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Manhattan DA Returns $3 Million in Stolen Books

4/21/2026

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Story summary
  • The Manhattan District Attorney's Office returned 17 rare books valued $3 million to heirs of John Hay Whitney and Betsey Whitney.
  • They were stolen from Whitney estate on Long Island between 1982 and 1989 and resurfaced in January 2025 after a sale attempt to Manhattan dealers.
  • Investigators continue the search for the remaining 11 volumes, and the Whitney heirs plan to auction the recovered books and donate the proceeds.