Frank C. Girardot is the pit bull crime reporter other crime reporters wish they were."
—JAMES ELLROY, author of The Black Dahlia
BECOMING CLARK ROCKEFELLER: Murder, Love, Deception, and the Con Man Behind It All delves into the life of a young immigrant entangled in a multi-generational murder investigation ensnaring some of the wealthiest Americans.
Posing as bogus aristocrat Clark Rockefeller, he duped the affluent, leaving a trail of deception and national headlines in his wake.
Yet the story would grow even more sinister. In 1985, Linda Sohus, a talented, outgoing artist, and her husband John, a computer geek with dreams of space, mysteriously vanished from their quiet San Marino, California life. But why? Were they on a secret government mission, chasing elusive dreams, or had something terrible happened to them? The police investigated while the public and media speculated. But all leads came to a dead end, and eventually, the mystery faded into the shadows.
Then, in 1994, a shocking backyard discovery reignited the case. Bones were unearthed, revealing a convoluted tale of murder, lust, and trickery. At its center, the same audacious grifter, whose real name was Christian Gerhartsreiter, who had conned his way into high society as Clark Rockefeller.
In this thrilling true crime masterpiece, tenacious investigative journalist and bestselling author Frank C. Girardot Jr. unveils this transcontinental, decades-long mystery with interviews from witnesses, court documents, and exclusive insights from the con man himself.
From the Book
Joe's father, now standing in the hole, began to pull the bag away. He peered into the shadows and saw bones. He grabbed a piece of rebar and hoisted a skull aloft.
“I found the plastic bag,” he recalled later that day. “I thought it was dog bones. The head, with some hair, was in the bag.”
Upon closer examination, Perez realized the bulldozer had unearthed a human skull. There were other bones in the bag too: A piece of shoulder; bits of spine. Two similar bags lay nearby.
Someone called the cops.
About the Author
FRANK C. GIRARDOT JR. is an accomplished author, journalist, victim advocate, and radio host. His distinguished contributions to publications like the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner and the Pasadena Star-News have earned him numerous prestigious writing awards. Widely recognized as an authority in murder investigations, serial arson cases, and high-profile mysteries, Frank is a frequent guest on crime TV shows. He enjoys playing guitar with the band Thunderheart and resides in Pasadena, California, with his wife, Sarah Favot.
