This was a case of an elderly man who went fishing (I believe this took place in Canada) and parked his car on the side of a highway while he went fishing. His daughter and son-in law spotted the car but when they stopped there was no trace of the elderly man and I believe there was no evidence he drowned.

Two other things I remember about this case

1) The son-in law said that if he didn't stop to check out the situation his wife would be upset with him

2) The elderly man I believe had a habit of carrying his cash in a big wad which was noted by his wife as "a mistake".

Anyone remember this?

Later.

Yes I remember that story. His name was Alex Cooper. He said when he was young he worked for the Canadian Railroad and was accused of stealing money. He said he didn't do it and he wasn't about to go to jail for something he didn't do so he ran off and changed his name to Alex Cooper. He married and started a family and lived for many years under this alias. Then when retirement drew closer, he knew he wouldn't be able to provide the needed documentation for his pension so he ran again, this time away from his family. He was living on the road as a salesman. I don't remember how it happened, but he was reunited with his family. Though they were understandably hurt, they were all going to try to work things out.

It's a very interesting story! I feel bad that his wife and kids "lost" him for 5 years. But they're wonderful people because I'm not sure how easily I could forgive someone for that.

They seemed like they were awfully forgiving. His wife seemed like such a nice lady that would take him back. I am sure there were growing pains with all of that of course. It wouldn't have been easy. And I honestly think the fact that he got in trouble - or thought he would be in trouble - for something 40 years earlier is not something they would have cared about. I am sure that him changing his name back then and taking on a different alias all of the sudden lined up.

Because when you think about it, he surely had parents when he was young or siblings/cousins/aunts and uncles. Maybe even grandparents. He'd have had to abandon them back then as well. And I suspect he did this forever. But when his wife met him I wonder what the story was with him. What was his explanation for why he didn't have any family or friends (I am guessing) or people that knew him for a long time? Even something so much as not having childhood pictures would be bizarre. I always say you never get to know something truly until you meet their family.

I wonder if they ended up working things out. Because what he did was selfish. He left his whole family, let them worry for a few years about where he was or why he left, never called, never gave them peace of mind and then only once he was found by someone did he come back. I mean, come on, how was that the better alternative to leave completely? Surely telling them the other story was a better bet for their acceptance, no?

I sure hope so.........

They seemed like they were awfully forgiving. His wife seemed like such a nice lady that would take him back. I am sure there were growing pains with all of that of course. It wouldn't have been easy. And I honestly think the fact that he got in trouble - or thought he would be in trouble - for something 40 years earlier is not something they would have cared about. I am sure that him changing his name back then and taking on a different alias all of the sudden lined up.

Because when you think about it, he surely had parents when he was young or siblings/cousins/aunts and uncles. Maybe even grandparents. He'd have had to abandon them back then as well. And I suspect he did this forever. But when his wife met him I wonder what the story was with him. What was his explanation for why he didn't have any family or friends (I am guessing) or people that knew him for a long time? Even something so much as not having childhood pictures would be bizarre. I always say you never get to know something truly until you meet their family.

I wonder if they ended up working things out. Because what he did was selfish. He left his whole family, let them worry for a few years about where he was or why he left, never called, never gave them peace of mind and then only once he was found by someone did he come back. I mean, come on, how was that the better alternative to leave completely? Surely telling them the other story was a better bet for their acceptance, no?

The wife was forgiving.. The kids.. I seem to recall at least one of them was quite annoyed.

Hard to argue with him for feeling that way.

The thread topic immediately made me think of The Godfather Part II.

Ah man!!

The thread topic immediately made me think of The Godfather Part II.

:D

I think there was more to the story because it's beyond silly what he put his family through. I'm speculating that he was involved with many shady dealings. It just kills me that he continued to work while he assumed a new identity (his third).

I think there was more to the story because it's beyond silly what he put his family through. I'm speculating that he was involved with many shady dealings. It just kills me that he continued to work while he assumed a new identity (his third).

Possible, but.. Doubtful.

Different times. The values of his generation were completely different. I'm sure he just got it in his head that it'd be better for them to think he was dead than to know the truth.

And, as for him working.. Well, he left everything and had no money. Pretty much had to work.

Alex passed away in 2007 and his wife Margaret in 1996. But thanks to UM, they are immortal. :D

Alex passed away in 2007 and his wife Margaret in 1996. But thanks to UM, they are immortal. :D

That's sad. That means he had only 4 years with her when he came back.

I just can't shake the fact that this guy - twice - abandoned his family/friends. He had to have done it in 1948 when he took off and changed his name. He would have had parents, probably siblings, etc. So was it discovered that he just took off and left them in the dust too? Because he obviously never would have come back to those people as he changed his name, got married and had kids and led that life never to return to the old one. Other than the fact that you wonder how he could have done that he then does it 40 years later and this time leaves his kids and wife in the dust not knowing where he is.

It makes me wonder, back in 1948 was he filed as a missing person? Surely there were people that reported him missing, no? His parents?

Also, when Margaret married him what was the deal there? Who was he, what was his past? I get it that he would have lied and such but did she just assume he didn't have any living family members in his 20s? That part just doesn't make sense to me.

Anyway, it is this case that makes me never totally abandon the idea that someone can just get up and leave their family and start a new life. No matter how suspicious the husbands may be (Paul Pollis, Jule Caylor) I always leave that chance open that it could happen and for reasons that we wouldn't know why either. Because it happened here with Alex.

That's sad. That means he had only 4 years with her when he came back.

I just can't shake the fact that this guy - twice - abandoned his family/friends. He had to have done it in 1948 when he took off and changed his name. He would have had parents, probably siblings, etc. So was it discovered that he just took off and left them in the dust too? Because he obviously never would have come back to those people as he changed his name, got married and had kids and led that life never to return to the old one. Other than the fact that you wonder how he could have done that he then does it 40 years later and this time leaves his kids and wife in the dust not knowing where he is.

It makes me wonder, back in 1948 was he filed as a missing person? Surely there were people that reported him missing, no? His parents?

Also, when Margaret married him what was the deal there? Who was he, what was his past? I get it that he would have lied and such but did she just assume he didn't have any living family members in his 20s? That part just doesn't make sense to me.

Anyway, it is this case that makes me never totally abandon the idea that someone can just get up and leave their family and start a new life. No matter how suspicious the husbands may be (Paul Pollis, Jule Caylor) I always leave that chance open that it could happen and for reasons that we wouldn't know why either. Because it happened here with Alex.


So far as I know.. no one has really dug into the past of "Albine Raesene Arseneault"

One would think he'd have family.. But.. I've never seen any information on it. And, being Canada.. I don't know what records exist there. Don't think they do a census like we do here in the US that would list households..

I don't have international access to ancestry.. So.. Not much I can look up.. But, things happened when he was 26, it's possible his parents were deceased and he was an only child.