Suzanne Kenney’s Crime & Canvas podcast delves deeper into her relentless investigation of the 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist. In Episode Four: Suzanne’s Research and Miami Discoveries, Suzanne recounts her personal journey, connecting the dots from her mother’s mysterious art encounters to a staggering truth involving a billionaire.
The Search for Answers Begins
After detailing Mary’s story, the artworks, and the handwritten notes in previous episodes, Suzanne now shares how her own research began. In a pre-internet era (1991-1992), verifying the claims of “Mr. Koch” was impossible for her mother. It wasn’t until 2010 that Suzanne’s children helped uncover a startling fact: the Koch brothers, including Frederick R. Koch, were alive. This contradicted the “fake death” story, solidifying the family’s identity as the mysterious art seller.
Suzanne’s attempt to contact Frederick Koch’s companion, John Olsen, yielded a chilling denial: “He has no memory whatsoever of this matter. He has never owned or possessed works by Calder or Picasso, Jane Peterson, etc.” This directly contradicted published articles about Frederick Koch’s art collecting, igniting Suzanne’s intensified research.
Following the Clues to Miami
The handwritten notes and her mother’s recollections consistently pointed to Miami. Suzanne’s investigation into “Ed Koch” and “Art Restoration” unearthed connections to what is now the Museum of Contemporary Art in Miami, with addresses matching its parking lot. Further research into “Washington Storage” revealed a link to Ned Mathews and his brother, confirming its role as an art storage warehouse, now The Wolfsonian museum. This vital Miami connection confirmed there is a person named Koch and an art lover down there.
A Billionaire’s Deception
Suzanne’s research into Frederick R. Koch revealed a complex individual, disowned by his father and described as “amoral” by his own brother, Charles, due to allegations of theft. A man who inherited a fortune and amassed billions without ever working. This profile raises profound questions: Could art heists be part of his wealth acquisition? The audacity of his faked death and the elaborate deceptions suggest a calculated pattern.
Suzanne argues that her factual, documented evidence is as worthy of being heard as unverified theories involving mobsters. She presents this as high-level corruption, facilitated by the inaction of those who should care. “When you read the news articles on the 1990 art heist and see the theories being reported, all of the theories are based on hearsay and authorities don’t support the reported theories.”
She believes Koch’s actions—selling off artwork like a “checklist of his crimes”—were an attempt to “right his wrongs,” perhaps due to guilt over the heist and even Robert Donati’s death. This narrative provides a coherent explanation for a story where little else made sense.
Demand the Truth
Suzanne refuses to be silenced by dismissive tactics, seeing them as confirmation that her efforts are “hitting the nerves of the corrupt.” Her mother’s journey exposed systemic corruption, demanding powerful accountability and justice.
Suzanne urges listeners to take action: Email editors@propublica.org to demand coverage of her 15-year fight for justice. Tell them you’ve heard the evidence on Crime & Canvas and use #CrimeAndCanvasPodcast when sharing this episode. For those with similar unheard stories, visit uhv.news.
What’s Next?
In Episode Five: The Authentication Challenges, Suzanne will explore all the avenues she’s pursued to get this artwork and her story officially recognized.
Thank you for joining Suzanne Kenney on crimeandcanvaspodcast.com. As she reminds us, “the truth is still the truth, even if no one believes it.”
