Curious Cases of People Who Faked Their Own Demise

Faking one's demise may seem like something straight out of a plot twist in a thrilling novel or a suspenseful television show. However, the reality is that people have gone to extreme lengths to fake their own passings, and it happens more often than we might think. From literature and television shows to actual events that have captured headlines across the country. Here is a list of five individuals who have committed these acts. 

 1. John Darwin John and Anne Darwin were a couple who accumulated tens of thousands of pounds in debt and were living beyond their means. To escape their financial woes, they devised a plan to fake John's passing and collect the insurance money. On March 12, 2002, John set out in his canoe and disappeared. A massive search was launched, and on March 22, 2002, John's wrecked canoe was found. In February 2003, he was declared legally dead, allowing his wife to cash in on the insurance policy and pay off their debt. With the rest, they started a new life in Panama. Their ruse was uncovered when John turned himself into the police on December 1, 2007. 

2. Ken Kesey Ken Kesey was an American author who is best known for his book "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." He is also known for joining the CIA's experimental program on the effects of a certain illegal substance. After publishing his book, Kesey continued to use and eventually got involved with Timothy Leary. After an arrest, Kesey attempted to fake his passing to avoid jail time. With the help of Leary, Kesey left his truck on a cliff near Eureka with an elaborate note. His friends then smuggled him to Mexico, where he remained in hiding for eight months. When he returned to the United States, he was arrested and sent to jail. 

3. Lord Timothy Dexter Timothy Dexter was a self-proclaimed Lord who was born in Massachusetts in 1748. He was a self-made man, with little to no education, however, he accomplished many things. He became an author, publishing a book with no punctuation and horrible spelling, which surprisingly became popular and went to the eighth edition printing. Curious to know what people would say about him if he were gone, Timothy decided to fake his own passing. Thousands attended and when his wife did not cry for him. Later, he caned his wife for not showing sympathy and crying.  

4. Aubrey Lee Price Aubrey Lee Price was an American investment advisor who orchestrated a multimillion-dollar investment fraud scheme. In June 2012, he disappeared after sending a letter to his family and friends, confessing to his fraud and stating that he planned to end his life. Aubrey's disappearance sparked a massive manhunt, but he was never found. It was later revealed that he had faked his own demise and had gone on the run. He was eventually arrested in December 2013 in Georgia and later sentenced to prison for his fraudulent activities. 

5. Harry Gordon Selfridge Harry Gordon Selfridge was an American retail magnate who founded the iconic Selfridges department store in London in the early 20th century. In 1921, he faced financial difficulties and mounting debts, and to escape from his financial troubles, he faked his own passing, from pneumonia. However, it was later discovered that Harry fled to the United States. In 1928, nearly seven years after his fake death, Harry returned to England and turned himself into the authorities. He pleaded guilty to fraud and was sentenced to a short prison term.