Junk removal worker faces theft charges after paintings disappear from collector's home

In the town of Newton, Charlie Vogel's keen eye detected discrepancies in an online listing from a compact Essex auction house. A connoisseur in 19th-century White Mountain artists, Vogel immediately recognized a landscape by Samuel Lancaster Gerry, a sentimental piece admired at the Newton home of his friends Sam and Sheila Robbins. Despite Sam's passing in 2016, Vogel was convinced Sheila wouldn't part with the cherished painting. His suspicions heightened as he explored an online catalog, revealing more paintings from the Robbins collection. A call to Sheila confirmed her disbelief at the paintings' online presence, leading to a disconcerting revelation: the family had been robbed by their contractor.

After a months-long investigation, Newton Police formally accused Brandon Campbell of illicitly removing and selling around 100 paintings from the Robbins residence. Campbell faced charges, including larceny, uttering false writing, and forgery, but maintained innocence through his attorney, Dennis McMahon. McMahon argued that Campbell, running a junk-removal company, had a contract to clear damaged items and had no intent to steal. The Robbinses disputed this, emphasizing their $30,000 payment for a routine clean-out, not the removal of valuable items.

The Robbinses, unconventional collectors, acquired over 1,000 artworks, generously donating 80 to the Peabody Essex Museum in 2016. However, their home held hundreds more, stored even in upstairs bedrooms. When sewage water issues arose, they enlisted Campbell's services, trusting him with a basement and attic clean-out. Despite positive interactions, concerns arose when a neighbor suggested more than just junk was being removed.

Louis Chorney, owner of Colonial Trading, bought around 114 paintings from Campbell, leading to a forgery allegation when a receipt surfaced. Newton Police Detective Alexander Coletti found discrepancies in signatures, intensifying the legal battle. Despite McMahon's claim of a civil matter, the Robbinses vehemently contested the water damage assertion, questioning the artworks' location and condition. Chorney subsequently consigned 22 paintings to Blackwood March Auctioneers, where Vogel spotted them in an online catalog.

After Campbell's arraignment, Jonathan Robbins oversaw the return of artworks to a storage unit, closely inspecting them for water damage. The return marked the end of a perplexing journey entwining real estate, art, and unexpected twists, underscoring the value of trust, integrity, and the untold stories homes may hold in their walls.