Richard Abath, a night watchman who allowed two thieves disguised as Boston police officers into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990, leading to the greatest art heist in history, passed away on Feb. 23 at his home in Brattleboro, Vt. He was 57.
His lawyer, George F. Gormley, confirmed the death but did not provide a cause.
The Gardner Museum, located in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, is renowned for its collection of paintings, sculptures, and historical artifacts.
Mr. Abath, a recent music school dropout, took on the job as a night watchman to support himself while pursuing his passion for music with his band, Ukiah.
He admitted to occasionally being under the influence while on duty and even allowed friends into the museum after hours for a party.
The heist occurred on March 18, 1990, shortly after midnight. Mr. Abath, who was at the security desk, claimed to be sober at the time.
The thieves, posing as police officers, gained entry to the museum after Mr. Abath allowed them into the vestibule.
Despite feeling suspicious, Mr. Abath was handcuffed and incapacitated, enabling the thieves to steal numerous valuable artworks from the museum.
Over the course of an hour and a half, the thieves made off with over $500 million worth of art, making it the largest art heist in history.
Despite suspicions surrounding Mr. Abath, he maintained his innocence and was never officially named as a suspect in the case.
Born on May 24, 1966, in Wilmington, Del., Mr. Abath pursued a career in music before eventually settling in Vermont.
He tried to distance himself from the spotlight following the heist but remained haunted by the events.
