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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 5:03 p.m., Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Art theft suspects released pending investigation

Advertiser Staff

A man arrested Monday for questioning in an investigation of $50,500 worth of artworks from a gallery was released today by police pending further investigation.

Francis X. Blackwell Jr., 59, who has no permanent local address, was the director of Island Art Galleries at Aloha Tower Marketplace, where eight pieces of artwork including three original oil paintings by Chinese artist Zhou Ling and another original by Zhenguo or Z.G. Tong were stolen.

Ann W. Taylor, 58, a former Island Art Galleries' part-time consultant, was arrested with Blackwell in Kapolei and later released.