The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes references to suicidal thoughts and a suicide attempt.

In May 2002, Von der Mühll travels to France. Anne-Catherine is subpoenaed and interviewed, but she claims ignorance of all events. At the same time, Breitwieser’s mother is arrested and questioned by French police. She eventually admits to clearing the attic in a “destructive frenzy.” She confesses to tossing the stolen items into garbage bags, driving to the canal, and throwing them into the water.

Breitwieser is convinced that his mother must have had help moving heavy items such as the Virgin Mary statue. The police find 10 stolen silver items in a pond belonging to Stengel’s boyfriend, Jean-Pierre Fritsch. The Virgin Mary is also discovered on the grounds of a church near his home. However, Fritsch denies any knowledge of the stolen goods. Members of the public find other missing items: The tapestry is recovered in a roadside ditch, and three copper paintings are discovered by a timber cutter in a nearby forest. Unaware of their value, the woodsman nails the paintings to his roof. When he sees an article about the stolen art, he hands the artwork to the police.