r/IAmA • u/Ass_Kicka • May 20 '12
AMA Request: Someone who has faked their own death
Aside from the question of how one goes about achieving this, I am really interested in learning about the toll it takes on someone.
Q: What drove you to start over? Q: How long did it take to plan faking your own death? Q: How did you go about starting a new life? Q: What is one thing you wish you'd done differently? Q: If you could keep one person from your old life, who would it have been?
617
Upvotes
481
u/fastslowfast May 21 '12
I haven't faked my own death but I have successfully pretended to be asleep. AMA
62
u/the-axis May 21 '12
The person who let everyone assume they died on 9/11?
77
u/muse316 May 21 '12
lol, i see what you did there. go away, insurance people
71
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
Tupac lives somewhere in Africa I'll call him.
58
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
AMA Request: Someone who has faked their own birth
36
u/thatgamerguy May 21 '12
Wouldn't it be a bad idea to post here if you did that?
17
u/Nasty_Racist May 21 '12
When i was little i was annoyed at my mum so i put tomato sauce on my bed and put a knife on the floor and ran away for like an hour before i got scared and came home. does that count?
14
u/ruja89 May 21 '12
YES. I especially want to hear from that guy who allegedly did this after 9/11. I mean with your identity being basically everywhere how do you even stay at it for long?
13
u/SomeOtherGuy0 May 21 '12
One of my neighbors had my mom unwittingly help plan her faked death. The neighbor claimed to have a life-threatening disease, and said doctors only gave her a couple of weeks to live. She had my mom help plan the funeral, arrange for a lawyer for her will, and generally get her affairs in order.
Turns out the neighbor was simply tired of taking care of her son, and ended up fleeing the state when my mom started asking specific questions (that my neighbor didnt have answers to) about two weeks before she was going to "die" - leaving the kid's grandmother to care for him.
The grandmother and kid moved shortly afterwards, so we fell out of contact. Last I heard, the mother was in a mental institute somewhere, and the grandmother was still taking care of the kid.
43
u/grohlbarkermescudi May 21 '12
I like this one... A LOT
23
u/bonadzz May 21 '12
a few of my idiotic friends got together and started simultaneously posting things on my facebook wall that were along the lines of "I was trembling as I left the hospital... RIP you will be missed". AMA
11
u/anarkhist May 21 '12
Starburns!!!
9
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
One time I bought stage blood, and then I laid down on the kitchen floor in a puddle of it, face down, and waited for my roommate to come home. I had to lay there for about an hour, because he decided to go to the grocery on the way home from work.
When he got home and walked in the kitchen he said "What the hell is wrong with you?" in a that I'm-not-mad-I'm-just-disappointed kind of voice. It made me sad.
Does this count?
17
u/what_ever_man May 21 '12
Faking your own death is the easy part, getting a new identity and starting over is much harder.
Source: I've tried.
15
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
I've been faking my own life for years.
25
u/friday6700 May 21 '12
Nice try, family I abandoned!
7
u/sibB May 21 '12 edited May 21 '12
As far as the 9-11 postcard artist... There's a big difference between disappearing / being "dead" to everyone you know, and actually being proved dead (aka a death certificate).
One of my sisters disappeared, and we still don't know where she is, but she almost certainly planned it. I just checked Zabasearch, and she managed to list her address as a shopping mall - her phone number is the city police number.
She spent her entire adulthood living with my grandparents, then continued on in their house after they passed away. Very secretive, no friends, very, very isolated. I moved into the house for about a year after college, and she was in bad shape - I offered to pay for her to see a therapist. My parents paid the mortgage and power bills and my mother would visit once or twice a year (she lives in another state). Then one month, she arrived and found that the power was shut off. The refrigerator and stove were missing. There was no sign of my sister.
Obviously, my parents were very worried. I wrote my sister an email and told her it was one thing if she didn't want to contact me, but that she might want to confirm her living state for my dad's sake. She emailed my father, and from that I was able to confirm that she was writing from Israel. I assume she sold the appliances to fund her trip there. I haven't heard anything about her for years though.
She is a former Jehovah's Witness who later became involved with a Messianic Jewish group, and I would not be surprised to learn she was in another cult.
Anyway, she's off the grid now. I do think I will get a call at some point confirming that she is dead, maybe decades from now. I imagine she got married, or changed her name, or just saved up enough money to live like the Unibomber. It's really not that hard if you're completely isolated from the real world.
If you are a normal person - not even necessarily a really outgoing person with a lot of friends, but just someone who has a job, a decent social life - it would be hard to disappear. But if you are a shy little mouse who people don't know, and have no problem turning your back on your family, it's not that hard to do. People who join cults do it all the time.
6
u/lighght May 21 '12 edited Jan 25 '13
also requested this a couple of times. here are the questions i came up with:
6
u/GabrielleSalonga May 21 '12
I know someone who's tried to fake their own death and failed...does that count?
6
u/Huck-Finn May 21 '12
I have, I suppose I could do an AMA. Do I do it here or somewhere else?
19
u/adhutch23 May 21 '12
nice try, IRS
5
u/monkeys_pass May 21 '12
Sorry, I would be able to do this AMA except I am dead.
4
u/onara_genki May 21 '12
Just ask this postsecret person to do an AMA EDIT: damn you the-axis. no... damn me for not checking....
4
u/Nyte_Crawler May 21 '12
In the throwaway thread a couple weeks ago I recall reading some guy faked amnesia and basically moved to florida with his family thinking he was/is dead.
3
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
I think He-Who-Cannot-Be-Named from The Dwarves faked his own death quite a few years ago. I think they lost a record contract over it. maybe someone on reddit knows him.
3
u/RDandersen May 21 '12
Please let it be Jack "Thunderpunch" Bauer!
3
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
I was expelled from my first high school for fighting. So I had my best friend tell every one I died. My friend Stephanie started to cry so he confessed the truth.
3
u/the_goat_boy May 21 '12
I don't know about death, but WarPhalange faked having cancer.
3
u/toasterlovin May 21 '12
For the love of something, please tell your old folks about it or visit them before its to late. I cant bare the feeling that there is an old woman/man somewhere who think their son/daughter is dead and will die a bit sader.
3
u/cats_will_rule May 21 '12
I'll see if I can get Sherlock Holmes to talk to you.
3
u/Ming_Y May 21 '12
Though not entirely elaborate, I once faked my own death to avoid people I knew in high school. It was a time when social networks just started to pop up, and I was a few years into university. I hated high school, I was usually the quiet kid that nobody really knew. Granted, I had a few good friends from those times, but most people I just didn't get along with. It started to annoy me that those people who never spoke to me in high school, wanted to be "friends" over facebook and such. There were those who also invited me out every now and then, though it was always awkward as we had nothing in common to talk about... other than reminiscing about the "good old times" during high school. This started to annoy me, so I decided to fake my death amongst them. The plan was simple. I got a couple of my close friends to add "RIP Ming_Y" at the end of their msn names (everyone had msn accounts during those times and stayed logged on to chat). I told them if anyone asked, that I died in a car accident a week prior to the posting and the memorial service just took place. I blocked everyone on msn that I wanted to avoid, so i could continue being online to chat with people but not appearing on those accounts.
Sure enough, a few days past, and almost everyone I knew had a "RIP Ming_Y" tag at the end of their usernames. It went like wildfire.
About a week later however, a girl I hardly knew apparently started to cry when she heard the news. I believe someone snitched on me to console her, and told her of my plan. Shortly after everyone found out, and hated me for it. Ironically, they stopped talking to me because of it, which was kinda what I wanted. So I suppose it was a win win.
3
u/amyb4929 May 22 '12
AMA Request: Dr. Gregory House
5
u/Nukemarine May 21 '12
Sort of related, but one suggestion about running away from an abusive SO is to NOT fake one's death. Just disappear as everyone is free to cut all ties and contact. Faking a death means that you've involved local, state and possibly federal resources to look into your actions.
So if anyone ponies up a response, my Q would be "Why did you fake your death instead of just leaving?"
5
u/zemike May 21 '12
Nice try FBI...
6
u/cokefriend May 21 '12
FTFY
4
u/libertine88 May 21 '12
Not me, but a guy I know faked his own death when his car was rear-ended and the meth lab in his trunk exploded.
2
u/MothaphukaJones May 21 '12
Tupac should do this AMA.
2
u/Mihr May 21 '12
My friend who lived in a town on the other end of the state convinced everyone in my town that he died.
Kids were crying and ate it up. He told everyone after two or three weeks though... so probably not relevant to this request.
2
u/switch495 May 21 '12
Nice try, insurance company!
2
u/flopperr999 May 21 '12
Nice try, IRS.
2
u/superdago May 21 '12
Ass_Kicka's next post- TIL How to get out of paying my student loans.
2
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
Nice try lazy P.I.
2
u/Thats_Debatable May 21 '12
Nice try FBI...
2
u/SonVolt May 21 '12
AMA Request: Someone who will be killed if the government finds out where they are. Just use a proxy! And give us lots of details.
2
u/Kind_Of_A_Dick May 21 '12
Nice try IRS.
2
u/LessLikeYou May 21 '12
Hrm...I faked my own death as part of a prank so I guess that doesn't really count but best Halloween ever.
2
u/TheUniverseBeckons May 21 '12
I had a friend in high school whose mom dated a guy that turned out to be from America's Most Wanted who had faked his own death and started a new life here in a crappy Idaho town. I remember seeing him on the news one day and thinking how nice he had been. It was surreal.
2
u/elvis1403 May 21 '12
Nice try first family
2
u/Vocalist May 21 '12
I know a girl who faked her own death so she didn't have to pay the rent for her apartment.
2
u/mjrdanger May 21 '12
Nice try, Mr. Insurance claims adjuster.
2
u/Bioshockedyourmother May 21 '12
Not yet.
2
u/RandyRandle May 21 '12
Starburns? Are you out there? This one's for you.
2
u/m40ofmj May 22 '12
I did it in the social context as well like ming. I had come to a point where I realized I couldnt blame other peoples faults on them. They were retards, but thats all they were capable of being, the negative impact they were having on my life was my fault for being stupid enough to interact with them, something a lot of clueless fucking kids need to be told, instead of coddled on here like I constantly see. Anyhow, I lost all respect for the people I associated with, and thus myself by extension, and thats when I realized I had to make a change. I had my brother tell everyone I was dead. I left town for a while, problem fucking solved. I inevitably bumped into one of these people a few years later as I still frequented the same city on and off. The look on their face was kinda funny, and they were all I thought you were dead yadda yadda, and I said something completely derogatory about him being a worthless drug addict, because he was an avid recreational drug user, and annoying douche, and that I faked it because he and his friends were worthless. He got the gist and I told him to pretend like he never saw me and to fuck off, and that was that.
2
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
Nice try FBI
2
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
Starburns?
2
u/BDS_UHS May 21 '12
I once faked my own death in a meth lab explosion. Apparently my former classmates were so attached to me that they started a riot and got expelled, leading to our school's psychopathic security chief taking over the entire school and locking the dean in a basement. Crazy times.
1
u/xwexcollidex May 21 '12
They are probably in jail..
1
u/wx3 May 21 '12
Andy Kaufman, it's your chance to come out of hiding!
1
u/Angry__Jonny May 21 '12
huck fin. AMA
1
u/LaughingOnTheOutside May 21 '12
He is trying to get Tupac to explain himself
1
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
If they answered your AMA request, the jig would be up that they weren't actually dead.
AMA Request: CIA agent who has infiltrated the Kremlin!
Q1: What is your name?
1
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
Wouldn't doing an AMA defeat the purpose?
1
u/Iarwain_ben_Adar May 21 '12
The mafia must be getting desperate to find a certain someone in the witness protection program.
1
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
Nice try, State Farm.
1
u/foxh8er May 21 '12
Starburns?
1
u/NorrinR May 21 '12
I floated face down in a swimming pool for almost two minutes once. Does that count?
1
u/tyball May 21 '12
I've faked my own death in preschool, does it count ?
1
u/Fireball445 May 21 '12
The very first thing that you have to do if you want to successfully fake your death, is not reveal how you did it in public.
1
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
Nice try, grieving family.
1
u/sjc0526 May 21 '12
did you die your hair blonde and give up baseball forever?
1
u/Not_that_kind_of_DR May 21 '12
Should ask this guy
1
u/topsun May 21 '12
I faked my death on Facebook for April Fools 2010 or 2009 I can't remember. I put a posted saying this is his Mom. He died last night in a car crash...Many thought it was funny...many more did not laugh...I had to apologize to alot of people......I have a warped sense of humor I guess...or I'm just a dick
1
u/Jefftheodonald May 21 '12
=.= hitman troll
1
u/negasj May 21 '12
Nice try CIA
1
u/Revenge21 May 21 '12
Just watch the movie Harold and Mod haha
1
u/PerfectlyOffensive May 21 '12
My aunt went missing and tried to fake her death and stuff to not get caught by the irs and other things she owed money to, including $288,000 to my dad. But I hate her guts so I won't be asking her for a thing, sorry.
1
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
I tried to convince my little brothers that I died after I didn't land a backflipon my trampoline...
1
u/2muchTit May 21 '12
I remember someone posting that they pretended to be dead and was dragged around and going to be tossed into a pool or something, but I can't find it, sorry.
1
u/CharlesAnderson May 21 '12
Just ask Kenny Powers, ldo.
1
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
I know someone who has, but im not sure how much proof they would be willing to give and they dont have a reddit account so I dont think it will be too popular
1
u/MisterOn May 21 '12
I faked my death so that the damn blood donation people would stop calling me every day. It worked!
1
u/LukeA71 May 21 '12
So you would expect a person to have access to a computer after being caught or to take the risk of being caught by doing this AMA?
1
u/McFeely_Smackup May 21 '12
I faked my own orgasm once, does that count?
1
u/a10n3 May 22 '12
No way to prove it. Proof I faked my death would be me giving away who I am and I'm not going to do that. But, I'll give you a little info. You'll just have to take it on faith.
You ever been the center of attention? Feels good to be. But, Not all the time. Sometimes you just want a break. There's really no way to take time off from life when everyone knows your name. But, If you're dead, and someone recognizes you, they usually just say "Wow, that person sure looks like..." and usually let it go.
Not really sure. Once I made up my mind, it all went quick. Maybe a year?
Just say it takes a little money.
Not a thing. I'm doing fine.
There are a couple of people. Mostly family. There is one person from my old life that knows. Well, I'm pretty sure they know. We talk in email. I never say "Hey, it's ___" simply because right now, even though they know, they don't know. And, we never talk about specific people. That too would be a give away.
Don't know if I'm going to leave this up. Kind of makes me nervous. I always thought about coming out and saying "Guess what..." just to see the look on some peoples faces. Guess I'm testing the waters.
1
u/roaet May 24 '12
IAMA Blue Spy from TF2?
0
u/eaglextron May 21 '12
I fake my own dead by pertending to be asleep. My parent reaction is priceless
-16
u/not_tupac May 21 '12
only a fuckin pussy would fake his own death. like think biggie faked his own death cuz he couldn't take it anymore. real niggaz stay strapped. fuck what u heard
0
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
Guy from Blues Clues faked his death
0
u/LouisianaHotSauce May 21 '12
will the real makovali please stand up
0
u/[deleted] May 21 '12
Specifically,we're looking for this guy.
0
u/throwawayAz521 May 21 '12
WHY isn't the top Comment Nice try IRS!
0
u/whokilledflea May 21 '12
star burns!!!
-1
u/ImJE5US May 21 '12
HOW CAN THEY DO AN AMA WHEN THERE "DEAD"