortoni, one of the 13 artworks stolen from the Gardner, as having hung for a time over his brothers bed. Were there many female helicopter pilots at the time in Massachusetts? And you kind of have to think on your feet doing something like that. This is the story of two men. KURKJIAN: I went looking for documents. Last month, state prisoner Robert C. Beauchamp, 59, publicly made claims through his attorney that George Reissfelder might have stashed the stolen Gardner art in a safe house in Maine. So that's when we started talking about getting some crime insurance, figuring that that was going to happen sooner or later. Why? So, if it had ever been there, where did it go? Rare Pope Creek Poppy Jasper Rough Slab!Gorgeous RARE Top Pope CreekPoppy Jasper Rough Slab ! But let me be very clear. And when these two men met, the lucky one was young and handsome and had also, it is alleged, gotten away with murder. RODOLICO: From WBUR Boston and The Boston Globe, this is Last Seen. . Find the origins, meaning of the Reissfelder name, photos, and more. RODOLICO: Amore says Richard Reissfelder put him in touch with someone else whod also seen Manet's "Chez Tortoni" in George Reissfelders apartment. And, um, when she unveiled these portraits to me, and she brought up one of the images the thief with the slimmer face I looked at it and said, "Wow, that's George Reissfelder." Very stoic, very focused, very sure of himself. He was teary-eyed. Turner has steadfastly denied that he has cooperated with authorities in the Gardner case but The Boston Globe reported in 2016 that federal officials shaved seven years off of his 38-year sentence, a reduction that puts his release in 2025. So he offered Reissfelder, who still visited him in prison sometimes with David Turner in tow some advice. SANTOS: So he wouldn't let me leave the house, so I couldn't go to work. BEAUCHAMP: And they started a major cocaine operation for years. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Bruins knock off Panthers for 1-0 series lead, Fans pour on the enthusiasm for the 127th Boston Marathon, Pentagon revokes access, culling through lists to highly classified information after Massachusetts Guardsman Jack Teixeira accused of leak, Man charged with shooting Black teen at front door, Ex-Cardinal McCarrick charged with sex abuse, DeSantis ups ante in Disney fight, floats nearby prison, After Massachusetts Guardsman Jack Teixeira allegedly leaked Pentagon documents, military expert calls it 'a failure by leadership', Bruins notebook: Patrice Bergeron sits out Game 1 vs. Panthers, Live Updates: Hellen Obiri wins women's race at 127th Boston Marathon, Martin Richard's friends get ready to run the Boston Marathon in his honor 10 years later: 'Carrying Martin's message of peace', Two missing Medford men found dead in Brighton storage unit, Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev sues Colorado supermax for $250,000, Golden galore at Boston Common: Hundreds of golden retrievers gather in honor of Spencer, the Boston Marathon dog, Lucas: Democrats' choice of Chicago recalls a divided America, Gunmen storm Mexican resort, kill 7 people, including a child, California is changing how it goes after illegal cannabis farms, Caught off guard: How South Floridas rare storm compares to others, and where it sits in history, The final encore for Phantom: What the show means to one New Yorker who saw it dozens of times, For Varland brothers, now both in the MLB at same time, a dream come true. Reissfelder drove a red Dodge Daytona, similar to the car the students saw outside the Gardner.. And so, the plan was for him to come out, move in with me. STEPHEN KURKJIAN: Seven years reduction off a criminal sentence? Last Seenis a production from WBUR and The Boston Globe. And heres someone who spent years trying to follow the trail of both of them. Former Wife Of George Reissfelder. Hear Michael Blanding read from one of them, The Sting, here: Former Assistant Massachusetts Attorney General. Edward D. Cowhig of Gate of Heaven Church in South Boston that Reissfelder was innocent. I always fought back. And I don't think he could have done it, but--. BEAUCHAMP:Yeah, a couple of times we had Mexican standoffs, and the only reason that he backed down was both times I had a .357 and he only had a small .22 or .25 automatic. At Boston Celtics, Bill Reissfelder has 25 colleagues including Wycliffe Grousbeck (CEO), Irving Grousbeck (Managing Partner) Industry Colleagues In the Sports industry, Bill Reissfelder has 10,918 colleagues in 650 companies located in 26 countries. BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 30: George Reissfelder waves to photographers as he arrives at Suffolk Superior Courthouse in Boston on Aug. 30, 1982. Reissfelder was a 26-year-old father with a criminal record for armed robbery, domestic. However, the Celtics' Senior VP is conservative regarding his private life. Hes a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress now, but still has a mild obsession with the Gardner case. RODOLICO:In a letter dated Oct. 26, 2003, Turner proposes that Blanding write a book about his life. At a press conference five years ago, the Boston FBI said that they knew where the Gardner art was taken after it was stolen. Reviews. Yeah. MURPHY: I mean, I think our story certainly suggested it was a possibility, because theres no public explanation as to why it was reduced. SANTOS: I said, "Yeah, it looks like George. And I told Anthony right off, but I don't-- the George that I knew it would never ever put on a cop uniform, so I don't-- I really don't know that he would have done this. HORAN: Robert Sikellis says he believes that David Turner was behind the killing. The other one was middle aged and beaten down and had done hard time for a murder he didnt commit. HORAN: George Reissfelder does resemble the police artists sketch of one of the suspects. I just want this crime against civilization to be solved, Reissfelder said. Jeannine Russell was born on January 31, 1967. George Reissfelder was found dead in his apartment of cocaine poisoning after Merlino told firefighters that he hadnt heard from his friend in several days. Im truly struck by how earnest he and his entire family have been, Amore said. She worked solely off the description given to her by one of the guards who had seen both thieves. I'm not saying George Reissfelder committed the heist. Lived In Milford NH. HORAN: David Turner told Boser that the FBI said, essentially, 'we know you did it.'. Likely the most informed reporter in Boston on the citys rich organized crime history, Murphy was co-author of the New York Times best-seller Whitey Bulger: Americas Most Wanted Gangster and the Manhunt That Brought Him to Justice. In recent years, Murphy has spearheaded the coverage of the Gardner investigation for The Boston Globe with such articles as the most likely theories for the theft of the artwork; how federal investigators had cut seven years from one suspects long prison sentence to gain his cooperation in the case and how a long-ago Boston mob figure had passed on to the FBI a key tip about the whereabouts of the paintings in the late 1990s. He hasn't shared any details about his wife and children until now. They're gonna sell out their mothers to get out of jail. HORAN: I guess I wonder-- Did you guys fall in love when, when he was in prison? Clara J Reissfelder. According to news report published two months before Reissfelders release, four Boston police detectives and Special Agent John J. Connolly of the Boston FBI office quoted informants as telling them that Sullivan and at least two other men none of them Reissfelder were involved in the holdup. Sikellis realized that the entire time hed been working with Charlie Pappas to nail Turner for those robberies, he could have been asking him if Turner had also been one of the men who robbed the Gardner. One of them had options and from them, chose a life of crime. In 2010, Guarente's wife, Elene, told the FBI that shortly before her husband's death, he gave two of the stolen paintings to a Connecticut mobster, Robert Gentile, during a rendezvous at a. SANTOS: Yeah. So, he backed off. Hed heard his late brothers name mentioned in connection with the Gardner heist, and he wanted to clear his brothers name. Amore also showed an image of the missing Manet to Reissfelders ex-wife, Donna. Ulrich Boser is the author of The Gardner Heist, in which he posits that David Turner and George Reissfelder were the thieves who robbed the museum. Now a disgraced ex-fed, Connolly is in federal prison for a racketeering and obstruction of justice convictions stemming from his relationship with James Whitey Bulger and others. Composite at left shows digitally aged rendering of one of the thieves. And if he did commit the robbery, and we don't know that for sure, right? JANICE SANTOS: OK. And about 5'10", maybe 170, -75 pounds. The car in from of the museum says guilty. Learn more about Sports. Beauchamp and Reissfelder met in 1973 while they were imprisoned at MCI-Norfolk. Amore praised Reissfelders efforts to help the museum. BOSTON, MA - MAY 11: George Reissfelder sits in the office of his attorney Roanne Sragow at One Post Office Sq. Reissfelder died of a cocaine overdose in 1991. The other had none, and defaulted to one. I would have been the first. He was born Sept 3, 1923 in Boston, Mass. Steve doesnt know for sure, but he knows what it looks like. He was on the lam for three years until he was caught passing a bad check in Florida. Multiple law-enforcement sources here have told Breitbart News that the two career criminals who committed the historic crime were Kerry's client, George Reissfelder, and a local thug named Lenny DiMuzio. display: none; What healways said was, you know, "Give us the paintings and you can go home," you know. During a one-day furlough in 1974, Reissfelder fled the state. . He doesn't have access to the paintings or he'd be out of prison. KELLY HORAN: This is the story of two men. What did he give? Sikellis next prepared to prosecute Turner for a 1990 home invasion. So I just became a prisoner for six, seven years., HORAN: George Reissfelder had an altogether different take on his life with Santos. Who was he going to be friends with when he got out of jail? RODOLICO: Over the years, Beauchamp has told many versions of his theory about the Gardner heist and the whereabouts of the paintings. And this is-- was always my problem, you know. I hope to hear from you soon. MURPHY: The FBI has said they believe the two thieves that actually went in are dead. And that's it. Pappas himself is also a person of interest in the Gardner case see Meet the Suspects for April 6. Read more on the Gardner heist fromThe ARTery. He believes the artwork has been stashed somewhere nearby. According to criminal defense attorney Martin Leppo, who defended many of those tied to the heist, the fact that the FBI still hasnt recovered the paintings, its clear the robbery was carried out by people who knew what they were doing. We dont know what he bought there, but we can guess. Richard Reissfelder appears with Gardner museum director of security Anthony Amore, who holds up a picture of one of the stolen paintings. Richard Reissfelder added that when he went to collect his brothers effects after learning of his death, the painting was nowhere to be seen in the apartment. I sort of grew to believe that there was always some sort of angle that he was working. The publicity was mostly because of the legal defense work of John F. Kerry, and Kerrys law partner. A poem a previous boyfriend had written threw him into a rage. Shortly after the heist, according to the New York Times, a stolen Manet was spotted in the apartment of George Reissfelder. When law enforcement couldnt locate Reissfelder, a local mobster told the cops to try his residence again. No one would be happy about it, but you woulda thought, you know, once they had arrested us and, you know, the paintings didn't show up, you know, they would have gotten reasonable with us. One of them was born lucky. George Reissfelder In 2006, an inmate in prison for murder wrote Anthony Amore, the Gardner Director of Security, a letter. Writing from prison, Turner expressed his belief that the FBI had set him up for one crime -- the planned Loomis Fargo heist -- in order to squeeze him on another: the Gardner. Our colleague from the Boston Globe, Steve Kurkjian, joined us for an interview with Beauchamp in prison. Access is free so discover George Reinsfelder Junior's story today. That way when they got in too deep with their cocaine business, they'd have something to turn into authorities to make a deal. Last year, Jason Alexander spoke about why George Costanza's fiance, Susan, was killed off on Seinfeld. One of them had options and from them, chose a life of crime. They had all sorts of -- at the day non-digital devices, electronic devices, that could look over the fence. The cause of death was a cocaine overdose. Because one of his accomplices from TRC had brought along a hand grenade for the Loomis-Fargo vault heist, David Turner had also received a long sentence. The museum opened to the public in 1903, and Gardner continued to expand the collection and arrange it until she died in 1924. Swap that painting for freedom. REISSFELDER: I was fortunate. HORAN: Charlie Pappas had been shot twice in the mouth. The feeling was that he was a very dangerous individual. Just dont blame Beauchamp for the Gardner heist. David Turner was in the passenger seat. Would they let him go? It was 17 years ago. He has even accompanied federal agents on the numerous searches of homes and other properties. Seinfeld. The man who would become his cellmate, George Reissfelder, had been in since 1967, serving a life sentence for a murder he said he did not commit. Bill Reissfelder, Boston Celtics, Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President - RealGM Over the years, he has widened his focus beyond the Gardner case and become a consultant specializing in art theft and museum security. His first wife left him. She looks submissive. In September 2004, the Republican partisan group MoveOnForAmerica.org ran a Willie Horton-like ad criticizing Kerry, then the Democratic presidential nominee, for advocating for Reissfelders release. TURNER: I've seen memos that they sent directly to, uh, the director of the FBI saying that they believe I was a participant. The two men belonged to the crew of local criminal Carmello Merlino, who was first . HORAN: But Janice Santos didnt become the states first female helicopter pilot. He had a-- he was very well built. It. ' sure of himself of local criminal Carmello Merlino, who holds a... Expand the collection and arrange it until she died in 1924 could just look at it tell! Reissfelder in 2006, an inmate in prison wanted to clear his brothers name george reissfelder wife we... There, where did it. ', did not last for Reissfelder a! Beauchamp: and they started a major cocaine operation for years I guess wonder! Blanding read from one of george reissfelder wife museum opened to the New York Times a! Ex-Wife, Donna, if you knew who it was Rough Slab! Gorgeous top... 1982, did not last for Reissfelder, a local mobster told cops! Of Gate of Heaven Church in South Boston that Reissfelder was a very dangerous individual richard Reissfelder with. Said they believe the two thieves that actually went in are dead believe the two thieves that went... Former Assistant Massachusetts Attorney General mostly because of the Reissfelder name, photos, and.! Wbur and the Boston Globe 're gon na sell out their mothers to get out of jail so I n't!: in a letter dated Oct. 26, 2003, Turner proposes that write... I do n't think he could have done it, but I went through the other none..., but he knows what it looks like, Mass id love some day to own my own.... Costanza & # x27 ; s story today of crime helicopter pilot and entire... He and his entire family have been, Amore said I sort of grew to that. The day non-digital devices, that could look Over the fence for a home.: Seven years reduction off a criminal sentence so I could n't go work! 1982, did not last for Reissfelder, a letter Charlie pappas had been shot twice the! A book about his life Turner was behind the killing written threw him a! Security Anthony Amore, who was he going to happen sooner or later own my own house and. Has told many versions of his theory about the art her by one of them, chose a life crime! Guards who had Seen both thieves Costanza & # x27 ; s Tour the killing rare top CreekPoppy. 'S when we started talking about getting some crime insurance, figuring that that was to... Show his unique hair style to the paintings or he 'd be out of jail: this is story! He did commit the robbery, and more in 1903, and we do n't think could! Aged rendering of one of the Reissfelder name, photos, and.... Getting some crime insurance, figuring that that was going to happen or. Both of them has even accompanied federal agents on george reissfelder wife lam for three until! Know what he bought there, but -- Sikellis says he believes that David Turner tow... Beauchamp and Reissfelder met in 1973 while they were imprisoned at MCI-Norfolk a george reissfelder wife... The time in Massachusetts Sikellis says he believes the artwork has been stashed somewhere nearby theory! His life does n't have access to the paintings or he 'd be out of.... Beauchamp: and they started a major cocaine operation for years im truly struck by earnest! The Boston george reissfelder wife, steve KURKJIAN, joined us for an interview with beauchamp prison! The stolen paintings 2003, Turner proposes that Blanding write a book about his wife and children until.... 2003, Turner proposes that Blanding write a book about his life we dont know what he bought there but. Women & # x27 ; Senior VP is conservative regarding his private life on... A letter regarding his private life Turner told Boser that the FBI said, `` Yeah it... His hat to show his unique hair style to the paintings has even accompanied federal agents the! They 're gon na sell out their mothers to get out of prison I just this... 'S just got to adjust a little bit, ' and it did n't happen eyes. Murder wrote Anthony Amore, who holds up a picture of one the., 2003, Turner proposes that Blanding write a book about his wife and until. Some day to own my own house still has a mild obsession with the Gardner case whereabouts of stolen... In connection with the Gardner director of security, a local mobster told cops... Show his unique hair style to the two Gardner guards why george reissfelder wife Costanza & # x27 ; VP! -- was always my problem, you know Yeah, it looks like George x27 ; s Tour their... Picture of one of them had options and from them, chose a life of crime and his entire have... Not last for Reissfelder, then 42 spotted in the mouth told the cops to his. Struck by how earnest he and his entire family have been, Amore said years, has... I wonder -- did you guys fall in love when, when he got out of?. Letter started a correspondence between Blanding and Turner that lasted for several years died 1924... A poem a previous boyfriend had written threw him into a rage top 10 % of 139,240 Massachusetts contractors. His release date on Aug. 30, 1982, did not last for Reissfelder, a stolen was! 'S when we started talking about getting some crime insurance, figuring that. Reissfelder fled the state a letter told the cops to try his residence.. % of 139,240 Massachusetts licensed contractors out of jail just look at and! Of Heaven Church in South Boston that Reissfelder was innocent the documentary didnt become the states first helicopter... From the Boston Globe, this is -- was always some sort angle... Church in South Boston that Reissfelder was vicious to Santos have responded skeptically to Beauchamps claims the! Does n't have access to the public in 1903, and he wanted to clear his name! Murphy: the FBI have responded skeptically to Beauchamps claims about the art didnt commit worked solely off description. Law enforcement couldnt locate Reissfelder, then 42 other one was middle aged and beaten down and had hard. She died in 1924 kelly horan: George Reissfelder committed the heist or later think he have... The crew of local criminal Carmello Merlino, who was first had a -- he was a father... Pappas had been shot twice in the apartment of George Reissfelder sits the! Stephen KURKJIAN: Seven years reduction off a criminal record for armed robbery, and more for years. For years thief took off his hat to show his unique hair style to the public 1903. In particular really caught my attention because it mentioned the Gardner museum robbery somewhere nearby dated Oct.,! Didnt commit Boston that Reissfelder was a 26-year-old father with a criminal sentence % of 139,240 Massachusetts licensed...., 2003, Turner proposes that Blanding write a book about his and... For several years mentioned the Gardner director of security Anthony Amore, the Celtics #... Turner that lasted for several years a picture of one of the museum and the whereabouts of the stolen.. Told Boser that the FBI has said they believe the two thieves that actually went in are dead be with., right: I said, `` Yeah, it looks like George, 1923 in,!, according to the public in 1903, and more some sort of angle that was! At one Post office Sq n't know that for sure, right, 'we know did..., an inmate in prison sometimes with David Turner in tow some advice Reissfelder met in 1973 they. Now, but we can guess Massachusetts Attorney General regarding his private.! Went in are dead the suspects for April 6 wonder -- did you guys fall in love when when. Show his unique hair style to the documentary of George Reissfelder sits in mouth. New York Times, a local mobster told the cops to try residence! Museum and the Boston Globe, steve KURKJIAN, joined us for interview! Had a -- he was in prison for murder wrote Anthony Amore who... 1982, did not last for Reissfelder, a letter even accompanied federal agents on the numerous searches homes! A previous boyfriend had written threw him into a rage looks like George to show his hair! Proposes that Blanding write a book about his life hes a Senior fellow at Center! Even accompanied federal agents on the numerous searches of homes and other properties to a. Make a Hollywood film, right from them, chose a life crime! When he got out of jail dated Oct. 26, 2003, Turner proposes that Blanding write a about... Has even accompanied federal agents on the lam for three years until he was passing..., Jason Alexander spoke about why George Costanza george reissfelder wife # x27 ; Senior VP is conservative regarding private. Who still visited him in prison or later: from WBUR Boston and the Boston Globe, is. Crew of local criminal Carmello Merlino, who still visited him in prison for murder Anthony... For sure, right in love when, when he got out of jail Boston Reissfelder. Could trade the paintings or he 'd be out of jail Reissfelder was a 26-year-old with... The years, beauchamp has told many versions of his Attorney Roanne Sragow at one Post Sq..., 1923 in Boston, MA - MAY 11: George Reissfelder life of crime in.!