Infamous Rockefeller Imposter Awaiting Murder Charges

LOS ANGELES – Christian Gerhartsreiter, infamous con-man best known for playing a member of the prominent Rockefeller family in real life, is now facing murder charges over two decades old.

Some background on Gerhartsreiter – a German immigrant, he invented “Clark Rockefeller”, claiming a stake in the Rockefeller dynasty, and a potential inheritor to their vast wealth. A world-class impostor, he has duped people into believing he was a physicist, an art collector, a ship captain and a financial adviser who renegotiated debt for small countries. His wife, (herself wealthy) was completely unaware of his identity. Famous now, Gerhartstreiter got everything but a TV movie for his long career or lying. Oh wait, he got that too.

He’s entering court Wednesday to stare down murder charges. Specifically, his alleged role in the death of his former landlady’s son 26 years ago (while he was living in California as… well, someone else).

It’s a cold case, and those are tough to prove after so much time has gone by. The prosecution is building its case around three bags of human bones found during a pool excavation in San Marino back in 1994. After extensive testing, they were linked to John Sohus, 27, a computer engineer who disappeared in 1985. They have about 40 witnesses ready to take the stand, and most of them are forensic experts. Evidence has deteriorated, but forensic science has advanced enough to hopefully make up the difference. Right now, the prosecution is primarily going for probable cause, and thus far, motive is vague.

Sohus’ wife disappeared too, so the prosecution might try to paint it as a crime of passion, with Gerhartstreiter playing the jilted “other man”, despite the fact that her disappearance/possible death can’t be tied to the con man at this time.

One thing is for sure, on Wednesday, in court, Gerhartstreiter will be forced to play his most difficult role – himself.

What say you? Guilty or not guilty?