FBI recovers WWII codebreaker Alan Turing’s knighthood medal and Princeton degree

Federal authorities announced they have recovered British mathematician and WWII codebreaker Alan Turing’s stolen Princeton doctoral degree, his knighthood medal, and other memorabilia in Colorado in 2018 – nearly 36 years after they disappeared. 

Officials announced Friday in filings in the US District court of Colorado that they seized the British cryptologist’s Princeton degree, his Order of the British Empire medal, several photos, school reports, and letters from his time at Sherborne School, a boarding school he attended in Dorset, England. 

The items were taken by a woman named Julia Turing, who falsely claimed to be Turing’s daughter. She changed her last name from Schwinghamer in 1988, according to the complaint. 

Turing is one of the most important figures in World War II who developed several processes for breaking German military Enigma code, which reportedly shortened the war by nearly two years. 

In addition to his war efforts, for which he was given the Officer of the Order of the British Empire by King George VI, he was a brilliant mathematician and a founding father of the modern computer and artificial intelligence.  

Federal authorities have recovered mathematician and WWII codebreaker Alan Turing’s stolen Princeton doctoral degree, his knighthood medal, and other memorabilia in Colorado in 2018. The items disappeared in 1984

The items were taken by a woman named Julia Turing, who falsely claimed to be Turing's daughter. She changed her last name from Schwinghamer in 1988, according to the complaint

The items were taken by a woman named Julia Turing, who falsely claimed to be Turing’s daughter. She changed her last name from Schwinghamer in 1988, according to the complaint

Julia Turing approached the University of Colorado Boulder in January 2018 saying she wanted to loan Alan Turing’s memorabilia to the library. 

However, archivists to the library realized the items were stolen from Sherborne back in 1984 and alerted authorities. 

When speaking with investigators, Julia Turing confessed she visited the school during a larger study of Turing’s life and asked to see his archive, which was stored in a wooden box in a laboratory. 

School officials said they found a note left underneath the box after the theft that said: ‘Please forgive me for taking these materials into my possession. They will be well taken care of while under the care of my hands and shall one day all be returned to this spot.’ 

Her admission corroborated with Sherborne records. A former biology teacher at Sherborne said Julia Turing claimed she was Alan Turing’s daughter when he gave her a tour of the school.

Julia Turing approached the University of Colorado Boulder in January 2018 saying she wanted to loan Alan Turing's memorabilia to the library. However, archivists to the library realized the items were stolen from Sherborne back in 1984 and alerted authorities

Julia Turing approached the University of Colorado Boulder in January 2018 saying she wanted to loan Alan Turing’s memorabilia to the library. However, archivists to the library realized the items were stolen from Sherborne back in 1984 and alerted authorities

In 1946 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by King George VI for his code-breaking work during WWII that reportedly shortened the war by two years. Turing's Order of the British Empire medal pictured above

In 1946 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by King George VI for his code-breaking work during WWII that reportedly shortened the war by two years. Turing’s Order of the British Empire medal pictured above

From September 1936 to July 1938 Turing studied at Princeton University, studying math. In June 1938 he obtained his PhD from the Department of Mathematics at Princeton. His Princeton Graduate School file pictured above

From September 1936 to July 1938 Turing studied at Princeton University, studying math. In June 1938 he obtained his PhD from the Department of Mathematics at Princeton. His Princeton Graduate School file pictured above 

A month after she reached out to CU Boulder, federal authorities searched her Conifer home and recovered the memorabilia which was valued at $37,775. 

The property is now in the possession of the US Department of Homeland Security in Denver.  

Turing’s personal possessions are of remarkable value. In 2015 one of his notebooks from 1942 sold at auction for more than $1million. That was not a part of the collection found in Julia Turing’s home.   

Turing considered a founding father of computer science and algorithmic design. His Turing machine, made in 1936,  is the basis for modern day computers and artificial intelligence. 

Turing studied as an undergraduate from 1931 to 1934 at King’s College in Cambridge in the UK. From September 1936 to July 1938 Turing studied at Princeton University, studying math. In June 1938 he obtained his PhD from the Department of Mathematics at Princeton.  

A rare diary belonging to Turing pictured on display in Hong Kong in March 2015 shown ahead of an auction where it sold for over $1million

A rare diary belonging to Turing pictured on display in Hong Kong in March 2015 shown ahead of an auction where it sold for over $1million

When speaking with investigators, Julia Turing confessed she visited Sherborne School in Dorset, UK (above) and asked to see his archive, which was stored in a wooden box in a laboratory. School officials said they found a note left underneath the box after the theft that said: 'Please forgive me for taking these materials into my possession. They will be well taken care of while under the care of my hands and shall one day all be returned to this spot'

When speaking with investigators, Julia Turing confessed she visited Sherborne School in Dorset, UK (above) and asked to see his archive, which was stored in a wooden box in a laboratory. School officials said they found a note left underneath the box after the theft that said: ‘Please forgive me for taking these materials into my possession. They will be well taken care of while under the care of my hands and shall one day all be returned to this spot’ 

After studying he served in the war by working for the Government Code and Cypher School in Bletchley Park in the UK cracking enemy codes.

In 1946 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by King George VI for his code-breaking work.

Turing is also an icon in the LGBTQ community as he lived as an openly gay man when it was illegal to do so. 

In 1952 he was prosecuted for homosexual acts under the Labouchere Amendment of 1885 which deemed ‘gross indecency’ as a criminal offense in the UK. He accepted chemical castration as an alternative to prison.  

He passed away in 1954 from cyanide poisoning His death was determined to be a suicide. 

His life was portrayed on screen in the 2014 film The Imitation Game.  

It’s not clear why federal authorities announced the seizure two years later. It’s not clear if or when the items will be returned to Sherborne School. 

The Department of Homeland Security is yet to return DailyMail.com’s request for comment.  

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