A Stradivarius violin valued at $4 million was stolen from the locked bedroom closet of a dying virtuoso.
The theft of the 268-year-old violin was discovered Oct. 18, two weeks before Erica Morini died.Morini, 91, died Wednesday at home not knowing about the theft.
The violin had been a gift from her father. A longtime friend discovered it missing from the apartment while Morini was hospitalized for various ailments.
Michael Miller, a lawyer for Morini's estate, said the thief almost certainly had easy access and keys to the apartment and probably knew the violin's value.
Estate guardian Harold Mayerson posted a $100,000 reward.
Born in Austria, Morini was a child prodigy. The Morinis, who were Jewish, fled to New York when Germany annexed Austria in 1938. Erica Morini, who was widowed in the 1980s, took American citizenship in 1943.
A half century ago, she bridled at those who called her the foremost female violinist of the time.
"Either I am a great violinist or I am not. It means nothing to me to be the greatest woman violinist."