Hermitage Theft Leads to Curator’s Family

An investigation into the theft of 221 objects from the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, has led to the husband and son of a curator who had been responsible for the collection, confirming an initial police theory that the $5 million art theft was an inside job. The curator had been responsible for the Russian enamel and precious metal pieces dating from the middle ages to the 19th century, including delicate masterpieces of Russian Orthodox icon craftsmanship. The items slowly vanished over six years, according to an audit made public a week ago. The curator, identified as Larisa Zavadskaya, died during the audit. Over the weekend her son confessed, the newspaper Izvestia reported.