The Dated Photo That Helped Put An End To The Darwin Hoax

The British couple who invested in Panama after claiming the husband died tragically in a kayak accident are helping Panama gain a higher profile internationally. Hundreds of news publications around the world have covered the story about the couple and Panama is reaping the benefits.

The story of John and Anne Darwin is sensational to say the least. John was reported missing in March 2002, after he failed to show up for work following a kayaking trip. Local authorities conducted a massive search for John, but hopes for his safe return were dashed when the remains of his kayak were discovered the following day. A year later, after no sign of John, he was declared legally dead. John’s wife Anne collected the life insurance payment and moved to Panama in 2007. In the years between John’s disappearance and his later back-from-the-dead “reappearance” in Panama, the couple lived together in England and Panama. The two children of the couple had no idea about the scam their parents were running and fully believed their father to be dead.

While in Panama the couple purchased a condo in Panama City as well as a huge finca in Colon which they planned to turn in to an eco-resort. The couple had formed a corporation in Panama, opened bank accounts and purchased real estate, meanwhile their children and the rest of the world still thought John had died years earlier. The Darwins made some mistakes during their ruse, including being photographed for a Panama real estate website.

In December 2007, John walked in to a police station in his native England and said he thought he may be a missing person and had no memory of the past five years. After careful investigation police eventually figured out the couple had been living a lie for 5 years, part of that time in Panama. The couple went to trial and have both been sentenced to six years of jail time for fraud.

Because this incredible story has been making news around the world since the scam was uncovered, Panama is gaining recognition that no tourism advertising campaign could ever top. This has been free publicity for the country and some travel companies in Panama are reaping the positive benefits.  

If the photo of the couple had not been found on the internet, and had John not decided to turn himself in, this ruse could have lasted for many more years. John had obtained a fake passport which is what he used as his official identification in Panama. They had their assets safely hidden in a corporation and they were living in paradise, which is how Anne referred to Panama in a number of interviews.

On the other hand, if they had not been discovered, Panama would not be seeing this huge increase in international media coverage. Some of these mediums are not just referring to Panama in passing, but are actually focusing on the life the Darwins led in Panama.

This post's rating:

Related Stories

Filed under: News on July 23rd, 2008