Rockefeller impersonator pleads not guilty to murder in. Christian gerhartsreiter christian karl gerhartsreiter. Rockefeller impostor christian gerhartsreiter found guilty of 1985 murder of john sohus. Rockefeller impostor christian gerhartsreiter found guilty of. Rockefeller imposter christian karl gerhartsreiter gets. Christian karl gerhartsreiter during his sentencing in 20. Christian karl gerhartsre iter born february 21, 1961 is a convicted murderer and impostor. Christian karl gerhartsreiter, who spent years posing as a rockefeller heir. Christian karl gerhartsreiter, 52, who has lived for years under the name clark rockefeller and claimed to be an heir to the famed family fortune, was charged with first degree murder in the 1985.
Sandra boss, exwife of christian karl gerhartsreiter, slumps in her chair on the witness stand after two hours of cross examination in suffolk superior court in boston on tuesday, june 2, 2009. This documentary looks at the life of christian karl gerhartsreiter, convicted murderer and imposter who conned his way into. Benedict cumberbatch to be the man in the rockefeller suit. His book covers germanborn christian karl gerhartsreiters trajectory from bavarian villager to his shifting guises as an exchange student. As rockefeller was proud of boasting, he was a descendant of the famous rockefeller family. Sep 12, 2008 the many faces of clark rockefeller the latest on the imposter, recently convicted of kidnapping his daughter. Christian karl gerhartsreiter, the man who claimed to be. This is one of the those you cant make this stuff up books, mark seal. With christian karl gerhartsreiter, dan banks, sandra boss, meredith brucker. This is one of the those you cant make this stuff up books, mark seal follows gerhartsreiter from the moment he first steps on american soil until his arrest and trial for kidnapping his sevenyear old daughter. And as the entire world knows, christian karl gerhartsreiter, aka christopher chichester, aka clark rockefeller, has been charged with murdering jonathan sohus, who disappeared with his wife linda in 1985.
But, as christopher crowe, he also conned venture capitalist stan phelps, nikko securities, and kidder, peabody into hiring him despite. Christian gerhartsreiter was a man of many identities but to most he was clark rockefeller. Despite ostensibly sharing a single topic, they have very little overlap in specifics. Mark seal gives his thoughts on the conartist christian karl gerhartstreiter aka clark rockefeller and discusses his book the man in the rockefeller suit. Born in germany, he is currently serving a prison sentence in california. Aug 15, 20 clark rockefellerne christian karl gerhartsreiterhas been sentenced to 27 years to life in prison for the 1985 murder of john sohus, who vanished from san marino in february 1985, as did. Christian gerhartsreiter, horoscope for birth date 21.
Mar 16, 2014 the man who would become clark rockefeller was born in bavaria in 1961 to simon and irmengard gerhartsreiter, a carpenter and a housewife. Was christian karl gerhartsreiter aka clark rockefeller extraordinarily compelling. Kirn, a journalist and author of the novels up in the air and. Mystery of the body under the pool returns to shake.
The film tells the true story of christian karl gerhartsreiter, an imposter who conned his way into various jobs on wall street as well as a marriage posing as a member of the rockefeller. Or was the novelist, like a lot of other people drawn to the imposter, duped by his own desire to have. A german impostor who is currently serving a sentence of 27 years to life in the united states for murder. Gerhartsreiter, christian, 1961 lc linked data service. Christian karl gerhartsreiter, who went by the name clark rockefeller, at his. Mark seals book ends just before the murder trial, but gerhartsreiter was convicted of the killing of a fellow called john sohus. Using the false name clark rockefeller, he married a harvard business school graduate student named sandra boss.
When the fingerprints came back from the lab, one thing was finally clear. The rockefeller tale begins with german con artist christian karl gerhartsreiter mccormack coming to the u. As a german teenager in the late seventies he decides that he wants to come to america to make his fortune, and so he enters the country as a student and determines that hes never going back. In a new book, walter kirn writes of his friendship with clark rockefeller. Yorgos lanthimos to direct the man in the rockefeller suit imposter series for searchlight tv. The linked data service provides access to commonly found standards and vocabularies promulgated by the library of congress. Christian karl gerhartsreiter was born in a small town in germany in 1961. Gerhartsreiter soon became a fixture in boston high society for more than a decade after he claimed to be clark rockefeller, an heir to the famous. Yale, julia worked as an assistant to the publisher at algonquin books and was. In 1995, a successful businesswoman named sandra boss married a man named clark rockefeller. Christian karl gerhartsreiter pulled off one of the most audacious cons in recent history. The man in the rockefeller suit, one christian karl gerhartsreiter arrives in america from germany at 17 and over the years assumes a. Christian karl gerhartsreiter ordered to be held without bail gerhartsreiter once claimed to be a rockefeller he is charged in the death of john sohus, whose remains were found in 1994.
Liane leedompsychiatrist, visiting professor of counseling at the university of bridgeport, and author of just like his father. Authorities determined that clark rockefeller and christopher chichester were the same person, and that his real identity was christian karl gerhartsreiter, born in west germany in 1961. This new book, about the killer con man christian gerhartsreiter. Assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. Jul 10, 2011 the man in the rockefeller suit, by mark seal nonfiction.
Jury selection ended with seven women and five men, who will begin hearing opening statements in the case of christian gerhartsreiter. Story highlights christian karl gerhartsreiter is sentenced in death of. The life of christian gerhartsreiter reads like a badly plotted novel. He is charged with kidnapping his daughter, injuring a man while doing so, and giving authorities a false name. Mark seals absorbing biography about con man christian karl gerhartstreiter aka clark rockefeller, the man in the rockefeller suit, invites the reader to contemplate the power of a big lie, the fluidity of a persons identity, and the limits of credulity. Jul, 2017 the man in the rockefeller suitby mark seal. The couple had homes in boston and new hampshire, and lived a prosperous lifestyle solely on bosss high income as a. In 1978, at age 17 and fascinated with all things american, he came to. Kirns book picks up in 1998, five years into gerhartsreiter s clark rockefeller phase. After fleeing his german hometown, he developed a series of false. Clark rockefeller receives new identity prison inmate. Bostonians are by now familiar with the strange tale of the german fabulist christian karl gerhartsreiter, who for two decades fooled everyone around him, including his wife, into believing he was a rockefeller. The many faces of clark rockefeller dateline nbc crime.
Many of the articles on the case say jonathans body was found in 1994. How christian gerhartsreiter became clark rockefeller wsj. At his kidnapping trial, the world met christian karl gerhartsreiter a young german immigrant who had come to america as a young man and created a life that was complete fiction. No, christian karl gerhartsreiter a k a christopher chichester a k a chip smith a k a clark rockefeller is a pure and simple con man, who lied to his family and friends, who repeatedly used and. The case of christian karl gerhartsreiter april, 2020 february 20, 2012 by dr. Aug 24, 2008 christian karl gerhartsreiter grew up in the small bavarian town of bergen. Blood will out by walter kirn journalist, novelist and critic kirn writes the straight dope about enigmatic wouldbe aristocrat christian karl gerhartsreiter. His wifes mckinsey career was waxing, and while she worked, he walked the dog, yates, and made friends. Clark rockefeller gets 27 years for murder the boston globe. Tracing clark through the decades, the fbi eventually found that he began life in the early 1960s as christian karl gerhartsreiter, some 3000 miles away in southeast germany. This includes data values and the controlled vocabularies that house them. He was christian karl gerhartsreiter, a 47yearold german immigrant who had come to america as a student in 1978, and who had disappeared into. In his late t eens, gerhartsr eiter moved to the us, where he lived under a succession of aliases while variously claiming to be an actor, director, art collector, a physicist, a ships captain, a negotiator of international debt.
He was christian karl gerhartsreiter, a fortysevenyearold german immigrant who had come to america as a student in 1978. Portrait of christian gerhartsreiter, who posed as a rockefeller heir for. Dec 03, 2008 he was christian karl gerhartsreiter, a 47yearold german immigrant who had come to america as a student in 1978, and who had disappeared into a complicated existence that the boston district. After writing this book, what image of the man did you walk away with.
Rockefeller imposter and convicted felon born history. Christian karl gerhartsreiter, who masqueraded as a member of the famous rockefeller family, appears july 8, 2011, in an alhambra, calif. Christian karl gerhartsreiter will go to trial to face charges that he killed the son of his former landlady in california, a superior court judge decided yesterday, capping a. Mark seal interview, plus links to author biography, book. Photographs of christian karl gerhartsreiter, also known as clark rockefeller.
What drew you to christian karl gerhartsreiter s story. Christian karl gerhartsreiter born february 21, 1961 is a convicted murderer and impostor. Christian karl gerhartsreiter grew up in the small bavarian town of bergen. Mark seals absorbing tale of faux rockefeller the boston globe. This documentary looks at the life of christian karl gerhartsreiter, convicted murderer and imposter who conned his way into wealth and luxury while assuming a variety of aliases. Benedict cumberbatch is in early negotiations with fox searchlight to star in the man in the rockefeller suit for fox searchlight pictures. He used a series of aliases, impersonating a talk show host and a pentagon adviser, among others. Gerhartsreiter came to the united states as an exchange student when he was in his teens and subsequently took on a number of identities. Christian karl gerhartsreiter as a 17 yearold, shortly before departing for the us. In his late teens, gerhartsreiter moved to the us, where he lived under a succession of aliases while variously claiming to be an actor, director, art collector, a physicist, a ships captain, a negotiator of international debt. Christian karl gerhartsreiter, born in upper bavaria, germany, in 1961, is the defendant at the suffolk county superior court in boston.
Gerhartsreiter came to the united states as an exchange student when he was. Christian karl gerhartsreiter, who calls himself clark rockefeller, alleged to have kidnapped sevenyearold during custody visit haroon siddique. The man in the rockefeller suit, by mark seal sfgate. As a child he was smart, a troublemaker, determined to. Kirn, like many others, was duped by the web of lies spun by clark rockefeller, the german immigrant christian karl gerhartsreiter, now serving a life sentence for murder. Maybe youre trying to keep the current strain off of delivery workers by switching from paper books to. Clark rockefeller gets 27 years for murder the boston. From german kid to rockefeller scion for three decades, christian gerhartsreiter claimed to be someone else. I strongly recommend that these two books are read together.
Joe klamarafpgetty images christian gerhartsreiter, who masqueraded as clark rockefeller. Feb 07, 2017 9 documentaries on netflix you should watch with the lights on. Aug 15, 20 christian karl gerhartsreiter had multiple identities, once assuming the identity of clark rockefeller, a cultured poseur. Apr 25, 2012 the reason for gerhartsreiter s sudden dash from california is revealed. Bostonians are by now familiar with the strange tale of the german fabulist christian karl gerhartsreiter, who for two decades fooled everyone around. Christian gerhartsreiter unionpedia, the concept map. Christian karl gerhartsreiter born february 21, 1961 is a convicted murderer and impostor born in germany who is currently serving a prison sentence in the united states. He was christian karl gerhartsreiter, a 47yearold german immigrant who had come to america as a student in 1978, and who had disappeared into a complicated existence that the boston district. Portrait of christian gerhartsreiter, who posed as a. Portrait of christian gerhartsreiter, who posed as a rockefeller heir for decades, but who was, in fact, a con artist and a murderer.
At 17, christian karl gerhartsreiter left germany for the u. Jun 12, 2009 the conviction and sentencing in boston brings to an end the long run of fantastic tales spun by the man who called himself clark rockefeller but was in fact christian karl gerhartsreiter, 48. Christian karl gerhartsreiter born february 21, 1961 is a german man who moved to the united states as a teenager to study, and thereafter assumed many aliases. Clark rockefeller is actually a bavarianborn brilliant con man named christian karl gerhartsreiter. Man claiming to be rockefeller relative accused of. The man who became infamous as clark rockefeller grew up christian karl gerhartsreiter in the small, picturesque town of bergen, germany. On february 21, 1961, christian karl gerhartsreiter, a con man who went by the alias clark rockefeller and passed himself off as an american blueblood, is born in germany. Rockefeller imposter christian karl gerhartsreiter gets maximum sentence for california murder. Jun 02, 2011 bostonians are by now familiar with the strange tale of the german fabulist christian karl gerhartsreiter, who for two decades fooled everyone around him, including his wife, into believing he was. Up in the air is in an excellent position to answer this question. Mar 07, 2014 kirn, like many others, was duped by the web of lies spun by clark rockefeller, the german immigrant christian karl gerhartsreiter, now serving a life sentence for murder. A notorious rockefeller impostor has been found guilty murdering of his neighbour almost 30 years ago. Mar 07, 2014 for an absorbing, straightforward history of christian karl gerhartsreiter, there is mark seals the man in the rockefeller suit. Mark seals true crime book, the man in the rockefeller suit expanded from an.