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June 10, 2023

The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor: The True Story of Clark Rockefeller

Here is the outline of the article: # The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor ## Introduction - Hook the reader with a catchy opening sentence - Introduce the main topic and the author of the book - Provide some background information on Clark Rockefeller and his real identity - Give a brief overview of the book's content and structure - State the main purpose and thesis of the article ## The Early Life of Christian Gerhartsreiter - Explain how he was born in a small village in Germany and became obsessed with America - Describe his first arrival in the US on a student visa and his initial attempts to fit in - Highlight some of his early aliases and scams - Discuss his motivation and personality traits that enabled him to deceive others ## The Rise of Clark Rockefeller - Narrate how he moved to New York and adopted the name Clark Rockefeller - Illustrate how he ingratiated himself with the elite circles and institutions - Elaborate on his marriage to Sandra Boss, a Harvard MBA and rising-star businesswoman - Emphasize his lavish lifestyle and impressive art collection ## The Fall of Clark Rockefeller - Reveal how his marriage ended and he lost custody of his daughter Reigh - Relate how he kidnapped his daughter and sparked a nationwide manhunt - Expose how his arrest led to his true identity being discovered - Connect his case to the mysterious disappearance of a California couple in the 1980s ## The Aftermath of Clark Rockefeller - Report on his trial and conviction for kidnapping and murder - Analyze his psychological profile and possible mental disorders - Compare his case to other famous impostors and con artists - Evaluate his impact and legacy on society and culture ## Conclusion - Summarize the main points and findings of the article - Restate the thesis and purpose of the article - Provide some insights and implications for the reader - End with a memorable closing sentence or a call to action Here is the article: # The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live as someone else? To assume a different identity and fool everyone around you? To pretend to be rich and famous and belong to one of the most powerful families in America? Sounds like a plot from a Hollywood movie, right? Well, not quite. This is actually the true story of Clark Rockefeller, a man who managed to pull off one of the most audacious cons in history. But who was Clark Rockefeller really? And how did he get away with his deception for so long? In this article, we will explore the fascinating book by Mark Seal, *The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor*, which reveals the unbelievable thirty-year run of a shape-shifting con man. We will learn about his origins, his methods, his motives, his downfall, and his aftermath. We will also examine what makes him tick, what drives him to lie, and what makes him different from other impostors. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of this complex and intriguing character, as well as some insights into human nature and society. ## The Early Life of Christian Gerhartsreiter Clark Rockefeller was not born with that name. He was not even born in America. He was actually born as Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter in a small village in Bavaria, Germany, in 1961. He grew up in a modest family with two sisters and a father who was a house painter. He was a bright and curious child, but also a loner and a dreamer. He was fascinated by America, especially by its culture, history, and wealth. He devoured books and magazines about the US, and dreamed of moving there someday. He got his chance when he was 17 years old, when he applied for a student exchange program and flew to Connecticut in 1978. He stayed with a host family and attended high school, where he tried to fit in with his classmates. He claimed to be from a wealthy family in Germany, and adopted an aristocratic accent and mannerisms. He also changed his name to Christopher Chichester, and pretended to be related to the British royal family. He impressed his peers and teachers with his intelligence and charm, but also aroused some suspicion with his lies and inconsistencies. He soon realized that he could not go back to Germany, as his visa had expired and he had no money or prospects. He decided to stay in the US illegally, and began his journey of deception. Over the next decade, he assumed several aliases and personas, such as Christopher Crowe, Christopher Mountbatten, and Christopher Gerhart. He moved from state to state, from coast to coast, from job to job, from friend to friend. He scammed people out of money, cars, and property. He lied about his education, his background, his family, his achievements. He forged documents, created fake identities, and erased his traces. What motivated him to do all this? According to Mark Seal, the author of the book, Gerhartsreiter was driven by a combination of factors: his obsession with America and its elite class, his desire for recognition and admiration, his fear of rejection and failure, his lack of empathy and conscience, and his narcissistic personality disorder. He was a master manipulator who could adapt to any situation and charm anyone he met. He was also a pathological liar who believed his own lies and lived in a fantasy world. He was not satisfied with being himself; he wanted to be someone else. ## The Rise of Clark Rockefeller In 1993, Gerhartsreiter moved to New York City and adopted his most famous alias: Clark Rockefeller. He claimed to be a member of the illustrious Rockefeller family, one of the richest and most influential dynasties in America. He said he was a philanthropist, an art collector, a physicist, a financial adviser, a film producer. He wore expensive suits, drove luxury cars, lived in upscale apartments. He mingled with the high society and the elite institutions. He joined exclusive clubs and organizations. He donated money to charities and causes. He made friends with celebrities and politicians. One of his friends was Sandra Boss, a Harvard MBA graduate who worked as a management consultant for McKinsey & Company. She was smart, successful, ambitious, and beautiful. She was also lonely and insecure. She fell in love with Clark Rockefeller and married him in 1995. She believed he was who he said he was: a wealthy scion of a great American family. She did not question his stories or verify his credentials. She trusted him completely. For the next twelve years, they lived as a glamorous couple in New York City and Boston. They had a daughter named Reigh in 2001. They traveled around the world and enjoyed their lavish lifestyle. They also amassed an impressive art collection that included works by Picasso, Warhol, Rothko, Pollock, and others. Clark Rockefeller seemed to have it all: money, power, fame, love. ## The Fall of Clark Rockefeller But behind the facade of perfection, there were cracks. Clark Rockefeller was not happy with his marriage. He felt trapped by Sandra's career and demands. He resented her success and independence. He became jealous and controlling. He isolated her from her friends and family. He lied to her about their finances and their future plans. He cheated on her with other women. Sandra eventually realized that something was wrong with her husband. She hired a private investigator to look into his background. She discovered that he had no records or documents under the name Clark Rockefeller. She confronted him about his lies and secrets. She filed for divorce in 2006. The divorce was bitter and contentious. Clark Rockefeller fought for custody of their daughter Reigh. He accused Sandra of being abusive and neglectful. He tried to manipulate her emotions and guilt-trip her into staying with him. He refused to cooperate with the court or the lawyers. He delayed the proceedings as much as possible. ## The Fall of Clark Rockefeller But behind the facade of perfection, there were cracks. Clark Rockefeller was not happy with his marriage. He felt trapped by Sandra's career and demands. He resented her success and independence. He became jealous and controlling. He isolated her from her friends and family. He lied to her about their finances and their future plans. He cheated on her with other women. Sandra eventually realized that something was wrong with her husband. She hired a private investigator to look into his background. She discovered that he had no records or documents under the name Clark Rockefeller. She confronted him about his lies and secrets. She filed for divorce in 2006. The divorce was bitter and contentious. Clark Rockefeller fought for custody of their daughter Reigh. He accused Sandra of being abusive and neglectful. He tried to manipulate her emotions and guilt-trip her into staying with him. He refused to cooperate with the court or the lawyers. He delayed the proceedings as much as possible. He lost the custody battle in 2007. Sandra got full custody of Reigh and moved to London with her new job. Clark Rockefeller got limited visitation rights under supervision. He was devastated by the loss of his daughter, who was his only source of love and attachment. On July 27, 2008, he kidnapped Reigh during a supervised visit in Boston. He hired a driver to take them to New York City, where he planned to escape by boat or helicopter. He also assaulted the social worker who was accompanying them, leaving her injured on the street. His abduction sparked a nationwide manhunt that lasted for six days. The FBI, the police, and the media were all looking for him and his daughter. They released his photo and his aliases to the public, hoping to get some leads or tips. They also discovered his connection to a cold case from 1985: the disappearance of Jonathan and Linda Sohus, a married couple who lived in San Marino, California. Clark Rockefeller had rented a guesthouse from them when he was using the name Christopher Chichester. He had claimed to be a British aristocrat and a film producer at that time. He had also befriended Jonathan Sohus, who shared his interest in science fiction and fantasy. The couple vanished without a trace in February 1985, leaving behind their dogs, their car, and their belongings. They told their friends and family that they were going on a secret mission for the government. Chichester also disappeared shortly after them, taking their truck with him. In 1994, nine years after their disappearance, human remains were found buried in the backyard of their house. They were identified as Jonathan Sohus by DNA testing in 2010. Linda Sohus has never been found or identified. Clark Rockefeller was considered a person of interest in their case, but he was never charged or arrested until 2011. He denied any involvement in their disappearance or death, and claimed that he did not remember them or his time in California. His kidnapping of his daughter led to his arrest on August 2, 2008, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was caught outside an apartment he had rented under another alias: Charles \"Chip\" Smith. His daughter was found safe and unharmed with him, and was reunited with her mother shortly after. His arrest also led to his true identity being revealed: Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, a German immigrant who had been living under various false names for decades. His deception shocked and stunned everyone who knew him or crossed paths with him. His wife, his friends, his associates, his neighbors, his lawyers, his doctors, his therapists, his teachers, his classmates, his landlords, his creditors, his victims. They all wondered: Who is this man? How did he fool us? Why did he do it? ## The Aftermath of Clark Rockefeller Clark Rockefeller was tried and convicted for the kidnapping of his daughter and the assault of the social worker in 2009. He was sentenced to four to five years in prison for kidnapping and two to three years for assault, to be served concurrently. He appealed his conviction, but it was upheld by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in 2012. He was also tried and convicted for the murder of Jonathan Sohus in 2013. He was sentenced to 27 years to life in prison, to be served consecutively with his kidnapping sentence. He is currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison in California. He has maintained his innocence in both cases, and has continued to use the name Clark Rockefeller as his legal name. He has also continued to lie and manipulate others, even from behind bars. He has given interviews to the media, written letters to his supporters, and filed lawsuits against his former lawyers and the prison system. He has also been diagnosed with several mental disorders, such as narcissistic personality disorder, delusional disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. He has been evaluated by various psychiatrists and psychologists, who have offered different opinions on his mental state and his motives. Some have suggested that he suffers from a dissociative identity disorder, or multiple personality disorder, and that he genuinely believes that he is Clark Rockefeller. Others have argued that he is a sociopath, or a psychopath, who consciously and deliberately lies and deceives others for his own benefit. His case has been compared to other famous impostors and con artists, such as Frank Abagnale Jr., David Hampton, Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr., and Martin Guerre. His story has also inspired several books, documentaries, movies, and TV shows, such as *The Man in the Rockefeller Suit* by Mark Seal, *Blood Will Out* by Walter Kirn, *Who Is Clark Rockefeller?* by Lifetime, and *Imposters* by Bravo. His impact and legacy on society and culture are undeniable. He has exposed the vulnerabilities and flaws of the American system and society. He has challenged the notions of identity, trust, and truth. He has fascinated and horrified millions of people with his audacity and cunning. He has shown us how far one can go with a lie. ## Conclusion In this article, we have explored the book by Mark Seal, *The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor*, which reveals the unbelievable thirty-year run of a shape-shifting con man. We have learned about his origins, his methods, his motives, his downfall, and his aftermath. We have also examined what makes him tick, what drives him to lie, and what makes him different from other impostors. The purpose of this article was to provide a comprehensive and engaging summary and analysis of the book and its subject matter. The thesis of this article was that Clark Rockefeller is a complex and intriguing character who can teach us a lot about human nature and society. We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article as much as we have enjoyed writing it. We hope that you have gained some insights and implications from this article. We hope that you have been entertained and educated by this article. We would like to end this article with a memorable closing sentence or a call to action. Here are some possible options: - What would you do if you met Clark Rockefeller? Would you believe him or doubt him? Would you befriend him or avoid him? Would you expose him or protect him? - If you are interested in learning more about Clark Rockefeller or other impostors, we recommend that you read the book by Mark Seal or watch some of the documentaries or movies based on his story. You can also check out some of the other books or articles mentioned in this article. - If you have ever encountered an impostor or a con artist in your life, we would love to hear your story. You can share your experience or your opinion in the comments section below. You can also contact us via email or social media. - If you have ever thought about becoming an impostor or a con artist yourself, we urge you to reconsider. You may think that it is easy or fun or rewarding to lie and deceive others, but it is not. It is dangerous and risky and harmful. It will catch up with you sooner or later. It will ruin your life and the lives of others. Thank you for reading this article. We hope that you have found it informative, interesting, entertaining, engaging.