Although it is rare, there are times when our tracing agents or process servers are faced with tracing the whereabouts of a person who does not want to be found. Even though most days almost all of us now leave some sort of digital footprint, people can and do ‘disappear’. The recent ITV drama, The Thief, his Wife and the Canoe gripped the nation as it retold the story of John and Anne Darwin. In 2002, John was seen paddling out to sea in a canoe at Seaton Carew. Later that day, Anne reported him missing. Following an extensive search, John was presumed dead. The couple’s two sons believed their father had drowned and Anne was now a widow.But that was far from the end of the story.
Living in the house next door
During his missing years, John audaciously lived in a bedsit next door to the family home and in 2003 moved back in with Anne. A death certificate was issued, allowing Anne to claim around £250,000 in life insurance. This provided vital funds as the couple had fallen into serious debt after purchasing two properties in Seaton Carew.In March 2006, John and Anne decided to move to Panama. They were photographed by a Panamanian property agent and the photo was published on the internet. The couple purchased a £200,000 property in Panama and sold up their UK interests.The couple may have thought they had gotten away with faking John’s death and fraud, but the truth was rapidly closing in on them.
Police suspicions
Whilst in Panama, John discovered that in order to acquire a Panamanian investor visa, his identity would have to be verified by UK police. As he was using the alias, John Jones, he knew acquiring authentication would be impossible. Therefore, he decided to return to the UK, go to the police and declare amnesia. Unbeknown to the couple, however, the police had been investigating the authenticity of John’s death thanks to a colleague who overheard Anne whispering over the phone to a person they believed to be her husband.British journalist, David Leigh traced Anne in Panama and showed her the photograph of her and John in the Panamanian real estate office. She confessed to the crime and her and John were sentenced to six years and three months and six years and six months’ imprisonment respectively.
Wrapping up
David Leigh’s book was adapted into the screenplay shown on ITV. He remains friends with Anne who, over time, reunited with her sons who had cut off all contact with their parents after the deception was uncovered.Speaking on This Morning in 2016, Anne said: "I came through that [depression in prison] with help and I've managed to turn my life around. I made the best of the opportunity that I could with all that was on offer in prison as far as education. I equipped myself with up-to-date qualifications so I could find a job and give myself the best chance to start a new life."John Darwin remarried and is believed to live in the Philippines.To find out more about how we can assist you with process serving in the UK and process serving in Panama or our tracing services, please get in touch today.
