The Strange Case of Larry Bader and Fritz Johnson
The Disappearance
Larry Bader, a salesman from Ohio, vanished on a fishing trip on Lake Erie on May 15, 1957, amid approaching storms. He was heavily in debt and his wife was expecting their fourth child. His disappearance was treated as suspicious.
Three years later, he was declared dead, and his wife received a life insurance payout.
A New Life in Omaha
Four days after Bader's disappearance, a man identifying himself as Fritz Johnson appeared in Omaha, Nebraska. Johnson became a local celebrity after sitting on a flagpole for a month, a popular craze of the early 20th century. He became a radio announcer and later a television presenter.
The Medical Twist
In 1964, a cancerous tumor was discovered behind Johnson's left eye. After surgical removal, he began wearing an eyepatch.
The Revelation
In 1965, while participating in an archery event in Chicago, a young woman approached Johnson and asked if he was her uncle Larry Bader, who had disappeared seven years earlier. Johnson denied it, agreeing to a fingerprint test. The test confirmed that Johnson was Bader.
The Psychological Verdict
A team of psychologists analyzed Johnson for ten days and concluded he was not faking his identity but suffering from amnesia. Doctors believed the tumor near his brain was a contributing factor.
The Aftermath
The revelation led to the repayment of the life insurance payout and rendered two marriages null and void, as both Johnson and Bader's widow had remarried.
The Unanswered Question
Skeptics questioned whether Johnson knew he was Bader all along. The mystery remained unresolved. The following year, the tumor returned, and Johnson died soon after.