By Lisa Marchesoni - Oct. 22, 2007 - 3:44 PM

Bidder Flo Rothacker set her sights on a 12-piece patio set owned by the late Robert McLean whose personal property was auctioned Saturday at the National Guard Armory.

“I wanted that patio set so badly,” Rothacker said. “I wanted it so badly I could taste it.”

Rothacker, the branch manager for Onin Staffing in Metro Center in Nashville, bid up to $1,400 before she dropped out. The set sold for $3,300 with an estimated value of $10,000.

Auctioneers sold McLean’s furnishings and personal property to help recoup some $20 million he spent in funds invested with him. After he failed to pay interest, investors obtained involuntary bankruptcy. McLean took his own life Sept. 25, the night before he was scheduled to meet with creditors.

Attorney Robert Waldschmidt, who was appointed to oversee McLean’s bankruptcy, said the auction brought in about $96,000 for his personal property and furnishings. The amount of proceeds was about what was expected.

“Everything scheduled to be sold at the auction was sold,” Waldschmidt said.

McLean’s piano, guitars, other instruments, vehicles and homes are being sold separately. The vehicles were sold. His homes on Northfield Boulevard and on Lascassas Highway and South Church Street offices are in the closing process. The bank is foreclosing on his Destin Home.

“We’re still trying to find a buyer for the Center Hill Lake home,” Waldschmidt said.

About 300 to 400 people registered for the auction. Many of the items were rather unique items McLean purchased for himself with few people recognizing the value unless interested in the item or interested in the furnishings matching their décor.

More issues are outstanding in the case, the attorney said.

“We’re still investigating where the money went,” Waldschmidt said.

Waldschmidt attended the auction.

Rothacker, who moved to Murfreesboro about 1-1/2 years ago, said bidders attending the auction had a great time talking to one another.

“There was a sense of community,” Rothacker said. “People felt weird about being there because he had killed himself. They felt weird about wanting a bargain or a deal when they knew the money wouldn’t go near what he misappropriated from people.”

She loves to attend auctions. About one-half the items auction seemed to be like property found at any yard sale. She noticed a lot of high-end items went low. For example, a box of used Tupperware and a George Foreman grill went for $60 while a high-end love seat brought only $100.

A woman bought six sturdy rocking chairs for $400, a “very good deal,” she said. Another woman bought a bedroom set for $900 similar to one another woman said she bought for more than $10,000. A “very interesting painting” measuring 8 feet by 10 feet sold for an under priced $100.

The auctioneers and their assistants were very good in handling the items, she said.

Rothacker really wanted the patio furniture. She planned to keep three of the 12 pieces and sell the rest to turn a profit. She ended up without buying anything.

“I wish I had gotten that patio set,” Rothacker said.