They seemed like the perfect couple: retired schoolteachers, quiet neighbors, world travelers... and secret art thieves? In this jaw-dropping true story, we uncover the shocking double life of Jerry and Rita Alter — an unassuming New Mexico couple who lived modestly, yet had a stolen $160 million painting hanging in their bedroom. For decades, no one suspected a thing.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:57 - The Theft
4:29 - The Investigation
5:48 - Jerry’s Early Life
7:25 - Jerry & Rita
16:49 - Settling the Estate
21:26 - Surprising Discovery
25:08 - Getting it back to where it belongs
30:48 - Continued Investigation
32:19 - Evidence against the Alters
36:36 - Other Crimes
41:47 - Other Valuable Items
48:06 - Internet Sleuth Under covers More
50:34 - Final Thoughts
►Sources:
https://www.wfaa.com/article/features/unclassified-fbi-files-unveil-clues-in-stolen-de-kooning-painting-discovered-behind-bedroom-door/287-b3a9910f-6193-4e48-adce-060c2fc8aafa
1st Documentary: https://www.wfaa.com/article/features/originals/discovering-the-de-kooning-a-wfaa-original-documentary/287-503975958#longform_chapter_5
2nd Documentary: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.6cdc30a1-2592-4b3c-910c-247543403954?autoplay=0&ref_=atv_cf_strg_wb
https://www.ksfr.org/criminal-justice/2025-06-06/after-40-years-stolen-art-comes-home-to-taos
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/mar/29/the-thief-collector-review-the-ordinary-married-couple-behind-a-massive-art-heist
https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona/2022/10/06/who-were-jerry-and-rita-alter-missing-de-kooning-found-couples-home/8195231001/
https://medium.com/true-crime-road-trip/the-missing-masterpiece-2caebd788a9d
More stolen works: https://www.scdailypress.com/2024/03/15/california-writer-finds-two-stolen-works-estate-now-famous-cliff-couple/
RETURNED: https://medium.com/true-crime-road-trip/detour-artwork-recovered-32bbb154a170
https://medium.com/true-crime-road-trip/taos-homecoming-83219e93512a
https://www.kunc.org/film-reviews/2023-06-09/film-review-a-true-story-stranger-than-fiction
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/arts/de-kooning-higgins-sharp-harwood-fbi.html?unlocked_article_code=1.XU8.hQDd.JxNCDG5HEN96
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/08/03/a-small-town-couple-left-behind-a-stolen-painting-worth-over-100-million-and-a-big-mystery/
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/de-kooning-art-theft
https://medium.com/true-crime-road-trip/the-missing-masterpiece-2caebd788a9d
https://www.kunc.org/film-reviews/2023-06-09/film-review-a-true-story-stranger-than-fiction
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