TAOS, N.M. (KRQE) – Four decades in the making, a New Mexico mystery has finally come to a close. Two paintings that were ripped off the walls and stolen from a northern New Mexico museum in the 80s returned home Friday.

"It's amazing to have these paintings back in Taos. It's something that we never imagined would happen. To see them here is surreal. We're pleased that they're back," said Juniper Leherissey, executive director of the Hardwood Museum of Art.

The oil paintings "Aspens" by Victor Higgins and "Oklahoma Cheyenne" by Joseph Henry Sharp were hung back inside the museum on Friday, forty years after they were taken from the museum.

"It was a blow to me, personally. On the other hand, these things happen," said David Witt, who was the museum curator when the paintings vanished i

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