The only ones I can think of that were legit were Susan Laferte, but I tend to classify that as more of a "wanted" or "unexplained death", and Sarah Digennaro (I think UM had that as Sci-Med). Seems like all the rest were scams and hoaxes or people that were involved in criminal dealings.

Kyra Cook.

Susan Kennedy.

Pierre April.

Was GiGi wanted for anything? I can't recall.

The only one I could think of that seemed legitimate was Kyra Cook.

Pat Carlton
The fish guy

I only faintly remember one about a teenage girl who was supposed to take a test at school or something and all of the sudden she starting telling her mother that she had no idea who she was - and this girl was even tested by doctors who said there should be no reason why she "can't" remember. I don't know the truth, but it seemed like a rotten thing to do if she was faking, her mother literally had tears in her eyes during the interview.

I only faintly remember one about a teenage girl who was supposed to take a test at school or something and all of the sudden she starting telling her mother that she had no idea who she was - and this girl was even tested by doctors who said there should be no reason why she "can't" remember. I don't know the truth, but it seemed like a rotten thing to do if she was faking, her mother literally had tears in her eyes during the interview.

Sarah Powell. I definitely think she's faking.

Pat Carlton
The fish guy
I think even the fish guy is debatable.

I think even the fish guy is debatable.

Yeah, I just went back and looked, I think it may have been fake as well.

Patricia Carlton was real though.

And didn't Deloris Brooks have memory issues and didn't recognize her music teacher when she saw her?

the guy who got arrested

The fish guy's story was sad. The wife spent so much time finding him only for locating him and then the two ended up separating.

I think even the fish guy is debatable.

Just wondering--why is it debatable?

Also, I am iffy about whether "Tyler"/Paul Beal faked his amnesia since it seems like he had the chance to return the frozen food he stole, and it was only a petty theft conviction even when he was found. I'd have to wonder why somebody would go to such great lengths to avoid petty charges, especially when it seems like he may not have been charged at all as long as he got the frozen food back to Boise on time. Plus, if he was avoiding charges, why did he agree to go on UM before the statute of limitations expired?

Just wondering--why is it debatable?

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=195923

Also, I am iffy about whether "Tyler"/Paul Beal faked his amnesia since it seems like he had the chance to return the frozen food he stole, and it was only a petty theft conviction even when he was found. I'd have to wonder why somebody would go to such great lengths to avoid petty charges, especially when it seems like he may not have been charged at all as long as he got the frozen food back to Boise on time. Plus, if he was avoiding charges, why did he agree to go on UM before the statute of limitations expired?

Personally I was always skeptical of the "Tyler" story because of the nature of the things that "came back" to him while he was supposedly experiencing his amnesia. Not a single one of the things theorized about his background (i.e., he had served in the military, and/or worked on or flew fighter aircraft) had any basis in reality. People do weird things, I suppose.

I did absolutely believe Pierre April, Kyra Cook, the story about Pat Carlton, and of course Susan Laferte, though.

Plus, if he was avoiding charges, why did he agree to go on UM before the statute of limitations expired?

He lost control of his story... I assume others knew that his identity could be discovered if he went on UM, they submitted it and he never had a good or convincing reason to refuse. That or he really thought that he could get away with the amnesia story and could go back to his old life without facing charges.

I thought the fish guy possibly seemed legit. He did actually get robbed and have a head injury, didn't he?

I thought the fish guy possibly seemed legit. He did actually get robbed and have a head injury, didn't he?


Jeez. I've done more flip flops on the fish guy in this thread than most cobblers. I've thought about it more and I tend to believe there was at least some memory loss.

I'm split on Tyler. He seemed really convincing, especially when dealing with telling his mom he didn't remember her.

Fish guy's beard trimmings were found in his vehicle after he disappeared. He was altering his appearance, IMO, because he wanted out of a rushed marriage without hurting his wife's feelings head-on.

He lost control of his story... I assume others knew that his identity could be discovered if he went on UM, they submitted it and he never had a good or convincing reason to refuse. That or he really thought that he could get away with the amnesia story and could go back to his old life without facing charges.

I've always felt that he just got "stuck" in his new life as "Tyler" (i.e., he couldn't go anywhere or do much of anything). At the end of the segment, he even said as much...he didn't have a social security number, so he couldn't get a job, and he was apparently receiving some kind of government assistance that was about to run out. Not only that, but going on UM still gives him a somewhat plausible denial. Even if identified post-UM, he could still continue the amnesia ruse, which is exactly what he did.

IMO, it would be easy to spot the fake amnesia cases. Whatever ones didn't immediately seek help (authorities, hospital, etc.) would seem to be "fake". Especially the ones that were spotted (or sought help) several thousand miles away from where they were last seen. Think about it, if you just suddenly lost your memory and had zero clue as to who you were, wouldn't the first place you would go would be to a hospital or police station? And why would you traverse across the country if you didn't know who you were?

The amount of times in a disappearance case that a family member or friend thinks the missing person has amnesia and walking around not knowing who they are must be in the 100's during the run of Unsolved Mysteries.

IMO, it would be easy to spot the fake amnesia cases. Whatever ones didn't immediately seek help (authorities, hospital, etc.) would seem to be "fake". Especially the ones that were spotted (or sought help) several thousand miles away from where they were last seen. Think about it, if you just suddenly lost your memory and had zero clue as to who you were, wouldn't the first place you would go would be to a hospital or police station? And why would you traverse across the country if you didn't know who you were?

One of the reasons 'fish guy' is obviously a hoax is because he had just started a whole new life where he 'just happened' to end up.

Also, if you read the article from the time of his discovery (in the thread on him linked above) - he only claimed he was attacked and lost his memory after he saw his wife propose that theory on UM.

One of the reasons 'fish guy' is obviously a hoax is because he had just started a whole new life where he 'just happened' to end up.

Also, if you read the article from the time of his discovery (in the thread on him linked above) - he only claimed he was attacked and lost his memory after he saw his wife propose that theory on UM.

IIRC, on the original broadcast of the segment (before the update), they mentioned finding his broken eyeglasses and other items from him near a hotel, which is why the theory that he was attacked and robbed was brought up. But his wife had no clue as to why he would have been at the hotel in the first place, which makes his story that much more unbelievable, IMO.

Kyra Cook, Pierre April, and Sarah Digenarro, I'd say. None of them really gained much of anything from lying.

I have been chuckling over the new moniker "Fish Guy" for the last two days! :lol:

I have been chuckling over the new moniker "Fish Guy" for the last two days! :lol:

What can I say, I'm terrible with names and was too lazy to google. He is henceforth known as "the fish guy" :lol:

Was GiGi wanted for anything? I can't recall.

I actually just saw this case for the first time. Info on this case is very scarce, but I did happen across an article from near her hometown. It was a pay newspaper site so I couldn't read it, but the headline said "Parents reject amnesia victim".

Thought it was interesting.

I used to question all of these cases. Recently I saw a kid on the news that has total amnesia after a sports concussion and it was stunning.

What about that girl Luxy? (Pronounced Lucy). The one who was deaf and no one knew where she came from or who she was. Does that count as amnesia? I thought I read on here she was faking it after she reacted to a popping noise

What about that girl Luxy? (Pronounced Lucy). The one who was deaf and no one knew where she came from or who she was. Does that count as amnesia? I thought I read on here she was faking it after she reacted to a popping noise

Yep, the UM wiki says that they later found out she could hear. Apparently she has a lot of problems tho, mental issues or drugs or maybe both?

Luxci left the shelter where she was staying, and was found in December of 1993. She apparently had meth with her and it was later determined that she actually could hear, but soon afterwards, she vanished again.

As of May 1, 2014, Luxi is currently homeless and living in Santa Paula, California. She communicates with grunts and hand gestures and can often be seen walking around town with a stroller full of junk.

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

Yep, the UM wiki says that they later found out she could hear. Apparently she has a lot of problems tho, mental issues or drugs or maybe both?

Luxci left the shelter where she was staying, and was found in December of 1993. She apparently had meth with her and it was later determined that she actually could hear, but soon afterwards, she vanished again.

As of May 1, 2014, Luxi is currently homeless and living in Santa Paula, California. She communicates with grunts and hand gestures and can often be seen walking around town with a stroller full of junk.

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

I remember seeing this one. Her name is the Basque spelling of Lucy. I remembered thinking that she may have come from northeastern CA, northern Nevada or southern ID. There were Basque settlements in those areas and many people of Basque origin are still in that part of the country.

I'm saddened to hear that she is living on the streets.

I'm going to go out on a whim and say that "Gigi" was not a real amnesia case, just someone who had a dispute with her parents and who simply picked up to start a new life. For reasons unknown, she claimed amnesia. Probably because she didn't want to be found. I came across this article: http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1995/Amnesia-Patient-Identified-But-Problems-Still-Abound/id-5a16b112b1c4d91884997fe1c997b3a2

It talks about how "Gigi" was diagnosed as schizophrenic at age 18, and how her parents did not get along with her. Her father is quoted in the article saying, "I'm not going to spend the money to go down there if she does not remember us. She is of legal age, and I don't know if I want to bring her home when there are such emotional problems." Seems to me he didn't believe the amnesia angle either.

Another one that comes to mind is Selena Edon.

I'm going to go out on a whim and say that "Gigi" was not a real amnesia case, just someone who had a dispute with her parents and who simply picked up to start a new life. For reasons unknown, she claimed amnesia. Probably because she didn't want to be found. I came across this article: http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1995/Amnesia-Patient-Identified-But-Problems-Still-Abound/id-5a16b112b1c4d91884997fe1c997b3a2

It talks about how "Gigi" was diagnosed as schizophrenic at age 18, and how her parents did not get along with her. Her father is quoted in the article saying, "I'm not going to spend the money to go down there if she does not remember us. She is of legal age, and I don't know if I want to bring her home when there are such emotional problems." Seems to me he didn't believe the amnesia angle either.

Interesting. I don't remember much about this case, but I do remember seeing it toward the end of the run of the show maybe in 1995 or thereabouts. Does anyone have a precise airdate?

Just thought of another one that likely isn't a hoax...Nancy Drake. Though her recollections are somewhat suspect.

Interesting. I don't remember much about this case, but I do remember seeing it toward the end of the run of the show maybe in 1995 or thereabouts. Does anyone have a precise airdate?

UM wiki says August in 1995. Which is right because the segment mentions how she's been living with amnesia for 6 months since she sought help, which was in February of 1995.

It would be interesting to know what happened to Gigi in the 20 years since that article.

If that is her parents response it is little wonder she has issues-oh my mentally ill daughter is going to be wandering around the streets living rough where she could be taken advantage of by anybody & possibly raped & murdered. But it is just too much bother to go there & see what I can do. Can't be bothered to deal with her issues. Hope she recovered & had nothing to do with them.

It would be interesting to know what happened to Gigi in the 20 years since that article.

If that is her parents response it is little wonder she has issues-oh my mentally ill daughter is going to be wandering around the streets living rough where she could be taken advantage of by anybody & possibly raped & murdered. But it is just too much bother to go there & see what I can do. Can't be bothered to deal with her issues. Hope she recovered & had nothing to do with them.

I got the impression that the parents knew she took off to get away from them, and figured that the amnesia was just her wanting to create a new identity and distance herself from them.

Another one that comes to mind is Selena Edon.

I don't consider her to be in the same category because she had suffered brain damage. Her cognitive abilities were permanently impaired.

Looking back at UM it is clear that the 1990s was the last era in which you could get away (at least temporarily) with claiming you had amnesia.

I have more reason to believe Paul Beal than the fish guy. Paul Beal had no reason to go to such great lengths for a small criminal charge. The fish guy, however, probably hated what he was doing and just left. He later returned when it got too boring.

Any more information on Gigi?

The amount of times in a disappearance case that a family member or friend thinks the missing person has amnesia and walking around not knowing who they are must be in the 100's during the run of Unsolved Mysteries.

I remember only the case of the young man from Oregon (Matt?) who was robbed at an ATM in L. A. People at a homeless shelter had his friends absolutely convinced he had been in there to eat when in fact he was killed the night he went missing! Also families such as those of Johnny Gosch and Jacob Wetterling who believe their relatives are alive but have been terrorized into not making contact.

Amnesia cases I remember: Fish guy (yep, that's his name now), I thought was real but there seem good indications he was faking. When his wife found him she said he was a shell of his former self. This could have been an act.

The guy who remembered flashes such as being in the shower, and a kid calling him about having an accident or something at camp--then it turned out he was wanted for embezzling--was he the adding machine guy?

Pierre Aprile--what was that about? Also there were people who just plain suffered nervous breakdowns such as the lady who ran off a cliff at night during a panic attack, the "White Sands" case, and the rock star who was working on facial recognition technology.

The Boise frozen food guy--was he the same one who was seen out in the wilderness banging rocks together, or did the rock-banger disappear entirely?

The woman from Canada who had photos in her wallet she hoped were nieces and nephews but turned out to be her own children. Was she wanted for anything? Did they know what caused her to lose her memory?

The black girl who fled her family with a shady guy following a head injury. Was she ever found and what came of it?

Amnesia cases I remember: Fish guy (yep, that's his name now), I thought was real but there seem good indications he was faking. When his wife found him she said he was a shell of his former self. This could have been an act.

Craig Williamson. :)

When I was younger, I believed both him and Paul Beals. Unfortunately, I've become jaded and both think they were faking it.

Craig Williamson. :)

When I was younger, I believed both him and Paul Beals. Unfortunately, I've become jaded and both think they were faking it.

I thought we all agreed to refer to him as Fish Guy from here on out! :p

And I too thought Paul was legit, because in the syndicated rerun I saw on Lifetime, they edited out him getting arrested and just showed his reunion with his mother. The Spike rerun did this too, but did have Farina mention he was wanted for theft and was arrested shortly after coming forward. On a totally unrelated note with regards to Paul, his ex-wife PM'ed me years ago and told me there was a "very good chance" he faked it, but that she wasn't 100% sure.

I really believed Adding Machine Guy and Fish Guy when they first aired. At this point, though, I'm not so sure.

It's kind of ironic that Mrs. Fish Guy was looking in the Pacific Northwest while Fish Guy was on the other side of the country. Unless he knew that's where she was looking...

I really believed Adding Machine Guy and Fish Guy when they first aired. At this point, though, I'm not so sure.

It's kind of ironic that Mrs. Fish Guy was looking in the Pacific Northwest while Fish Guy was on the other side of the country. Unless he knew that's where she was looking...

His car was also found abandoned with beard trimmings in it. I also think his credit card was being used traveling south towards the Texas area. All signs that he was traveling the country while trying to change his appearance.

I've always thought fish guy was faking it. Figured he was trying to get away from his wife or running from something and wanted a new life. I don't remember all the details but generally did not believe him.

In the show's early years there was a story about an older black man who went missing. His family found his vehicle and it appeared he was trying to write down/ recall a loved one's phone number. An update stated a man closely matching his description was located but gone by the time authorities arrived. Was he ever found? Was it a hoax on his part?

In the show's early years there was a story about an older black man who went missing. His family found his vehicle and it appeared he was trying to write down/ recall a loved one's phone number. An update stated a man closely matching his description was located but gone by the time authorities arrived. Was he ever found? Was it a hoax on his part?

That would be Rogest Cain. There were actually at least two instances where he was believed to be located (one in Los Angeles - the city of his disappearance, and one all the way in Topeka, Kansas), but he vanished both times before they could get to him. Sadly, he was never found and he's been missing for 30 years at this point. He would be 91 today and was declared legally dead in 1995. I don't believe it was a hoax, I believed he suffered a sudden medical condition and developed amnesia. A mechanic who repaired his car said he was staggering and his speech was slurred.

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/c/cain_rogest.html

This is not to be confused with another elderly black man who disappeared around the same time frame -- George Owens from Nashville, Tennessee. He too appears to have suffered a sudden bout of amnesia and has never been found. He would be 110 or so at this point and is almost certainly deceased now.

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/o/owens_george.html

Thank you for that info in the links wiseguy! I love Charleyproject, is a great website.

I do not believe Sarah Powell's story at all. There was one with the girl who drowned at a swimming lesson, she seemed legit. There was also the little girl Christina in a wheelchair and she just one day came out of her coma... sorry been a long time i'm a little rusty lol

If she didn't have a stroke, the cynic in me would think that Sarah DeGenarro was suffering from some sort of midlife crisis and faking the amnesia. I don't think I ever saw this one before (or maybe I just skipped it since it was sort of a sci-med segment), but after seeing it, it's definitely a believable amnesia case. Here's (http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-03-13/features/1991072009_1_unsolved-mysteries-degennaro-buzzard) an article from a local paper that goes into some details about the filming of the segment and some background information.

If she didn't have a stroke, the cynic in me would think that Sarah DeGenarro was suffering from some sort of midlife crisis and faking the amnesia. I don't think I ever saw this one before (or maybe I just skipped it since it was sort of a sci-med segment), but after seeing it, it's definitely a believable amnesia case. Here's (http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-03-13/features/1991072009_1_unsolved-mysteries-degennaro-buzzard) an article from a local paper that goes into some details about the filming of the segment and some background information.

This is the first one I thought of for this thread as well. This stands out as believable specifically because of the obvious medical cause.

Pierre Aprile is the only male amnesia case subject that I thought was legitimate. He didn't seem out for attention or money, and he wasn't wanted for a crime.

I too think Fish Guy was faking his disappearance. Didn't he and new wife get married a few weeks after meeting? Maybe he was like, look she is a nice lady but I have changed my mind. Just the fact that they parted at the end makes me lean towards that conclusion. Paul Beal? Totally faking it - never believed him. Child support, missing truck - yep he was avoiding responsibility.

I love that we're still calling him Fish Guy.

If she didn't have a stroke, the cynic in me would think that Sarah DeGenarro was suffering from some sort of midlife crisis and faking the amnesia. I don't think I ever saw this one before (or maybe I just skipped it since it was sort of a sci-med segment), but after seeing it, it's definitely a believable amnesia case. Here's (http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-03-13/features/1991072009_1_unsolved-mysteries-degennaro-buzzard) an article from a local paper that goes into some details about the filming of the segment and some background information.

This one fascinated me because it was a contiguous chunk of her memories that were lost. She woke up in the mid 1970s thinking it was still 1960, as if she had slept the past 15-16 years.. It seems like when people lose memory, they either lose all of it and can't remember their own name or their family members, or they lose pieces of their memory here and there.

Hello. I am Sarah DiGennaro's grandaughter. I happened upon this article googling my grandmother for fun looking for her unsolved mysteries case. She has recently passed on June 10th, 2018 at 81yo. I remember this episode airing when I was 3yo. I can assure you her trauma was legit and the family has suffered the effects of it for many years all the way up through to her final days. Her suffering was real and it effected her life everyday as well as everybody around her. I remember my mom telling me not to bring up when she would act strange while I was around her. There was even a study done at Hopkins on her to try and figure ot out. I hope this clears things up a bit for those curious enough.❤

I hate Fish Guy... why not just be a man and tell your wife that you want an annulment...

Hello. I am Sarah DiGennaro's grandaughter. I happened upon this article googling my grandmother for fun looking for her unsolved mysteries case. She has recently passed on June 10th, 2018 at 81yo. I remember this episode airing when I was 3yo. I can assure you her trauma was legit and the family has suffered the effects of it for many years all the way up through to her final days. Her suffering was real and it effected her life everyday as well as everybody around her. I remember my mom telling me not to bring up when she would act strange while I was around her. There was even a study done at Hopkins on her to try and figure ot out. I hope this clears things up a bit for those curious enough.❤
Thank you for posting! I'm very sorry to hear of your grandmother's passing. I was always fascinated by the segment made on her case. I can't imagine what she must have gone through with those memory gaps. Did anything come of the Hopkins study?

How can I remember that if I have amnesia?

I hate Fish Guy... why not just be a man and tell your wife that you want an annulment...

Me too. She seemed like such a sweet lady who deserved so much better. Even a Dear John would have been better than running away and claiming Amnesia.

It was so obvious that Gigi was a fraud. You could tell by her interview.

I hate Fish Guy... why not just be a man and tell your wife that you want an annulment...
Just saw this case again. Unfortunately his cowadly behavior is quite common today and that's why I believe he is full of %$#, even moreso that Gigi or Arthur Paul Beal. I had someone do something similar (avoiding me, lying repeatedly then played dumb when I called him out) and when I gave him an opportunity to just be honest and make a clean break he just doubled down on the lies.

Like someone has already asked, why couldn't he just have asked for an annulment or divorce and more importantly why did he willingly agree to marry someone after just a month?

Just saw this case again. Unfortunately his cowadly behavior is quite common today and that's why I believe he is full of %$#, even moreso that Gigi or Arthur Paul Beal. I had someone do something similar (avoiding me, lying repeatedly then played dumb when I called him out) and when I gave him an opportunity to just be honest and make a clean break he just doubled down on the lies.

Like someone has already asked, why couldn't he just have asked for an annulment or divorce and more importantly why did he willingly agree to marry someone after just a month?

I'm willing to give him a little slack initially, as it's possible he had a mental breakdown of some kind (like panic attacks or severe anxiety). I think he realized this whole fish farm (with a new, exotic fish called "Tilapia" :lol:) wasn't going to make money like he thought and possibly he decided he didn't want to do this anymore and didn't know how to break to his wife.

However, I agree that eventually he should have come clean with his wife. She actually seemed like she would be very understanding. So while the original psychosis may not have been intentional, I do believe he took steps to cover it up based on what investigators said.

I feel horrible for his wife because she seems very down-to-earth and she truly loved Craig. She didn't deserve what he put her through.

To answer the question given about Sarah DiGennaro, I am unsure about the Hopkins study. Nobody talks about it. Grandma never really talked about anything having to do with what happened around me nor does my mom. Grandmom is a sensitive subject, even when she was alive. The UM wiki page has a few details wrong that I've tried to correct. The location is Dundalk, MD and her daughters name is Kelly, not Kerry.

To echo some of the early posters on this thread, I definitely think the Kyra Cook (UM Special #2) amnesia case was legitimate. She was the young woman who had a bump on her head & couldn't remember much.

I take any amnesia cases with a grain of salt. I'm not saying it doesn't happen but I think most of them are fakers, especially if there is no logical explanation for it. I had a professor in college claim amnesia and not long afterward, it was discovered he screwed the school out of over a million dollars. How convenient!