By Alexandrea Dahlstrom
SLN STAFF
Police are looking for someone who stole a $3,000 painting from a Lake Geneva auction site Nov. 17.
A Judy Larson horse print went missing from the home of Keith Krause, a 45-year-old building contractor, who died July 12 after falling through a roof on a job site.
Krause’s estate was sold at a live auction to raise money to be put into a trust for his 8-year-old and twin 6-year-old daughters’ college and wedding expenses, said Krause’s sister-in-law Barb Krause.
Barb Krause said the painting was not part of the auction and was in a private room blocked from the
public.
“There were about 200 people there, and we’re just asking that anyone with information call us or the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department,” said Todd Krause, Keith Krause’s brother and executor of his estate.
Barb Krause said she and her husband, Todd Krause, noticed the painting was missing Nov. 18 when Todd Krause was naming off the paintings packed away in the private room.
Barb Krause said the painting was one of nine in the room and was the most valuable.
“Theft is not typical at an auction such as this and the auctioneer is shocked that this happened,” Todd Krause said. “We’ve filed a police report, and for the sake of these children who lost their father, we just want the print back. This is money that was going to help put my brother’s little girls through college and help pay for their weddings. We’re asking for anyone with information to please come forward, even anonymously.”
Calls to sheriff’s Deputy Tanya Miller, who is assigned to the case, were not immediately returned.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at 741-4400 or Barb Krause at (262) 215-5344.
