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Two paintings, 40 years, One unexpected homecoming

Season 3
Episode #1
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It was 1985 when a couple strolled into the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico, but they weren’t there to admire the creations. By the time they left, two paintings had vanished from the walls, stolen in broad daylight by a pair of now-notorious art thieves. For nearly four decades, the masterpieces were lost to history — until now. Thanks to the relentless work of an investigative journalist and an FBI case, the Aspens and Oklahoma Cheyenne are back home inside the Harwood. But the story doesn’t end there. Inside a remote home in Silver City, New Mexico, agents discovered more than just those two missing works.

Who stole them? Where have they been? How did a cold case end in a homecoming? That’s all in today’s episode of It’s Probably Not Rocket Science coming to you live from Taos at the scene of the crime. We’re sitting down with the museums Executive Director Juniper Leherissey and the L.A. based Investigative Reporter Lou Schachter, who helped crack the case.

About Our Guest(s)

Juniper Leherissey

The Harwood Museum of Art Executive Director, Juniper Leherissey, has been with the Museum since 2019. She was Development Director for the Harwood for eight years prior to returning as Director. As a Taos native, Leherissey spent many hours at the Harwood Public Library growing up.

Lou Schachter

Lou Schachter is a storyteller who explores the intersection of true crime mysteries and travel. Retired from a corporate career, he now lives in Palm Springs, California, and has been featured in The New York Times.

Hosted by UCAM's Alexa Skonieski

Carly Bowling headshot

From podcast listener to podcast host, Alexa Skonieski is a university communication representative on The University of New Mexico’s Communication and Marketing team (UCAM). She’s thrilled to spread the word on important research coming out of UNM, New Mexico’s flagship university. In addition to producing It’s (Probably) Not Rocket Science, she writes stories and creates videos for the UNM Newsroom, the university’s official communication platform.

Skonieski is a graduate of Central Michigan University’s School of Communication, Journalism, and Media (’19). She is a former news reporter/anchor who worked at TV stations in Michigan, Nebraska, and most recently in New Mexico at KRQE News 13, where she won a New Mexico Broadcasters Association award. She is passionate about academic research and wants its topics to be understandable and accessible to everyone. People should know the important role UNM plays. She hopes you’ll subscribe to the show and follow along!