quick-fingersFather back from the dead - John Darwin
Can there be anything worse than losing your father in a canoeing accident at sea and then discovering that in fact he was alive all along and your mother knew this but had kept it secret from you? It sounds like something straight out of the pages of a fiction novel but is in fact true. Today the two sons of John and Anne Darwin find themselves in exactly that situation in a fascinating yet bizarre story that has gripped the world since the weekend when the ‘dead’ father walked into a British police station looking tanned, healthy and very much alive.
John Darwin, 57, a married father of two, went missing in the North Sea five and a half years ago – in March 2002 – whilst out canoeing. His battered canoe was found but no body and when air and sea searches failed to find him he was given up for dead. An inquest was held a year later and the coroner declared the man dead and recorded an open verdict.
The bizarrely, at the weekend, the missing father walked into a British police station looking fit and well. He also claimed to have no memory of anything since 2000 although he knew his name and date of birth. He is believed to have said he thought the police may have been looking for him.
Then yesterday a photograph of him and his wife Anne was published in a British newspaper showing them together in Panama in 2006. Yet everyone believed he was dead, including his two sons and the rest of his family.. His wife clearly knew he was alive but had kept it secret.
John Darwin has now been arrested on suspicion of faking his own death and fraud. His wife, who emigrated to Panama just six weeks ago, is expected to return to Britain shortly for questioning. An international fraud enquiry has now been launched to see whether Mr Darwin’s fake death wiped out any large debts. Payouts received by Mrs Darwin including life insurance, pension and mortgage payments will all be investigated.
John Darwin is now being held in a police station in Middlesbrough and has been passed as medically fit enough to be questioned by police. No doubt his sons will have many questions of their own that they would want answering.
The sons' today released this statement:
There can be nothing worse than being betrayed by your parents in such a cruel way, and now with the eyes of the world watching, and all in the name of money. Allegedly.
John Darwin, 57, a married father of two, went missing in the North Sea five and a half years ago – in March 2002 – whilst out canoeing. His battered canoe was found but no body and when air and sea searches failed to find him he was given up for dead. An inquest was held a year later and the coroner declared the man dead and recorded an open verdict.
The bizarrely, at the weekend, the missing father walked into a British police station looking fit and well. He also claimed to have no memory of anything since 2000 although he knew his name and date of birth. He is believed to have said he thought the police may have been looking for him.
Then yesterday a photograph of him and his wife Anne was published in a British newspaper showing them together in Panama in 2006. Yet everyone believed he was dead, including his two sons and the rest of his family.. His wife clearly knew he was alive but had kept it secret.
John Darwin has now been arrested on suspicion of faking his own death and fraud. His wife, who emigrated to Panama just six weeks ago, is expected to return to Britain shortly for questioning. An international fraud enquiry has now been launched to see whether Mr Darwin’s fake death wiped out any large debts. Payouts received by Mrs Darwin including life insurance, pension and mortgage payments will all be investigated.
John Darwin is now being held in a police station in Middlesbrough and has been passed as medically fit enough to be questioned by police. No doubt his sons will have many questions of their own that they would want answering.
The sons' today released this statement:
"Having seen the recent media speculation surrounding our parents ever since our dad was arrested, we are very much in an angry and confused state of mind.
"In the short space of time following our dad's appearance in London on Saturday, we have gone through a rollercoaster of emotion.
"From the height of elation at finding him to be alive to the depths of despair at the recent stories of fraud and these latest pictures. And the shock of being thrust into the media spotlight.
"If the papers' allegations of a confession from our mam are true then we very much feel that we have been the victims in a large scam.
"How could our mam continue to let us believe our dad had died when he was very much alive?
We have not spoken to either of our parents since our dad's arrest and at this present time we want no further contact with them.
"Cleveland Police have asked for anyone with knowledge of our dad's whereabouts over the last five years to come forward and we support this wholeheartedly.
"We too want to know where he has been and what he has been doing.
"We have been in constant contact with the police and will be helping them with their enquiries in any way we can.
"Should we release any further press releases these will be made via the Cleveland Police Press Office.
"We hope that the public can appreciate our shock and frustration at this distressing time and again plea with the media to respect our privacy and allow us to deal with this in the best way we can."
"In the short space of time following our dad's appearance in London on Saturday, we have gone through a rollercoaster of emotion.
"From the height of elation at finding him to be alive to the depths of despair at the recent stories of fraud and these latest pictures. And the shock of being thrust into the media spotlight.
"If the papers' allegations of a confession from our mam are true then we very much feel that we have been the victims in a large scam.
"How could our mam continue to let us believe our dad had died when he was very much alive?
We have not spoken to either of our parents since our dad's arrest and at this present time we want no further contact with them.
"Cleveland Police have asked for anyone with knowledge of our dad's whereabouts over the last five years to come forward and we support this wholeheartedly.
"We too want to know where he has been and what he has been doing.
"We have been in constant contact with the police and will be helping them with their enquiries in any way we can.
"Should we release any further press releases these will be made via the Cleveland Police Press Office.
"We hope that the public can appreciate our shock and frustration at this distressing time and again plea with the media to respect our privacy and allow us to deal with this in the best way we can."
There can be nothing worse than being betrayed by your parents in such a cruel way, and now with the eyes of the world watching, and all in the name of money. Allegedly.
