The final, iconic photographs taken of Marilyn Monroe are at the centre of a dramatic legal battle, with the photographer's widow alleging they were stolen by the Mafia and demanding a high-profile auction be stopped.
Widow Alleges Theft and Extortion Attempt
Actress and filmmaker Shannah Laumeister Stern, who secretly married famed fashion photographer Bert Stern in 2009, has filed a complaint in the New York County Supreme Court. She claims that roughly 2,500 negatives from Monroe's last-ever photo session, known as "The Last Sitting," vanished from Stern's apartment decades ago. She asserts her late husband always believed organised crime was responsible for the theft, a suspicion he felt was confirmed by taunting messages from Las Vegas.
The photographs, commissioned by Vogue, were taken over three days in late June 1962 in Suite 261 of Los Angeles's Hotel Bel-Air. Monroe died just six weeks later. Today, individual prints from the session can sell for up to $25,000. While a 2018 dispute granted Laumeister Stern the copyright, the physical ownership of the negatives remains legally untested.
A Mysterious Reappearance and a $3 Million Demand
The missing negatives reportedly resurfaced in July 2023. An attorney representing an anonymous woman, identified only as "Jane Doe," contacted Laumeister Stern. The lawyer initially claimed the negatives were found in the trash, then changed the story, alleging Stern had given them to Doe's late husband as collateral for a non-existent loan.
The complaint states that communications ended when the attorney demanded $3 million for the return of the negatives, an act Laumeister Stern describes as a "shake down" possibly linked to the past threats. Doe has since consigned the collection to Dallas-based Heritage Auctions, where it is scheduled for sale on 8 December 2025.
Legal Battle Erupts Ahead of Auction
Laumeister Stern is now seeking a court order to halt the sale and return the negatives to the Bert Stern Trust. "I am completely distraught, heartbroken, and feel utterly exploited," she told The Independent. "The stolen negatives belong back with the Bert Stern Trust. Nothing will stop me." She has also reported the pending sale to the FBI.
However, the anonymous seller's attorney, retired New York judge Richard Aulisi, has fiercely rebutted the claims. "My client intends to fight this," he said. "There is no legal or factual basis for this action." A source familiar with the case suggested Stern gave the negatives to Doe's husband in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
Heritage Auctions, in a statement, said the consigner warranted good title and they have no reason to doubt it. The stage is now set for a contentious legal fight over a priceless piece of Hollywood history just days before it is set to go under the hammer.
