The Ghent Altarpiece, Part II - The Theft No One Wanted to Solve

On April 11, 1934, The Righteous Judges and Saint John the Baptist panels from the Ghent Altarpiece vanished from Saint Bavo Cathedral. The investigation was bungled from the start—police arrived late, didn't seal the scene, took no photographs. Then came thirteen ransom letters from someone signed "D.U.A." who seemed hurt that the bishop wouldn't cooperate with his "gentleman's agreement."Seven months later, Arsène Goedertier died, confessing his involvement in the crime to his lawyer on his deathbed. Carbon copies of the ransom letters were in his desk. Case closed.Except nothing made sense. Goedertier couldn't have acted alone—he was physically unable to carry the panels or see in the dark. His lawyer didn't go to police, but to magistrates who investigated in secret for a month. Files disappeared. People who had money seemed reluctant to pay the ransom. This episode explores what happens when institutions destroy what they claim to love—and why The Righteous Judges panel is still missing ninety years later.