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7 People Who Faked Their Own Death
It is amazing the length people who fake their own death would go, while some of this were a successful trials others were not, so in this
Well as bizarre as it sounds to fake your death some score of people faked their own death throughout history with a reason or aim in mind for doing it. In the history of humans, a few have dared to look death in the eyes, and a select few have dared grin at the grim reaper. This ultimate deception might have been fueled by desperation or the pursuit of freedom in an attempt to escape a formal life by orchestrating the greatest vanishing act of all time by faking their own death.
Well, no matter bizarre it may be, it is an echo of whispers of the audacious nature of man which will go to any length to break free from the constraints of an old reality and embrace the freedom of an uncharted and unknown horizon in their pursuit. Additionally, many people have been at the point in their life where they have hoped or wished they could just start all over again, but let’s face it, it isn’t as simple or easy leaving a life behind especially when you seek to erase your former self without leaving a trace.
Furthermore, in this article, we will reveal some of the people who faked their own death and almost get away with it, while most people faked their death to get out of trouble, like escaping a threat, debt, or a prison sentence, it takes a lot of toll planning to fake your own death.
7 People who faked their own death
1. Harry Gordon
In the year 2000, Gordon found himself entangled with the dangerous Russian mafia. To escape their clutches, he came up with a daring plan. He faked a boat crash, making it seem like he fell overboard, and then made his way to the shore using a rubber raft. Over the next five years, he traveled to five different countries, where he eventually met and married another woman. Together, they embarked on a lovely honeymoon.
However, fate had a twist in store for him. During his honeymoon, he unexpectedly bumped into his own brother, who immediately recognized him and decided to report him to the authorities. As a result, Gordon was caught and served a 15-month jail sentence. Despite this setback, he used his time behind bars wisely and penned a captivating book about his remarkable experience. The book became a bestseller, bringing him some measure of success.
After his release, Gordon moved forward with his life and remarried his second wife. All in all, his journey was filled with ups and downs, but it seems that things eventually turned out better for him in the end and he was among people who faked their own death and later have what you will call a good end.
2. John Stonehouse
In the 1970s, John Stonehouse who was a former UK Parliament member found himself entangled in a web of troubles. He faked his own death in Miami, all in an attempt to start a new life with his mistress, as he was involved in various fraudulent business activities. He made it look like he drowned in Miami but escaped to Australia using the alias Joseph Markham.
However, his past eventually caught up with him, and the authorities caught him. He was brought back to Britain, where he faced the consequences of his actions. He was found guilty and served a relatively short time in prison before being released and returned to his former life before everything started. Well, John realizes faking your own death isn’t the answer.
3. John Darwin
Well, John is what you will call almost a successful one when talking about people who faked their own death by trying to outwit and fool not only the public but also the authorities. In 2002, Darwin attempted to outsmart the police on two separate occasions. His first plan involved faking his own death, which he executed quite successfully. He carefully observed the weather patterns and chose a particularly rainy day to take his canoe out.
Leaving behind his oar and canoe, the police discovered the scene and assumed that Darwin had tragically drowned in the rough water. This clever scheme resulted in his debts being forgiven and his wife receiving a substantial insurance payout. For the next five years, Darwin lived a hidden life within his own house.
However, eventually growing tired of this secret existence, he devised another plan. He decided to feign amnesia and walked into a police station one day. Unfortunately for Darwin, this second plan did not go as smoothly, and the entire scandal unraveled, exposing his deception. It was a valiant effort on his part, but ultimately unsuccessful.
4. Igor Vorotinov
Igor Vorotinov is a popular one among the people who faked their own death, his story became a very interesting one which draws audiences from around the world and made several headlines. In a bizarre insurance fraud case, Igor Vorotinov from Minnesota faked his death in Eastern Europe, with the help of his wife and son, to claim a $2 million life insurance policy.
He arranged for a body to be dressed like him and planted his passport in Moldova. His ex-wife falsely identified the body, received the insurance money, and transferred it to various accounts. However, a tipster revealed he was alive, living under an assumed name. After a long investigation, Igor was captured and brought to court. His wife and son also faced legal consequences.
5. Belle Gunness
In the early 20th century, there was a notorious woman named Belle Gunness who gained the nickname “Lady Bluebeard.” Shockingly, she is believed to have murdered anywhere from 40 to 180 individuals during her lifetime. It was believed that when one of her captive’s brothers threatened to investigate the disappearance of his brother, instead of facing justice for her heinous crimes, Belle devised a plan to fake her own death by setting a fire.
Belle Gunness who was a notorious female serial killer would lure unsuspecting men through personal ads and then murder them for their money and assets. Known for her cold-hearted nature and she is believed to have killed numerous victims, including her two husbands and several suitors. She disposed of the bodies by burying them on her property or burning them in her farmhouse. Meanwhile, to this day, the exact number of her victims remains uncertain.
While it appeared that Belle had perished after a lifetime of taking innocent lives, her hired hand came forward and claimed that she had escaped unharmed. Despite a headless body being discovered on her property, he insisted that it belonged to the housekeeper. This led to numerous reported sightings of Belle across the United States in the years that followed, leaving many to believe that she had indeed survived and continued to live amongst the public and the mystery behind her disappearance is one among several that hasn’t been solved.
6. William Grothe
William Grothe is among the people with a different story even among people who faked their own death. He became famous for a bizarre act where he faked his own death and pretended to be his own murderer in 2009. He left his belongings around Nashville, including his identification, to support his story. The police became suspicious when they noticed inconsistencies in the case. Eventually, it was discovered that he had a valuable life insurance policy. The police found him hiding in a motel weeks later leading to his arrest and a five-year probation. Faking your own death is not a crime, so he wasn’t charged with that
7. Bennie Wint
In 1989, there was a man named Wint who did something quite unusual to avoid going to jail. While he was on vacation in Florida with his fiancé and daughter, he went for a swim but never returned. Surprisingly, his body wasn’t discovered until 20 years later when he was pulled over during a regular traffic stop. The police became suspicious when they couldn’t find any records of a person named William Sweet, so they took Wint in for questioning.
That’s when he finally revealed the truth. It turned out that when Wint supposedly drowned, he actually swam along the beach in shallow water, reached the shore, and walked away. He then hitchhiked to Alabama and started a whole new life with a different name, a new wife, and even a son. Amazingly, he was able to maintain this double life for two decades, and he almost got away with it completely.