German con artist deceived American elite for decades before kidnapping exposed decades-old killing
Christian Gerhartsreiter was born in 1961 in Bavaria and dreamed of America and the American dream from his teenage years. In 1978, at just 17 years old, he emigrated to the United States as an exchange student—but he never returned home. Instead, he embarked on a double life that would span decades.
Shortly after arriving in the US, Gerhartsreiter began assuming false identities. He posed as an exchange student from wealthy backgrounds and systematically gained access to American elite circles. His first significant role was Christopher Chichester, the purported descendant of a British aristocratic family. This identity opened doors to exclusive circles in California.
In the 1980s, Gerhartsreiter rented a guest house in San Marino, California under the name Christopher Chichester. His hosts were husband John Sohus and his wife Linda. In February 1985, both disappeared without a trace. Gerhartsreiter claimed they had traveled to Paris, where John had secured a new job.
Born in Bavaria
Christian Gerhartsreiter is born in Bergen near Traunstein
Emigrates to the United States
17-year-old Gerhartsreiter arrives in America as an exchange student
The Sohus Couple Disappears
John and Linda Sohus vanish from San Marino without leaving a trace
Body Discovered
Human remains of John Sohus are found during construction work on the property
The Kidnapping
Gerhartsreiter kidnaps his daughter during a supervised visit in Boston
Convicted of Murder
Sentenced to life without possibility of parole for the murder of John Sohus
Nine years later, in 1994, human remains were discovered during construction work on the property—John Sohus' body, wrapped in a carpet and buried. Linda Sohus was never found. By that time, Gerhartsreiter had long since assumed a new identity and vanished. The murder remained unsolved for years.
In the 1990s, Gerhartsreiter surfaced in New York's financial world as Clark Rockefeller, claiming to be a distant relative of the legendary billionaire family. In 1995, he married Sandra Boss, a successful Harvard graduate and management consultant. The marriage lasted over a decade, and the couple had a daughter in 2001.
Gerhartsreiter moved seamlessly through the highest social circles in Boston and New York. He posed as an art collector and philanthropist, though he actually lived off his wife's income. His wife tolerated his secrets about his past and family for years. Only in 2007 did she begin asking questions and filed for divorce.
In July 2008, Gerhartsreiter kidnapped his seven-year-old daughter during a supervised visit in Boston. He overpowered a social worker and fled with the child. The kidnapping triggered a nationwide manhunt and turned the case into a media sensation.
Six days later, he was arrested in Baltimore. The investigation revealed his decades-long web of lies. Fingerprints and DNA analysis finally connected him to the disappearance of John Sohus. In 2013, Christian Gerhartsreiter was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the murder of John Sohus.
Christian Gerhartsreiter is considered the architect of one of recent years' most spectacular con artist cases. His ability to maintain multiple identities over decades and deceive American elites continues to fascinate criminologists and the media.
Gerhartsreiter is serving his sentence in a California prison. The fate of Linda Sohus remains a mystery—whether she became a victim or managed to escape is still unknown. The story of the fake Rockefeller stands as a dark testament to how far someone can go to maintain a lie and the tragedies that can follow.