I'm afraid I only have the barest of details. Unexplained death or wanted case, aired around 1989/90. I mostly remember it was incredibly convoluted, something about a guy who faked his death by killing another guy and putting the body in his house so everyone would think it was him. At first the cops fell for it but then eventually learned the truth. I seem to remember the dead guy was a bookkeeper from Hollywood(?). Anyone know this case?

Is it Dan Tondervald?
http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Dan_Tondervald

Thanks for replying. No thats not it: I seem to remember the men involved were young. In their 20's or 30's.

This definitely doesn't involve a bookkeeper from Hollywood, but it's the first case that comes to mind when I think of a faked death on UM.

Clarence Roberts

http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Clarence_and_Geneve_Roberts

It definitely wasn't from 1970, it happened around the time the story was aired. Another thing I recall was that they showed the victim's actual dead body. His face and everything! There didn't appear to be a mark on him, it looked like he'd died of natural causes.

The only Unsolved Mysteries episodes I remember them ever showing a decedent was the Cindy James case (they briefly showed her dead body in the segment when a news crew caught it on tape) and Jasper Watkins (they showed a picture taken at the morgue of his face in hopes of someone recognizing him). I also think they briefly showed Jeffrey Digman's body on his segment but I'm not 100% sure.

None of their stories match the one you're describing though. Are you sure this was an Unsolved Mysteries episode?

I'm afraid I only have the barest of details. Unexplained death or wanted case, aired around 1989/90. I mostly remember it was incredibly convoluted, something about a guy who faked his death by killing another guy and putting the body in his house so everyone would think it was him. At first the cops fell for it but then eventually learned the truth. I seem to remember the dead guy was a bookkeeper from Hollywood(?). Anyone know this case?

The closest thing that I can think of is Henry Ellis Greene, although Greene's body was found in a doctor's office. The murder occurred in April 1988. When the segment first aired in 1989, John Hawkins was wanted in connection with the homicide; he was finally caught in 1991.

http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/John_Hawkins

I remember a case that was a murder/insurance scam, about two people who used a person to kill, and collected on the insurance. One was a dentist I think ? They made it look like a heart attack. Both did get caught for the murder / insurance scam. Sorry I don't recall their names.

Oops, I should have checked the link that Kane gave before I posted , that was the case .

The closest thing that I can think of is Henry Ellis Greene, although Greene's body was found in a doctor's office. The murder occurred in April 1988. When the segment first aired in 1989, John Hawkins was wanted in connection with the homicide; he was finally caught in 1991.

http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/John_Hawkins

I was just thinking it was this one too

yea the henry ellis greene case sounds like the one I saw. Does anyone know if its on video anywhere?

I'm afraid I only have the barest of details. Unexplained death or wanted case, aired around 1989/90. I mostly remember it was incredibly convoluted, something about a guy who faked his death by killing another guy and putting the body in his house so everyone would think it was him. At first the cops fell for it but then eventually learned the truth. I seem to remember the dead guy was a bookkeeper from Hollywood(?). Anyone know this case?

that case was Dan Tondervald