One popular way people have faked their death has been to place their own obituary in the newspaper, quite crafty and ballsy if you ask me. It seems most who have tried this method of faking their death were facing the long arm the law. The hope is that the investigator or prosecutors office accept the death for face value and closes the case. Meet the want to be dead.
Person: Scott Bennett
Obit: Submitting a fake obituary for his living mother to a local newspaper.
Motivation: To receive paid bereavement time
Busted: Relatives called the newspaper to report Bennett’s mother was alive and well.
Outcome: Fired from his job and charged with disorderly conduct.
Talk about a dumbass, obviously Bennett never considered that fact that a relative or a neighbor would spot the obit.
Person: James Snyder
Obit: Submitted an obit for his girlfriend's 17-year-old son
Motivation: To get out of work
Busted: People who knew the teen saw him at a restaurant and called authorities
Outcome: Snyder was charged with tampering with records and sentenced to a year in jail — suspended to seven days.
All that trouble to get a day off. Again, what makes someone believe that relatives and friends won’t come forward?
Person: Shawnda K. Hatfield
Obit: Published her own obituary in the Star Press
Motivation: Avoid jail time
Busted: Hatfield was arrested by a bail bondsman
Outcome: A trip to the pokey
The bail bondsman heard a rumor that Hatfield was still alive and well. Naturally, Hatfield claimed she knew nothing about the fake obit.
Person: James Ford Seale
Obit: Newspapers reported him dead, apparently because his family said he was.
Motivation: Three life sentences
Busted: Brother of the victim
Outcome: Prison & Death
Person: Jon A. Criss
Obit: Sent in his own obituary to a local paper
Motivation: Avoid drug related charges
Busted: Unknown
Outcome: Bail 75k
Person: Byron Shane Carpenter
Obit: "Byron Shane Carpenter, Jan. 15, 1979 - March 2, 2009. Byron passed away last Monday in a car accident. He was a loving father and husband. May he rest in peace. Anthony-Bethany Funeral Home."
Motivation: Facing vehicular homicide charges
Busted: A tip placed to MADD
Outcome: Busted hiding under a bunch of rocks.
Person: Jason Hart
Obit: Sent his local newspaper a fake obituary
Motivation: EBay scam
Busted: News got to his parents on holiday
Outcome: He claimed he had no knowledge of obit
As you can see Obit-Submit equals dumbass! When creating a scheme, devising a plan or hatching a crime give your adversary a little more credit. By doing so, you just might raise the bar in your felonious actions.