He was the most gifted forger America had ever produced, and almost no one knew it. In the nineteen eighties, a soft-spoken young dealer in Salt Lake City began discovering documents that should not have existed, lost letters, and relics that rewrote the founding story of a major American religion. The discoveries were stunning, and they kept coming. Collectors handed him fortunes. Renowned historians staked their reputations defending him. The FBI examined his work and found nothing wrong. Even the leaders of the Church he was selling to, men their followers believed could see through any deception, looked at what he made and saw genuine history.
But every lie has a weight, and his were piling up faster than he could carry them. Behind the discoveries was a man drowning in debt, selling things that did not exist, running a scheme that only worked as long as no one looked too closely. And one careful man was about to look closely.
Then, on an ordinary October morning, two pipe bombs tore through the city, and a forgery case became a murder case. This is the story of how he did it, who paid the price, and the single overlooked detail that finally cracked the whole thing open. Listen to the end. What undid him is not what you would guess.
Chronicles of Deceit tells the true stories of history's greatest hoaxes, frauds, and con artists, one episode at a time. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show so you never miss a story, and leave a rating if you have a moment. It genuinely helps new listeners find us. Have a hoax or fraud you want covered? Send it our way. Written, produced, and narrated for Chronicles of Deceit.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
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