| In the style of a Hollywood epic the tale of | | | | that they rented out, but they were still |
| Mr and Mrs John Darwin had the nation on the | | | | living well beyond their means. Mr. Darwin |
| edge of their seats as it slowly began to | | | | allegedly hatched a plan to disappear and for |
| unfold. Ingredients including greed, fraud, | | | | his wife to claim the life insurance with |
| and terrible deceit that divided a family and | | | | which to pay off their debt and eventually |
| shook the town of Seaton Carew near | | | | move abroad, although Mrs Darwin disputes |
| Hartlepool have made this an absolutely | | | | some of her husband's claims. |
| intriguing story. | | | | |
| | | | Mrs. Darwin received £25,000 in life |
| It first came to the nation's attention on | | | | insurance from Unat Direct Insurance |
| Saturday 1st December 2007 when 57-year-old | | | | Management once her husband was officially |
| John Darwin walked into a West London police | | | | declared dead in 2002. Although the policy |
| station stating his belief that he was a | | | | was actually due to pay out £50,000 she |
| missing person, and that he had no memory of | | | | was given half that amount because a body was |
| the previous seven years. His sons were | | | | never found. In addition the Darwins' |
| understandably delighted to see him as they | | | | £130,000 mortgage was paid off by Norwich |
| believed he had died in a tragic canoe | | | | Union. |
| accident seven years previously. | | | | |
| | | | In early 2007 Mrs. Darwin sold her UK |
| When he was reported missing in 2000 a three | | | | properties and moved abroad after |
| day air and sea hunt was launched that | | | | transferring the proceeds from the sales to |
| ultimately cost £70,000, but all that was | | | | offshore bank accounts. It was only after |
| found was his smashed up canoe and no trace | | | | John Darwin miraculously turned up in the UK |
| of Mr. Darwin. At an inquest 13 months later, | | | | that the police tracked down his wife in |
| and despite never finding a body he was | | | | Panama. |
| officially declared dead. | | | | |
| | | | Since then there have been more twists and |
| However, since the story of his | | | | turns in this story as tales of the Darwins' |
| 'reappearance' broke it has transpired that | | | | life together unfolds. This tale will |
| shortly after going 'missing' he actually | | | | undoubtedly end up as a blockbuster film and |
| returned to the home he shared with his | | | | perhaps answer many of the questions yet |
| 55-year-old wife Anne, living in a room in | | | | unanswered, including why Mr. Darwin decided |
| the house next door that the family also | | | | to return to Britain just as the couple |
| owned. When any family or guests visited the | | | | seemed to have succeeded with their audacious |
| family home Darwin simply sneaked through a | | | | plan. |
| concealed hole in the wall between the two | | | | |
| properties into his secret hideaway. | | | | Ultimately the couple who are both in custody |
| | | | will be pursued by the insurance and mortgage |
| What was not known to anyone but themselves | | | | companies seeking repayment of the funds they |
| at the time of the "accident" was the fact | | | | paid to Mrs. Darwin, and as fresh allegations |
| that the couple were in tens of thousands of | | | | and charges emerge almost daily they face a |
| pounds of debt. They owned several properties | | | | very bleak future. |