It’s an unusual place to start a true crime story - at the National Gallery of Victoria in 1985. 

The director of the gallery, a man named Patrick McCaughey, purchases a single painting for $1.6 million. Due to currency fluctuations, the cost increases to $2 million, the most expensive purchase ever made by an Australian gallery. The painting is by Pablo Picasso, titled The Weeping Woman. The work represents suffering - oddly fitting for the story that was about to unfold. 

Also oddly fitting is the statement made by McCaughey upon announcing the purchase. He said of the Weeping Woman: “This face is going to haunt Melbourne for the next 100 years.” 

And haunt Melbourne it did.

CREDITS

Host: Jessie Stephens

Guest: Marc Fennell, host of FRAMED 

Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Ian Camilleri

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