Official: NYC doorman says he found missing painting at center of federal inquiry

Official: Missing painting found by NYC doorman

NEW YORK — A missing painting that spurred lawsuits over who was responsible for its disappearance has been turned in by a New York City doorman.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday that the doorman took the 19th-century “Portrait of a Girl” last week to a city police station.

The official says the doorman found it weeks ago and didn’t realize its significance until recently. The official spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

A middleman who was showing the work to a prospective buyer claimed he got drunk and lost the painting in July. One of the owners sued him, then dropped the suit.

The other owner was recently indicted. He says he’s innocent of lying about the painting’s value and defrauding an investor.