http://m.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091210/NEWS/912109991/-1/NEWSMAP&template=wapart (http://m.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091210/NEWS/912109991/-1/NEWSMAP&template=wapart)
Really unfortunate news for all involved....
This is so damn sad. Why would anyone rip off their own father?
Mike
Quote from: Illoman on December 10, 2009, 05:49:45 PM
Why would anyone rip off their own father?
Greedy and selfish.
I'm shocked for another reason. I thought Frank Frazetta was dead. Glad to hear that he's still kicking in Florida.
Rob
Family dynamics and strong feelings run awfully, awfully deep, and can cause all kinds of mayhem among otherwise sane people, especially when there's money in the mix...
Now it's entirely possible that Frank Frazetta's dementia has led to panicky, rash decisions on his son's part; not that it's impossible for a son to steal from a father, but without living their lives and being privy to their family disputes, I can only figure there's likely more to this sad story than meets the eye.
Just sad.
That's really messed up.
That's bad. How could anybody do that to their own family? I wouldn't even do anything like that to my evil in-laws.
I was shocked too, but at the names involved.
Someone I know who knows the Frazettas well (and who I think is a UMA member?) says Frank Jr. will be vindicated in this. Perhaps we're not getting the whole story here.
OH MY GOD...AND Kevin Clement [founder of the Chiller Theatre expo] was involved?? I find this hard to believe. Kevin WORSHIPS Frank Sr....Something really stinks here.
What an idiot, how can anyone steal from their own family. D**K!!!!!!
I think this is a "more then meets the eye" situation. I know Kevin for years, as do many of you, and his involvment tips me to the fact that we are not getting the "rest of the story!"
Kevin is, by no means, a thief.
I think we should watch and see how it all plays out.
Quote from: marsattacks666 on December 11, 2009, 12:07:27 AM
What an idiot, how can anyone steal from their own family. D**K!!!!!!
Frank Jr. is no idiot, rest assured; again, we can't know everything, and there is a lot more to this than a quick article is going to tell us. People whose opinions I respect have their doubts that all is as it seems in this sad story, and I think we ought to hold judgment until more information becomes available.
Here's the local (for the museum) news story--no new facts, but interesting pictures.
http://www.wnep.com/wnep-mon-frazetta-charged-theft-artwork,0,7147294.story (http://www.wnep.com/wnep-mon-frazetta-charged-theft-artwork,0,7147294.story)
I have been to the museum and that place is like Fort Knox ! You can not even get within 6 " of any of the paintings without an alarm going off. So what was Frank Jr thinking ? He must have known that. But he used a backhoe to break the front doors to get in ? Weird and pretty stupid. So he breaks in to Fort Knox to steal artwork to protect his father and stop other family members selling the art then plans on putting this art is a storage place ? What was he thinking ? And if he convinced Kevin to tag along shame on him too.
This whole thing smells funny to me. Is is also very sad when money breaks apart a family.
Whatever gets said or done from here on in , the future of this family is forever tarnished by his rash actions.
This is going to be one nasty trial and is going to cost them all tons of $ and heart ache.
I'm glad I saw the museum and art while Ellie was still alive. She was a sweet nice lady and made it an real joy to see the art the day I was there.
Who knows if anyone will ever have that chance again.
My best thoughts are with Frank and his family now in these hard times.
Tom
The article mentioned a Kevin Clement as one of the people helping him. Is the same one who runs Chiller?
I may be wrong but I think it is the same Kevin
Tom
UPDATE!!! I spoke with Kevin Clement after the incident. Kevin bought a house on the Frazetta estate and has been taking painting lessons from Frank for years. This incident will be a CIVIL case. Eventually the criminal charges will most likely be dropped against Frank Jr. (Alphonso) as he was licensed and privileged to be at the museum (he is the caretaker). KEvin Clement is not under arrest. Charges may be filed against Frank Jr's asssitant but not Kevin.
THE BACK STORY: Ellie Frazetta died of cancer last June. She was the backbone that kept the family together. Franks tarted going downhill and gave his son, Bill, the power of attorney. Kevin Clement helped Frank broker a million dollar sale last week. Frank tried to access the money but was blocked by Bill's power of attorney so Frank took that power away from Bill. That upset Bill. There were problems so the duaghters came up from Florida and got involved. They convinced Frank to move back with them to Florida. Frank Jr. did not want that (he and his sisters do not get along for reasons I will not lsit here).
Somehow Frank Jr. received or came into possession of documents allegedly authorizing him to take the paintings from the unattended museum to a climate controlled storage facility in New York City. According to Kevin Clement they looked real. Frank Jr. used a back hoe to break into the museum as it was chained shut. He shut of the alarm (he had the code) and began removing items from the museum. He and his assistant had loaded 90 paintings into a trailer when he called Kevin to come over for help. Kevin arrived at the scene the smae time Bill Frazetta and the State Police arrived there. MORE
Normally this is a domestic civil case in Pennsylvania (I am a retired state trooper and I used to patrol the Frazetta estate) as the family is involved in in-fighting.
Frank Jr. was taken into custody. Charges are pending against his assistant. The police took Kevin Clement's information but that was all.
For more news you can go to http://www.wnep.com (http://www.wnep.com) and see pictures.
Unfortunately due to Frank's ill health this is going to be a mess. With four children fighting over the estate while Frank is still alive, it will be a mess. No doubt frank will change his will and, upon his death, the family will pay outrageous fortunes to lawyers and get only satisfaction in return.
It's a real mess. It's a sad, sad turn of events.
This is all so sad. How often you hear of families torn apart by greed, but good lord, Frank Sr. is still around. As Jscareshock said, Ellie was the glue that held the family (and the business) together. And as Tom Smith said, it makes it seem unlikely that there will ever be another opportunity to view the paintings all together in the Museum venue.
Family was so important to the senior Frazettas...
I contacted one of my buddies at the Swiftwater Barracks of the state police. I got a copy of the report. Kevin Clement (the Chiller show man in case you still had any doubts) is NOT a suspect. Never has been a suspect. And is NOT arrested.
Kevin was simply there at the wrong time trying to help a friend.
The trooper interviewed Frank Sr. via telephone and does not know if Frank was lucid or suffering from dementia during the interview so he had to go on Frank's word and arrest the son.
The preliminary hearing will be this week. Frank Sr. must come back to testify unless Frank Jr. waives the hearing and awaits trial.
The problem will be Frank Sr. testifying. he he is incapable then charges will most likely be dismissed and the matter will be handled by civil action i.e. family members suing the crap out of each other.
In the meantime look for possibly stolen Frazetta work to start popping up in auctions or shows or, more importantly, FAKE Frazetta work popping up. Since the family is in disarray there is no one to police the internet.
? ? ? ?
Where did they say any of the artwork went missing?
I think the most important thing in all of this is that none of the Frazetta masterpieces got damaged.
Quote from: Monster Bob on December 13, 2009, 01:25:19 PM
? ? ? ?
Where did they say any of the artwork went missing?
I think the most important thing in all of this is that none of the Frazetta masterpieces got damaged.
Regarding damages: after the police left the scene Bill Frazetta simply locked up the trailer where the paintings had been put for the night. Temps were around 0 that night. So the paintings went from a climate controlled environment into a freezing storage for at least 1 night. Who knows what damage that caused.
As for missing artwork, the Frazetta website regularly posted information about paintings of Frank's that went missing over the years. Paintings that were allegedly mailed back to him but never arrived so there is some missing work yet to be found.
The impact of this is sad. Glad Kevin wasn't involved, but feel sad for all the pain this will generate. Thanks Jscareshock for all the updates.
This is so sad. I was so hoping they would reopen the museum. Now that is pretty much done.
Ellie was the backbone to the museum. The kids can't hold it together. It may be a while until we see any of the Frazetta work surface anywhere.
Quote from: Jscareshock on December 16, 2009, 09:29:38 AM
Ellie was the backbone to the museum. The kids can't hold it together. It may be a while until we see any of the Frazetta work surface anywhere.
This is so sad. What a waste.
A hearing was supposed to happen today, the 16th, but it was continued because Frank Sr was unable to make it to the hearing. Bail was reduced to $50 grand and Frank Jr. is out.
I am being told a lot of ugly stuff about the in fighting that I can't report.
Bill has the paintings in a "safe place" and will soon show them to the world--whatever that means.
SOme surprising news was revealled after the hearing was continued. The notary who witnessed the documents signed by Frank and Frank Jr. was to testify on behalf of Frank Jr. She stated to the news that Frank Sr. did sign the documents Frank Jr. had with hm when arrested and that Frank Sr. wanted Frank Jr. to keep and protect the paintings. He feared his other children would try to sell them all.
Bill has the paintings in a safe palce but will have to return them to Frank Jr. should the charges against Frank be dismissed--if the paintings can be found. It isgetting real ugly.
Really sucks considering who and what is involved. Really starting to sound like a nasty greed based soap opera.