Report leads to recovery of apparent stolen paintings
SEATTLE -- Paintings stolen from a Seattle gallery may have just been recovered thanks to a KOMO 4 Problem Solvers report.
When Esteban Silva approached KOMO News last July, the artist from Mexico was desperate to recover his stolen paintings.
Silva spent months laboring over each piece, but a thief snatched five works off a Seattle gallery's walls days before they'd be showcased in an international exhibit. The show's curator was at a loss.
"15 pieces, five get stolen," Oscar Adrian said after the thefts. "I didn't know how to cheer (Silva) up."
After nearly a year of searching, three paintings looking identical to the stolen art suddenly resurfaced on Goodwill's online auction site. An art collector in North Carolina was considering a bid and decided to research the artist. Up popped the story from KOMONews.com.
Scott Schultz says he watched the video of our story.
"I saw the pieces and realized there was the possibility of reconnecting the artwork with the original owner," Schultz said.
We contacted police and the curator with the fresh lead.
"I saw the piece, I was like right away, 'oh this is the piece,' " Adrian said.
Goodwill also took quick action and pulled the works from the auction site to further investigate. The company says most donations are made anonymously, and it could be hard to trace back who brought the paintings to them.
But still, family friends say Silva will be relieved that his paintings might have been found.
"It is going to make him feel like there are angels out there," said family friend Mick Heltsley.
Police seized both paintings as potential evidence Monday and are working to verify their origin now. A third missing piece was already sold at auction, so Goodwill and detectives are in the process of tracking that piece down.
When Esteban Silva approached KOMO News last July, the artist from Mexico was desperate to recover his stolen paintings.
Silva spent months laboring over each piece, but a thief snatched five works off a Seattle gallery's walls days before they'd be showcased in an international exhibit. The show's curator was at a loss.
"15 pieces, five get stolen," Oscar Adrian said after the thefts. "I didn't know how to cheer (Silva) up."
After nearly a year of searching, three paintings looking identical to the stolen art suddenly resurfaced on Goodwill's online auction site. An art collector in North Carolina was considering a bid and decided to research the artist. Up popped the story from KOMONews.com.
Scott Schultz says he watched the video of our story.
"I saw the pieces and realized there was the possibility of reconnecting the artwork with the original owner," Schultz said.
We contacted police and the curator with the fresh lead.
"I saw the piece, I was like right away, 'oh this is the piece,' " Adrian said.
Goodwill also took quick action and pulled the works from the auction site to further investigate. The company says most donations are made anonymously, and it could be hard to trace back who brought the paintings to them.
But still, family friends say Silva will be relieved that his paintings might have been found.
"It is going to make him feel like there are angels out there," said family friend Mick Heltsley.
Police seized both paintings as potential evidence Monday and are working to verify their origin now. A third missing piece was already sold at auction, so Goodwill and detectives are in the process of tracking that piece down.
