Discover some noteworthy cases where individuals have resorted to faking their own deaths as a means of evading difficult situations such as threats, financial obligations, or imprisonment.
10. Samuel Israel
Samuel Israel, a former hedge fund manager, was found guilty of orchestrating a fraudulent Ponzi scheme and was given a prison sentence that required him to surrender himself on June 9, 2008. However, Israel decided to take a different path. Instead of reporting to prison, he abandoned his vehicle near the Bear Mountain Bridge in upstate New York.
Curiously, the words “su*cide is painless” were scrawled on the car’s hood, leading the authorities to suspect foul play rather than a genuine su*cide attempt. As it turns out, their suspicions were accurate, as Israel was actually on the run with his girlfriend, hiding in an RV parked near a nearby highway. After successfully evading capture for an entire month, Israel eventually turned himself in. Presently, he remains alive and incarcerated.
9. John Darwin
In this photo, John Darwin is seen alongside his wife, Anne, as they appear to be enjoying a canoeing adventure in the North Sea back in 2002. However, their seemingly tragic story takes a shocking turn when it is revealed that the couple had actually conspired in hopes of obtaining a life insurance payout.
Their deceitful plan was uncovered when John resurfaced in a London police station in 2007, claiming to suffer from amnesia. Unfortunately for him, undeniable evidence emerged in the form of a photograph depicting the couple in Panama, where they were actively seeking to purchase property.
As a consequence, the Darwins were subjected to a prison sentence of six years after being convicted of fraud and related charges. The severe consequences of their actions led to Anne divorcing John, and she went on to share her captivating experiences in a book aptly titled “Out of My Depth.”
8.Patrick McDermott
Patrick McDermott, who was in a romantic relationship with actress and singer Olivia Newton-John, vanished during a fishing expedition in Mexico in June 2005. Despite no confirmed sightings since, there has been conjecture surrounding his disappearance suggesting that McDermott may have fabricated his demise in order to evade considerable financial obligations, such as child support payments owed to his former spouse, who is unrelated to Newton-John.
7. Takashi Mori
This incident, which took place in 1995, revolves around Takashi Mori, a 47-year old Japanese man residing in the Philippines. With the assistance of his 21-year-old son, Mori orchestrated a scheme to feign his own death in order for his family to benefit from his life insurance policy, valued at a minimum of five million U.S. dollars. Following their deception, the family swiftly fled to Japan to enjoy the unlawfully acquired fortune.
However, the charade didn’t last long, as nine months later, Mori’s whereabouts were discovered in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Consequently, he was apprehended and charged with insurance fraud. In addition to his arrest, Mori’s son and wife, who had also participated in the fraudulent activity, were expelled from Japan.
This incident highlights the lengths to which some individuals might go to deceive insurance companies and unlawfully obtain financial gains. The consequences faced by Mori and his family serve as a reminder of the legal repercussions associated with insurance fraud.
6. John Stonehouse
In 1974, John Stonehouse, a British politician and member of Parliament, was presumed to have drowned in Florida. Coincidentally, this occurrence seemed rather convenient, giving his substantial debt situation at the time. Surprisingly, two months later, Stonehouse was found living in Australia under an alias.
Due to his sudden disappearance, suspicions arose linking him to the missing Lord Lucan case from earlier that year. However, in 1976, Stonehouse’s true identity was discovered and he was subsequently convicted of fraud and associated crimes. After serving three years in prison, he was released on parole.
5. Lord Lucan
Richard John Bingham, the 7th Earl of Lucan, was married into the extended family of Diana, Princess of Wales. Known as Lord Lucan, he vanished without a trace in November 1974, right after the horrific incident of his children’s nanny being m*rdered and his wife being attacked, identifying him as the assailant. Authorities discovered his abandoned car later on, containing an empty bottle of prescription medicine, leading to speculation that Lucan had taken his own life. However, persistent rumors have circulated suggesting that Lucan orchestrated his own death, with support from his influential and affluent acquaintances.
4. Reverend Philip St. John Ross
Following the untimely demise of Reverend Philip St. John Wilson Ross, an English vicar, during a summer vacation in 1955, his grieving wife and devoted congregation mourned the tragic loss. However, this sorrow was abruptly interrupted two years later when Reverend Ross was sighted in Switzerland, accompanied by a woman named Kathleen Ryall. Shockingly, it came to light that he had orchestrated his own demise, assuming the role of Mr. Davies, while living alongside Miss Ryall who posed as his wife.
3. Juan Pujol Garcia
After the conclusion of World War II in Europe, Juan Pujol Garcia, a British spy, employed a clever strategy with the assistance of his MI5 handlers. He staged his own demise by attributing it to malaria, allowing him to secretly surveil Germany. Although his wife harbored doubts about his supposed demise, she remained unsurprised when he resurfaced after four decades due to an exposé conducted by investigative journalist Nigel West. Due to his exceptional acting abilities, Garcia earned the moniker “Agent Garbo” and holds a prominent position among Europe’s esteemed spies.
2 Aleister Crowley
Crowley, the self-proclaimed prophet and creator of the religion Thelema, caused quite a stir in September 1930. He purportedly leaped off a cliff near Lisbon, Portugal, leaving behind the impression of his demise. However, this daring act turned out to be an intricately orchestrated deception, with Crowley reappearing unscathed in Berlin three weeks later. Surprisingly, his co-conspirator in this elaborate scheme was none other than the poet Fernando Pessoa. While the true reasoning behind this controversial ruse remains ambiguous, some speculate that Crowley engaged in it to escape the company of a woman with whom he had been traveling and had grown disinterested. With such audacious antics to his credit, it is no wonder that Crowley has been labeled as “the wickedest man in the world.”
1 Aimee Semple McPherson
Canadian-born evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson vanished on May 18, 1926, during a swimming session at a Los Angeles beach. A rescue mission was launched to find her, but tragically, one rescuer lost his life in the process. Overwhelmed by grief, a devoted follower of the charismatic religious leader ended her own life in despair. After an agonizing five-week wait, McPherson reappeared in Mexico, asserting that she had intentionally disappeared to escape a suspected k*dnapping attempt. Doubts were cast on her k*dnapping account, leading to an investigation into the possibility of fraud. However, the truth of the matter remained unresolved until McPherson’s actual demise in 1944.