In our pages: The case of con man Clark Rockefeller

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In 1978, Christian K. Gerhartsreiter arrived in New England with a falsified German student visa. He later would become Christopher Chichester and Clark Rockefeller, as is told in the new

book ‘The Man In the Rockefeller Suit’ by Mark Seal.

Denise Hamilton reviews the book, which she finds ‘impeccably reported and fascinating.’

Nevertheless, Rockfeller’s ruse remained intact until 2008, when, during a divorce dispute, he took his daughter and disappeared, setting off an interstate search. He was found and arrested

six days later; in 2009, he was setenced to four to five years for kidnapping.

It was this higher profile that led investigators to unravel Rockfeller’s past, which included living as Christopher Chichester in a San Marino guest house. The couple in the main house,

Jonathan and Linda Sohus, disappeared in 1985 under suspicious circumstances; in 1994, bones were discovered on the property when the new owners dug up the yard for a swimming pool. New

technology was able to identify the remains as Jonathan’s. In March, Rockefeller/Gerhartsreiter was charged with Jonathan Sohus’ murder; he maintains his innocence.