Stolen Churchill Portrait Recovered in Italy and Returned to Canada

The iconic 'Roaring Lion' photograph, missing since late 2021, was repatriated after being sold unknowingly to an Italian lawyer.

The photograph of Winston Churchill, taken by Yousuf Karsh in 1941, was stolen from the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa between December 2021 and January 2022.
Hotel staff discovered the theft in August 2022 when they noticed the original had been replaced with a signed copy.
The stolen portrait was sold at a London auction in May 2022 to Italian lawyer Nicola Cassinelli, who returned it upon learning of its origins.
Canadian and Italian authorities collaborated to recover the photograph, culminating in a handover ceremony at the Canadian embassy in Rome.
Jeffrey Wood of Ontario has been charged with theft, forgery, and possession of stolen property in connection with the crime.