3/15/2011

Twenty-six years after a San Marino couple disappeared from their home, Los Angeles County prosecutors Wednesday charged an illusive German national with murder in the slaying of the husband.

The charge against Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter caps a sensational murder mystery that took a bizarre twist in 2009 when officials dug up the couple's backyard searching for evidence. John Sohus' body was found buried in the backyard in 1994, but Linda Sohus' body has not been found.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/illusive-clark-rockefeller-figure-charged-in-27-year-old-slaying-of-san-marino-man.html

Just read that on CNN. I'm glad to see that someone is finally being brought to justice in that case. I've always wondered what happened to Linda.

This is great news!

Also: Welcome back, Ricci!!! :wave:

You might have to add this one to the "Half Solved Mysteries" thread I started several months ago. We've got finally put together some pieces of this mammoth puzzle, but there are still quite a few loose ends, like Linda Sohus' fate.

It's also worth noting that John Sohus is still listed on the Charley Project. Even though people believe the skeleton is him, there's never been any way to conclusively prove it, so officially, he's still considered "missing".
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/sohus_jonathan.html

They ought to be able to match it with the photo superimposing process...never figured out why they didn't just do that in the first place, or reconstruct the head with clay.

I am so excited that something is finally happening!

They ought to be able to match it with the photo superimposing process...never figured out why they didn't just do that in the first place, or reconstruct the head with clay.

I am so excited that something is finally happening!

Agreed! I hope this case doesn't drag out for a long time.

Didn't "Rockefeller" attempt to sell Sohus truck in Connecticut using the alias "Chichester"?

As much as I want to see this guy convicted; I just don't know how the DA can get a conviction. Think about it; they have a body that they can't 100% prove to be John Sohus, they don't have Linda Sohus' body, so they can't even prove that she's dead and Didi Sohus died so they don't have her testimony as to what exactly occured or what further information she may have had on Chichester. With all that against them I just don't know how they can risk taking it to trial; when Rockefeller has a good chance of "getting off" and being found not gulity for lack of evidence and then they can't re-try him again. I think they need to wait and gather more evidence.

Good news!! :)

As much as I want to see this guy convicted; I just don't know how the DA can get a conviction. Think about it; they have a body that they can't 100% prove to be John Sohus, they don't have Linda Sohus' body, so they can't even prove that she's dead and Didi Sohus died so they don't have her testimony as to what exactly occured or what further information she may have had on Chichester. With all that against them I just don't know how they can risk taking it to trial; when Rockefeller has a good chance of "getting off" and being found not gulity for lack of evidence and then they can't re-try him again. I think they need to wait and gather more evidence.

Well they arrested him in 2008 and from what I've read they have been trying to connect him to the Sohus murder the entire time. I don't think they would bring this to court if they didn't have something.

As much as I want to see this guy convicted; I just don't know how the DA can get a conviction. Think about it; they have a body that they can't 100% prove to be John Sohus, they don't have Linda Sohus' body, so they can't even prove that she's dead and Didi Sohus died so they don't have her testimony as to what exactly occured or what further information she may have had on Chichester. With all that against them I just don't know how they can risk taking it to trial; when Rockefeller has a good chance of "getting off" and being found not gulity for lack of evidence and then they can't re-try him again. I think they need to wait and gather more evidence.

I'm guessing there's some stuff going on behind the scenes that we don't know about that hasn't been released to the media. Even though there is no concrete evidence that Chichester was involved in John's disappearance/death, I do think there's a pretty decent circumstantial case. I'm not sure how other states operate, but I can tell you that at least in my state, circumstantial evidence is given the same weight as direct evidence and juries are instructed as such.

Nohwhere Girl: Thanks! Glad to be back. :)

Saw this, this a.m.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42099048

'Rockefeller' to lawyer: I didn't kill man'

You might have to add this one to the "Half Solved Mysteries" thread I started several months ago. We've got finally put together some pieces of this mammoth puzzle, but there are still quite a few loose ends, like Linda Sohus' fate.

It's also worth noting that John Sohus is still listed on the Charley Project. Even though people believe the skeleton is him, there's never been any way to conclusively prove it, so officially, he's still considered "missing".
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/sohus_jonathan.html

Question, I know John Sohus was adopted and there was no way to easily get his DNA, but were there not dental records? I don't remember. Thanks

Didn't "Rockefeller" attempt to sell Sohus truck in Connecticut using the alias "Chichester"?

As far as I remember, yes, he ended up with their truck, another great piece of evidence, albiet circumstantial.

As much as I want to see this guy convicted; I just don't know how the DA can get a conviction. Think about it; they have a body that they can't 100% prove to be John Sohus, they don't have Linda Sohus' body, so they can't even prove that she's dead and Didi Sohus died so they don't have her testimony as to what exactly occured or what further information she may have had on Chichester. With all that against them I just don't know how they can risk taking it to trial; when Rockefeller has a good chance of "getting off" and being found not gulity for lack of evidence and then they can't re-try him again. I think they need to wait and gather more evidence.

There is video of Didi Sohus (or her relative) talking about the case that could possibly be used in the trial. L.E. has had a couple of years to work on this, could've even traced John's adoption, found a living relative and obtained DNA.

Also, man is missing, male body is found buried in his own yard (they can estimate age and height)... who else is it gonna be? Christian's history of lying, taking on alias', etc... I've certainly watched some of these crime/trial show's and seen people convicted with a lot less. Let's hope.

Question, I know John Sohus was adopted and there was no way to easily get his DNA, but were there not dental records? I don't remember. Thanks

The problem is that the skeleton had no jawbone or teeth. I'm willing to bet they were deliberately removed by the killer in an attempt to make positive identification impossible. Of course, if the skeleton is John Sohus and the killer went to all that effort, I don't understand the logic of burying him on his own property! If the remains had been discovered elsewhere, he would just be another UID John Doe and no one would have any clue who it was.

The problem is that the skeleton had no jawbone or teeth. I'm willing to bet they were deliberately removed by the killer in an attempt to make positive identification impossible. Of course, if the skeleton is John Sohus and the killer went to all that effort, I don't understand the logic of burying him on his own property! If the remains had been discovered elsewhere, he would just be another UID John Doe and no one would have any clue who it was.

I have a theory on that.
From all I have read it appears this Rockefeller guy was a paranoid coward (He was seen acting paranoid and strange when he tried to sell John's truck under an alias).
He was probably afraid to transport the body elsewhere because he felt there was chance he would get pulled over and then if an officer had a look in the car and saw john's body...well there would no denying who killed him!
Rockefeller probably felt safer burying the body in the backyard and probably figured noone would dig up the backyard and even if they did the body was missing it's teeth and Rockefeller would be long gone from the area at that point.
This also leads me to believe Linda was most likely both killed and buried at a different location.

What about the Wife sending post cards from France though? Was anyone ever able to explain that?

I was wondering the same thing about the post cards. But remember Rachel Timmerman and Marvin Gabrion? She wrote a letter to a prosecutor asking her to drop the rape charges, under duress.

Well I cant imagine it would be too hard to find out if John and Linda got passports and left the country. We know they where going somewhere as she told friends and family they where going to New York and she boarded her cats. She claims that her and John had Govt jobs they where gonna be training for. Again this should be easy to investigate and either dispell or confirm. Surely the govt would have a record as to whether John and Linda where employees or not.
Seems to me it was Linda making up the story about leaving, linda leaving the cats, Linda sending the postcards and Linda's remains are not found. Im wondering if she wasnt part of the plot to kill her husband and then vanish

The problem is that the skeleton had no jawbone or teeth. I'm willing to bet they were deliberately removed by the killer in an attempt to make positive identification impossible. Of course, if the skeleton is John Sohus and the killer went to all that effort, I don't understand the logic of burying him on his own property! If the remains had been discovered elsewhere, he would just be another UID John Doe and no one would have any clue who it was.


Thanks, I couldn't remember, and was too lazy to look it up! :wave:

Well I cant imagine it would be too hard to find out if John and Linda got passports and left the country. We know they where going somewhere as she told friends and family they where going to New York and she boarded her cats. She claims that her and John had Govt jobs they where gonna be training for. Again this should be easy to investigate and either dispell or confirm. Surely the govt would have a record as to whether John and Linda where employees or not.
Seems to me it was Linda making up the story about leaving, linda leaving the cats, Linda sending the postcards and Linda's remains are not found. Im wondering if she wasnt part of the plot to kill her husband and then vanish

Wow. This never occurred to me.

That could have happened I suppose. But Rockefeller is smart and cunning, if she was alive somewhere don't you think he would have mentioned it? You know turn her in just to save his own bacon? I can see him doing something like that. He has that kind of mentality "if I go down you go down with me" sort of thing. He's a pathological liar, so I wouldn't put much past him at this point. It's pretty hard to believe that he was living in the Sohus' guest house, yet he's never met them?! Yeah right, the guy is obviously lying through his teeth. They need to use some rough tactics to get the guy to talk, otherwise him coming out with anything is not gonna happen; he'll just keep lying to cover his ass!

Who's to say he didn't kill her later to tie up loose ends?

True. That could have happened as well. I think if LE can find out for sure what happened to Linda I think Rockefellers fate will ultimately be sealed! But I think finding out what happened to Linda and being able to positively identify the skeleton they found in the Sohus backyard as John would be a lock in getting a conviction. But I'm afraid with what they have now I just don't see them convicting him for murder. It will be a roll of the dice for sure. Most jury's would not convict someone on circumstancial evidence; I know I wouldn't if I was a juror. If they at least has some blood or tissue from either John or Linda that would be something to cement their case.

Linda's story is bogus. I can see the govt hiring a computer programmer like John but why an artist like Linda? The govt does not hire people in teams either. Her whole story makes no sense at all.

Who's to say he didn't kill her later to tie up loose ends?
Well that's very possible but we still have to ask why she fabricated the story about them both getting govt jobs. Notice how their dissapearance perfectly coincided with them leaving for New York. I would say that Rockefeller simply killed them and disposed of them if not for this. There is more going on here then just a simple murder and cover up.
What about the lady that came and got the cats?? Did she ever come forward after realizing that foul play had been involved with the owners of the animals? Apparently not. Could this mean that either Linda herself, in disguise picked up the cats? Or does it mean she had an accomplice do it? Honestly, what random person would go to an animal shelter and request a group of cats? Unless ofcourse they where planning to get them back to the rightful owner. To me this is another clue that she was alive long after John was killed and may have been an accomplice with Rockefeller.

I think that John was the one with the gov. job, but she had said,
"they want us both." Perhaps that meant that Linda was asked to go along with him, maybe for some sort of assistance? That's pretty weird, to say the least. My hypothesis has always been that Rockefeller was perhaps attracted to Linda and killed John to get him out of the way. But then, did he abduct Linda? Did she go along willingly? Of course speculation can be wrong, but her close friends mentioned that she was really happy in the relationship. Very puzzling...the handwriting on the postcards supposedly was Linda's. But it seems clear for the family/ friends that the content just didn't sound like her at all. Could Rockefeller have coerced her into writing them? Did people actually SEE John and Linda leave or just hearsay (thus leading to an opportunity for violence in the back house)? This has always been one of my favorite cases. I would love for it to be solved, but I'm wondering how they could convict him without a positive ID on the remains in the first place. Hopefully he comes clean and can give the families the knowledge they've been waiting for for over 25 years.

I think that John was the one with the gov. job, but she had said,
"they want us both." Perhaps that meant that Linda was asked to go along with him, maybe for some sort of assistance? That's pretty weird, to say the least. My hypothesis has always been that Rockefeller was perhaps attracted to Linda and killed John to get him out of the way. But then, did he abduct Linda? Did she go along willingly? Of course speculation can be wrong, but her close friends mentioned that she was really happy in the relationship. Very puzzling...the handwriting on the postcards supposedly was Linda's. But it seems clear for the family/ friends that the content just didn't sound like her at all. Could Rockefeller have coerced her into writing them? Did people actually SEE John and Linda leave or just hearsay (thus leading to an opportunity for violence in the back house)? This has always been one of my favorite cases. I would love for it to be solved, but I'm wondering how they could convict him without a positive ID on the remains in the first place. Hopefully he comes clean and can give the families the knowledge they've been waiting for for over 25 years.
Well like I said before, it should be very easy to find out if the govt had hired John and Linda. They would have a record of this. Should also be easy to find out if either got a passport before vanishing. Let's say after some investigating we find out that the govt has no record of hiring either John or Linda and then we find out that Linda in fact obtained a passport. I would say she was involved if those two things came to light

I hate to sound like I'm making a conspiracy theory, but I don't trust the gov. 100%. I wouldn't automatically assume Linda lied if it wasn't on record. It would, however, make me wonder more about her. But I do agree, Kane, that these matters need to be looked into if they haven't been already. I certainly hope the investigation checked into this!

In an article I read they stated that L.E. was able to compare DNA from a relative they tracked down. Also they have witnesses that claim that around the time of the murder Chichester:

1. borrowed a chainsaw
2. told him that he was digging up the yard because of plumbing problems.

plus the luminal evidence inside of his apartment. depending on who presents the case, it is a pretty strong circumstantial case against him.


"Through luminol testing of the guest quarters where "Chichester" lived, investigators found what appeared to be a large amount of blood. (Luminol causes a glow when it comes in contact with blood). It is not clear when the luminol testing took place, but police thoroughly searched the house when the remains were found and again after Gerhartsreiter's arrest in the kidnapping case.
A former neighbor quoted by Vanity Fair reported that "Chichester" borrowed a chain saw from him at about the time the couple went missing. An acquaintance, Dana Farrar, said she "saw an area of dirt that had obviously been dug up and filled in" at the time, according to the Pasadena Star-News. When she asked him why, "Chichester" told her he was having plumbing problems."

In an article I read they stated that L.E. was able to compare DNA from a relative they tracked down. Also they have witnesses that claim that around the time of the murder Chichester:

1. borrowed a chainsaw
2. told him that he was digging up the yard because of plumbing problems.

plus the luminal evidence inside of his apartment. depending on who presents the case, it is a pretty strong circumstantial case against him.


"Through luminol testing of the guest quarters where "Chichester" lived, investigators found what appeared to be a large amount of blood. (Luminol causes a glow when it comes in contact with blood). It is not clear when the luminol testing took place, but police thoroughly searched the house when the remains were found and again after Gerhartsreiter's arrest in the kidnapping case.
A former neighbor quoted by Vanity Fair reported that "Chichester" borrowed a chain saw from him at about the time the couple went missing. An acquaintance, Dana Farrar, said she "saw an area of dirt that had obviously been dug up and filled in" at the time, according to the Pasadena Star-News. When she asked him why, "Chichester" told her he was having plumbing problems."

So they where living with John's Mother. Did she not question why Chichester was digging up her yard? Did she not hear him running a chainsaw and cutting up bodies? Wouldnt she know if she had plumbing problems in her own home?

So they where living with John's Mother. Did she not question why Chichester was digging up her yard? Did she not hear him running a chainsaw and cutting up bodies? Wouldnt she know if she had plumbing problems in her own home?

Well if the UM segment is anything to go by, she was a feeble minded drunk who thought John and Linda were on a mission or something, so I can't imagine that getting her to believe that there is a plumbing problem would be that hard to do.

Well if the UM segment is anything to go by, she was a feeble minded drunk who thought John and Linda were on a mission or something, so I can't imagine that getting her to believe that there is a plumbing problem would be that hard to do.
She eventually came to her senses though and reported them missing. Appeantly she never mentioned Rockefeller digging up her back yard or running a chainsaw in the house.

Circumstantially, it seems like an open and shut case against Rockefeller in the John Sohus murder. He was asking to borrow a chainsaw, digging up the backyard (which later was unearthed to reveal bones believed to be John's), and fled shortly after they disappeared. It terms of Linda however, it's not so open and shut. The handwriting on the postcard from Paris was said to have matched her known handwriting so that means one of two things. Either Rockefeller forced her to write it and then he himself mailed it from Paris after killing her, or more baleful that she was involved in the murder of John and sent the postcard herself. Look how long it took police to locate "Rockefeller" and that was a fluke. Linda could very well be alive, living in Europe under a new identity. Are there any new updates involving "Rockefeller" confessing?

On a side note, did anyone else kind of feel confused when the segment started taking on the whole "secret agent" and government job aspect? This was definitely one of the most bizarre cases on UM.

EDIT: Just read another article about the case that says the postcards sent from Paris had no stamp cancellation on either of them authorities now believe that they were most likely not mailed from Paris. If that is the case, I believe Linda is dead.

Circumstantially, it seems like an open and shut case against Rockefeller in the John Sohus murder. He was asking to borrow a chainsaw, digging up the backyard (which later was unearthed to reveal bones believed to be John's), and fled shortly after they disappeared. It terms of Linda however, it's not so open and shut. The handwriting on the postcard from Paris was said to have matched her known handwriting so that means one of two things. Either Rockefeller forced her to write it and then he himself mailed it from Paris after killing her, or more baleful that she was involved in the murder of John and sent the postcard herself. Look how long it took police to locate "Rockefeller" and that was a fluke. Linda could very well be alive, living in Europe under a new identity. Are there any new updates involving "Rockefeller" confessing?

On a side note, did anyone else kind of feel confused when the segment started taking on the whole "secret agent" and government job aspect? This was definitely one of the most bizarre cases on UM.

EDIT: Just read another article about the case that says the postcards sent from Paris had no stamp cancellation on either of them authorities now believe that they were most likely not mailed from Paris. If that is the case, I believe Linda is dead.
It seems that it was Linda telling people about the govt jobs and going to New York. I don't remember hearing anyone say that John had stated any of this. Linda boarded her cats so obviously she was planning on going somewhere. Or she really wanted people to think her and John where going somewhere.

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/mystery/ci_10227304

The first person to notice her disappearance was Lydia Marano, her boss and the owner of the now-defunct Dangerous Visions bookstore in Sherman Oaks. Linda was supposed to open the store over the weekend in early February 1985.

"I went in to cash a check and the store was dark. I was furious to say the least," Marano said.


Marano received a postcard from the couple on April 29, 1985, with a Paris postmark. It read: "To Lydia- Not quite New York, but not bad. See you later, Linda and John."

Familiar with her handwriting, Marano believes the postcard was authored by Linda.

"I'd looked at her handwriting every day for two and a half years," Marano said.

Although she never directly heard from Linda Sohus again, Marano said she received two phone calls about Linda within the span of a few months. The first came from a representative of a department store.

"One was from Robinson's-May checking on Linda's qualifications for a job," Marano said. "They said she applied for a job."

Marano declined to recommend her because she left her position at the bookstore without any notice.

"The other phone call came a month or two later and it was about a credit card," she said.

The credit card company was also looking for a referral.

Too bad UM didn't mention the Robinsons-May job and credit card referral. At that time, Robinsons-May was a chain of department stores operating in Southern California, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada, and previously had headquarters in North Hollywood, California.

The job application was possibly Rockefeller's way of making it appear as though Linda was still alive. He was also attempting to gain access to credit in her name -- besides the postcard, he may have had her provide other information. Possibly Rockefeller lured her into his home by saying John was already there? One would think it would have been easier to assume John's identity, but then little of what this guy has done makes sense at all.

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/mystery/ci_10227304



Too bad UM didn't mention the Robinsons-May job and credit card referral. At that time, Robinsons-May was a chain of department stores operating in Southern California, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada, and previously had headquarters in North Hollywood, California.

The job application was possibly Rockefeller's way of making it appear as though Linda was still alive. He was also attempting to gain access to credit in her name -- besides the postcard, he may have had her provide other information. Possibly Rockefeller lured her into his home by saying John was already there? One would think it would have been easier to assume John's identity, but then little of what this guy has done makes sense at all.

I'd be interested to see if anybody at Robinsons-Mays actually interviewed "Linda" or whether she came in person to fill out the job application. It would be hard for "chichester" to pose as Linda in person but easy enough to do through mail. I also wonder what she gave as an address and phone on the application. Just a thought.

I'd be interested to see if anybody at Robinsons-Mays actually interviewed "Linda" or whether she came in person to fill out the job application. It would be hard for "chichester" to pose as Linda in person but easy enough to do through mail. I also wonder what she gave as an address and phone on the application. Just a thought.

I'm curious as well. It's probably too late to find out what information Robinsons-Mays or the credit card company received, unless it was reported to police around the time Linda and John were reported missing.

Also can't recall: was Linda ever declared legally dead? If so, it would be possible to determine if she had established any lines of credit past the date of her disappearance, or used her SS#.

I'd be interested to see if anybody at Robinsons-Mays actually interviewed "Linda" or whether she came in person to fill out the job application. It would be hard for "chichester" to pose as Linda in person but easy enough to do through mail. I also wonder what she gave as an address and phone on the application. Just a thought.


Was probably Gehardsreiter calling and pretending to be the Dept. store making it look like Linda was alive, OR Linda had put in an application a long time before leaving and they were checking it out, not knowing she was no longer looking for a job (which makes no sense as they don't usually check references until after interviews). Same with credit card.

Other post said the postcard to the bookstore owner were from Linda AND John, obviously faked by either Linda or Gehardsreiter, as John was DEAD by then! I don't believe it was Linda, since Linda wouldn't leave her cats boarded and not come back for them, if she was truly leaving for a job in New York or Europe, she would have found them a new home first or left them with someone until she could have them sent to her. Same with the horse. Real horse people don't abandon their horses.

Yes. I definitely think that her leaving the cats is a clue in itself. Linda's sister was called by the boarding facility that Linda was supposed to pick up her cats and never did. She paid to board them for 2 weeks, but the cats were still there after a month, so obviously Linda was unable to pick them up because she was probably dead. So, her sister paid the additional boarding fee and picked up the cats; and she said that she knew that Linda would never leave them, even if she planned on moving; she would have taken the cats with her or had them sent to her if she knew she would be gone longer than the 2 weeks! Apparently the boarding facility was unable to get a hold of Linda at the phone number she provided; so they called the sister. The cats would have been euthanized by the animal shelter if they were not picked up. Because of this Linda's sister believes she's dead, and so do I. Animal lovers who adore their pets would not leave them, even if they were moving, they would arrange for someone to look after their pets!

While I know that in a couple of telephone conversations, Linda says they are moving and she doesn't have much time to get ready... seems contrived or something was forcing her into such a panic (like John had already been killed?). Because even if your spouse has a new job and it's across the country or in another country, the other spouse doesn't have to go and leave right away. Many spouses stay behind for several months to pack-up the house, tie-up loose ends, etc... Especially that they were living in a relatives home, so there may not have been any hurry about not paying another month's rent and all. I think maybe John had been killed and she and Gehardsreiter were leaving together and he was pushing her along, she was frightened and scared and not herself because of what had happened and was going along with it.

Yes. I definitely think that her leaving the cats is a clue in itself. Linda's sister was called by the boarding facility that Linda was supposed to pick up her cats and never did. She paid to board them for 2 weeks, but the cats were still there after a month, so obviously Linda was unable to pick them up because she was probably dead. So, her sister paid the additional boarding fee and picked up the cats; and she said that she knew that Linda would never leave them, even if she planned on moving; she would have taken the cats with her or had them sent to her if she knew she would be gone longer than the 2 weeks! Apparently the boarding facility was unable to get a hold of Linda at the phone number she provided; so they called the sister. The cats would have been put up for adoption by an animal shelter if they were not picked up. Because of this Linda's sister believes she's dead, and so do I. Animal lovers who adore their pets would not leave them, even if they were moving, they would arrange for someone to look after their pets!
Do we now know that it was indeed her sister that picked up the cats??? Because in the episode it is stated that an unknown woman retrieved the cats from the shelter. It was also said that the people at the shelter did not get the woman's name.

yes. This fact was not mentioned on UM segment. I found this out in an article I read on the case on CNN. It went deeper into what was on UM.

yes. This fact was not mentioned on UM segment. I found this out in an article I read on the case on CNN. It went deeper into what was on UM.
Ok well that kinda takes the mystery out of the cat situation

This is all just so fascinating and I cannot stop thinking about this case.

We are still not sure about what happened to Linda, as she allegedly made up the story about the government job and sent postcards from France. Was there indeed a forensic handwriting comparison done between the postcards and known samples of Linda's writing? it certainly seems like Linda and Gerhardstreider were in cahoots, as she (supposedly) made up the government job but then Gerharstreider continued the ruse to appease the unstable Didi Sohus. People on this message board commented on why would Linda leave her cats.. but we shouldn't forget that she was possibly involved with her husband's death. The cats would be the least of her worries. Where is Linda now? Did she indeed go to France and is she hiding out in Europe? It has been 26 years since she has contacted any friends or family members. It could be possible that she was murdered and buried somewhere else, but the France thing seems like a possibility as well.

According to the Unsolved segment, luminol testing WAS done on the guest house where Gerhardstreider stayed. There was a big puddle of what is thought to be blood. Someone posted earlier about the chainsaw and the digging in the yard by Gerhardstreiter. This would all go in line with the charges on Gerhardstreiter. Unfortunately, without positive ID of the skeleton of John and the whereabouts of Linda, there are some huge holes in this case.


This is my first post!!

This is all just so fascinating and I cannot stop thinking about this case.

We are still not sure about what happened to Linda, as she allegedly made up the story about the government job and sent postcards from France. Was there indeed a forensic handwriting comparison done between the postcards and known samples of Linda's writing? it certainly seems like Linda and Gerhardstreider were in cahoots, as she (supposedly) made up the government job but then Gerharstreider continued the ruse to appease the unstable Didi Sohus. People on this message board commented on why would Linda leave her cats.. but we shouldn't forget that she was possibly involved with her husband's death. The cats would be the least of her worries. Where is Linda now? Did she indeed go to France and is she hiding out in Europe? It has been 26 years since she has contacted any friends or family members. It could be possible that she was murdered and buried somewhere else, but the France thing seems like a possibility as well.

According to the Unsolved segment, luminol testing WAS done on the guest house where Gerhardstreider stayed. There was a big puddle of what is thought to be blood. Someone posted earlier about the chainsaw and the digging in the yard by Gerhardstreiter. This would all go in line with the charges on Gerhardstreiter. Unfortunately, without positive ID of the skeleton of John and the whereabouts of Linda, there are some huge holes in this case.


This is my first post!!

Welcome to this board!

I feel like somehow John was killed, Gerhartsreider had Linda charmed in his own sick way and under his manipulative control. She felt like she was really implicated in the death and then followed what he told her to do and say. I think Gerhartsreider killed Linda somewhere along the way. She never was in Europe, she didn't send postcards.

Welcome to this board!

I feel like somehow John was killed, Gerhartsreider had Linda charmed in his own sick way and under his manipulative control. She felt like she was really implicated in the death and then followed what he told her to do and say. I think Gerhartsreider killed Linda somewhere along the way. She never was in Europe, she didn't send postcards.

Thank you for the response. I do agree that Gerharstreider charmed Linda, and I really hope that more info is eventually released on her. The postcards that were sent were definitely postmarked from Europe (from what I saw on some online pictures). Who was in Europe sending them? Someone else who was involved in their disappearance? Was it proven that Linda didn't send those postcards?

http://abcnews.go.com/US/clark-rockefeller-faces-arraignment-la-1985-murder/story?id=14018793

Facing Arraignment in L.A.

New Book about case: "He was popular in San Marino, which Mark Seal, author of the new book "The Man in the Rockefeller Suit," said was "like a Norman Rockwell village" in that era. "


Review of Book: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/books/the-man-in-the-rockefeller-suit-by-mark-seal-review.html

http://http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-08/justice/california.gerhartsreiter.rockefeller_1_clark-rockefeller-christian-karl-gerhartsreiter-john-sohus?_s=PM:CRIME (http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-08/justice/california.gerhartsreiter.rockefeller_1_clark-rockefeller-christian-karl-gerhartsreiter-john-sohus?_s=PM:CRIME)

http://www.boston.com/Boston/metrodesk/2011/07/rockefeller-imposter-pleads-not-guilty-california-murder-charge/f3ad854xYlNxE2HJPV4a5O/index.html

Here is an interesting interview with the author of a book on the case: http://www.npr.org/2011/07/10/137624164/30-year-con-from-german-kid-to-rockefeller-scion

I'm a little confused about the lack of available DNA for testing the presumed remains of John Sohus. He had a mother living at the time of his disappearance, but at the time of the discovery of his body no relatives could be found. Was the mother adoptive? Had she died and been cremated? Or was she buried and they couldn't get permission for exhumation?

I think I read earlier in one of the threads that he was adopted.

Yes, John Sohus was adopted. Thought I read (aren't we all so reliable! haha!) that they had researched his adoption and obtained DNA from a blood relative. I hope so.

Yes, John Sohus was adopted. Thought I read (aren't we all so reliable! haha!) that they had researched his adoption and obtained DNA from a blood relative. I hope so.

Well, you'd think they'd think of that! Was his adoptive mom still alive when they found the body? Did she ever wonder why she might hear from Linda and not John directly? I didn't find what (if anything) Linda may have written to her family, only what her former employer heard, but it seems even Linda's family thought she was in on John's murder.

Wonder whatever happened to the little girl. Must have been rather a shock that the father who seemed to think so highly of her had no regard for human life otherwise.

i recently read "The Man in the Rockefeller Suit," and I found it fascinating. It gave such incredible detail of Gehartsreiter's many ruses.

What is still eating away at my sanity is whereabouts of Linda Sohus. Is she alive? Is she dead? Sadly, my instincts go with the latter. In reading the book, it was said that she was seen in Gehartsreiter's (or Sohus') pick-up truck when he went to visit an older couple in CA that he had known when they visited him in Germany as a teenager. He used that family as the sponsor (unbeknownst to them) for him to get into the country back in the 70s. In the chapter that explains the scene: The older couple's son was getting back home, and bumped into Geharsreiter leaving his house and noted that there was a large young woman waiting in the passenger seat of the truck-- her face was red and it appeared she was upset and crying. This was pretty definitively Linda. The timing when this happened was shortly after John disappeared. The book does not give much more info about this than saying that Linda may have come to realize that the government job was a lie and that something bad had happened to John.

Did Gehartsreiter then do something with Linda, or was she partly responsible for John's murder and is she in hiding somewhere??

The most frustrating thing about all of this is that we will NEVER get a straight answer from Geharstreiter. He obviously knows exactly what happened, if not fully responsible. In order for things to really be known, Linda's body must be found..

From what I've heard, they used some sophisticated new technology last year to identify the remains found in the Sohus' old property in 1994 as being those of Jonathan Sohus. I also read that even though they charged Gerhartsreiter in his death, it will be hard to prove murder in court because of all the time elapsed and the absence of a murder weapon.

From what I've heard, they used some sophisticated new technology last year to identify the remains found in the Sohus' old property in 1994 as being those of Jonathan Sohus. I also read that even though they charged Gerhartsreiter in his death, it will be hard to prove murder in court because of all the time elapsed and the absence of a murder weapon.

I guess we'll have to wait and see. I know of cases where they had no body and still gotten a conviction, notably the Jamie Sherer case http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/sherer_jami.html.
I'm not sure if they had a weapon in this one either.

I think there's a pretty good circumstantial case against Gehardsreiter, he lived on the property where the dead man was found, he ended up with the dead guy's truck. Fled and lived under yet ANOTHER fake identity. His whole life after he left Germany was a lie and they can bring tht in and prove it. They may not be able to bring in his kidnapping conviction. This will be interesting.

i recently read "The Man in the Rockefeller Suit," and I found it fascinating. It gave such incredible detail of Gehartsreiter's many ruses.

What is still eating away at my sanity is whereabouts of Linda Sohus. Is she alive? Is she dead? Sadly, my instincts go with the latter. In reading the book, it was said that she was seen in Gehartsreiter's (or Sohus') pick-up truck when he went to visit an older couple in CA that he had known when they visited him in Germany as a teenager. He used that family as the sponsor (unbeknownst to them) for him to get into the country back in the 70s. In the chapter that explains the scene: The older couple's son was getting back home, and bumped into Geharsreiter leaving his house and noted that there was a large young woman waiting in the passenger seat of the truck-- her face was red and it appeared she was upset and crying. This was pretty definitively Linda. The timing when this happened was shortly after John disappeared. The book does not give much more info about this than saying that Linda may have come to realize that the government job was a lie and that something bad had happened to John.

Did Gehartsreiter then do something with Linda, or was she partly responsible for John's murder and is she in hiding somewhere??

The most frustrating thing about all of this is that we will NEVER get a straight answer from Geharstreiter. He obviously knows exactly what happened, if not fully responsible. In order for things to really be known, Linda's body must be found..

I agree, it's very frustrating. I believe what the Lead Investigator of the Sohus case, Timothy Miley, says on page 180 of the book "I think she's dead, buried somewhere out in the desert. I don't think she's alive in France and mailing postcards. She never had a passport, never entered or exited the country. She had no financial means of doing this... and she was not sophisticated enough to get a fake passport or a fake ID."

I especially agree with the fact that she never had a passport. Gehardsreiter was sophisticated enough to get her fake I.D., but a fake passport or one made from a fake I.D. would be a whole other matter. He would really have had no reason to go to that kind of expense and trouble, when all he really wanted was control of Didi Sohus' estate. Much easier to kill her.

Gerhartsreiter's trial has been officially set for March 11:
http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_22347117/fake-rockefeller-stand-trial-1985-killing

It says in the article that the defense will try to make, they are trying to argue that Linda Sohus was the culprit.

Of course this is probably the only thing that the defense could argue. But it is really too bad that Linda's body has not shown up. Many things incriminate "Rockefeller."

-The bag that John Sohus's bones were wrapped in (University of Wisconsin, where Gerhartsreiter was a student)
-The fact he asked neighbors to borrow a chainsaw, and asked another neighbor if they wanted to buy a blood-stained rug
-Gerhartsreiter lied to Didi Sohus (John's mother) that John and his wife were on a secret mission. I believe I read somewhere that Gerhartsreiter was collecting their mail.
-Gerhartsreiter fled by the time the Sohus were actually declared missing and he made up a completely new identity in Connecticut, and tried to sell John's truck.

Linda has been missing for almost 30 years now. What means did she have to run off and life another life. It was said she didn't have a passport and what kind of money did she have? The sale of one of her paintings?

This will be an interesting case to follow.

Gerhartsreiter's trial has been officially set for March 11:
http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_22347117/fake-rockefeller-stand-trial-1985-killing

It says in the article that the defense will try to make, they are trying to argue that Linda Sohus was the culprit.

Of course this is probably the only thing that the defense could argue. But it is really too bad that Linda's body has not shown up. Many things incriminate "Rockefeller."

-The bag that John Sohus's bones were wrapped in (University of Wisconsin, where Gerhartsreiter was a student)
-The fact he asked neighbors to borrow a chainsaw, and asked another neighbor if they wanted to buy a blood-stained rug
-Gerhartsreiter lied to Didi Sohus (John's mother) that John and his wife were on a secret mission. I believe I read somewhere that Gerhartsreiter was collecting their mail.
-Gerhartsreiter fled by the time the Sohus were actually declared missing and he made up a completely new identity in Connecticut, and tried to sell John's truck.

Linda has been missing for almost 30 years now. What means did she have to run off and life another life. It was said she didn't have a passport and what kind of money did she have? The sale of one of her paintings?

This will be an interesting case to follow.

I thought the trial was this month? Guess I'll have to wait 2 more months. I think Linda is alive but I don't believe she helped with the murder. Some people think that she was burned in the fireplace as to the horrible odor the neighbors smelled coming from the chimney. It could've been John's flesh and organs too that were burned but that is not known.

I am of the party that believes Linda is deceased. I think she cared too much about her family to just run off and give no word for almost thirty years.

I think she was probably forced to write the postcards or samples of her actual handwriting were used to forge them, if they are indeed in her handwriting. According to her friend and sister the postcard messages sounded nothing like her and she would have been jumping for joy to go to Paris. And the postcards don't sound-even in their odd state- like a farewell to people abandoned by one who ran off for a new life.
I know appearances can be deceiving, but wasn't the couple known to be quite happy together? No reported problems, nothing?
Evidence that Linda survived 1985 includes Linda's former boss getting a call that Linda used her as a reference. I think this sounds very strange. If you abandoned ship, would you put down your old employer who more than likely knows you are missing and will tell others? Sounds like a ploy. But I hope this lead was investigated to figure out where this alleged job interviewer was and to see if they were legitimate. Charley Project says a credit card company called her as well to get a reference. I want to hear more information about these leads, but I really doubt it was Linda herself who really requested these references.
It seems obvious that John was murdered in the guest house and then dismembered and put into bags in the backyard. Chichester said that digging he was doing was related to plumbing problems- and he stayed in the guest house for a little while longer. This is part of why I don't buy the "Linda ran off to be with Chichester" theory. Where would she have been during that time?
This might sound like a trivial thing, but I'll add it: As a cat-lover, I can tell you that I would never leave my cats at the vet when abandoning would mean they would probably be put down.

I have more to say but no time :) I will come back to read the thread all the way through.This is hands down one of my favorite mysteries on UM. I hope information will finally come out.

I believe Linda is deceased as well. She didn't really have the means to go anywhere. You mentioned her cats, and she also did not have a passport or much money.
Who knows about the job reference, it could have even been Gerhartsreiter that called Linda's boss to make people believe that she was still alive.

I always wondered about the cats too. Who was the lady who took them before they were supposed to be euthanized? Was it Linda in disguise, Gerhartsreiter in disguise, a female accomplice of his or someone completely unrelated to the case?

I always wondered about the cats too. Who was the lady who took them before they were supposed to be euthanized? Was it Linda in disguise, Gerhartsreiter in disguise, a female accomplice of his or someone completely unrelated to the case?
I've read on here that apparently Linda's sister picked up the cats and UM was mistaken. But how could such a glaring error have been made? I really would like to see some verification on this point.

Murder Trial wrapping up http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57577348-504083/rockefeller-impostors-murder-trial-ex-wife-of-christian-gerhartsreiter-next-to-testify/

Both sides rest. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57577348-504083/rockefeller-impostors-murder-trial-ex-wife-of-christian-gerhartsreiter-next-to-testify/

Found Guilty! http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-rockefeller-imposter-guilty-20130410,0,55254.story

Thanks for the link Zoneboy.

"Sentencing for Gerhartsreiter, who faces 25 years to life in state prison, had been scheduled for June 26. Lomeli postponed the hearing until Aug. 15."

Creep claims he has new evidence about Linda, wants a new trial. Read articles.


Read more: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news...#ixzz2XZZITTpo

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news...e-proves-he-is


Read more: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?p=4800950#post4800950#ixzz2XcOhprTF

Gerhartsreiter will be profiled on 48 Hour Mysteries next week and actually interviewed, for anyone interested. I really would love to hear what he has to say about Linda; until she's found, the mystery is still only half-solved.

I've been hearing interviews with Walter Kirn (novelist who wrote Up In The Air) on NPR recently about Gerhartsreiter - he just published a memoir about his 15 year friendship with him (as Rockefeller) leading up to his to arrest.

Some notes from the 48 Hours broadcast. The show included a clip of UM, which I liked. A lot of the same people were interviewed, including the same police detective who discovered Crow and Chichester were one in the same and Linda's friend. Chichester went so far as to tell his girlfriend that the aforementioned cop was a hitman and so not to say where he was when he called.

Chichester is a piece of work and such a liar. When the interview got to much for him, he would yell for it to be stopped. He claims that he didn't know John and Linda at all even though he lived with them for so long. He says he thinks Linda is absolutely still alive. Funny how he has such strong convictions about someone he claims he didn't really know? The body was buried outside of his back house and the interviewer asks the reasonable question about how Chichester wouldn't have noticed a body being buried by Linda if she was indeed guilty. He says "You're assuming I never left my house at all." The interviewer asks then about disturbed ground and he insists the property was in bad shape so he didn't notice. Oh and to top it all off, the bags wrapped around John's body were from a university . Chichester attended.

I am so very thankful for the fact that That Guy (as my husband & I refer to him) is GUILTY. He should NEVER have had all that media attention, but at least the mystery of my friend's whereabouts was at least answered in a major way. It's been a haunting nearly-30-year journey for me and I'm glad it is over. I too believe Linda is long-dead (more than likely at That Guy's hands, perhaps during the cross-country road trip that they apparently were on after John's disappearance). In my way of thinking, and since I knew Linda well, I believe she may have wondered why John was missing, and Crockefeller cooked up some lie with her, asking her to come with him to go find John. He then would have disposed of her somewhere along the way toward the east coast (and his knew hidden life). She could be anywhere across the midwest, never to be found. So sad; they were both so happy (finally) and secure in their life together, and this ******* ruins it for both of them. He deserves to have a terrible prison life, and die in there, alone & afraid. That is his reward for living such lies for nearly 40 years. :mad: