Botched Art Heist: A Transformational Tale

In 2004, four college students in Kentucky attempted an audacious art heist at Transylvania University's Rare Books Room, targeting invaluable volumes worth millions. Spencer Reinhard, Warren Lipka, Eric Borsuk, and Charles "Chas" Allen II planned to steal these rare books, including John James Audubon's "Birds of America" folios, by subduing the librarian, Betty Jean Gooch. However, their meticulous plan quickly fell apart during execution. The thieves tased Gooch but abandoned their heavy haul after encountering an assistant librarian during the heist. They managed to steal some less valuable books but failed to make any significant profit.

To make matters worse, the gang's attempt to get the stolen books appraised at Christie's in New York City only exposed them further, leading to their arrests. They received identical seven-year prison sentences for robbery and transporting stolen goods. Their audacious heist story, once infamous, has now become a tale of youthful folly, as explored in the CNBC series "Super Heists" and inspiration for the 2018 Hollywood movie "American Animals."