Bail Set at $50M for 'Rockefeller'

German of many names in jail on kidnap charge, linked to other crimes
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Sep 29, 2008 12:31 PM CDT
Bail Set at $50M for 'Rockefeller'
The man who calls himself Clark Rockefeller is seen during his arraignment on kidnapping charges today in Boston.    (AP Photo)

The man who calls himself Clark Rockefeller—a German citizen whose twisted life of multiple aliases unraveled after he was charged with kidnapping his 7-year-old daughter—was awarded bail today at a sum befitting a true Rockefeller. A Massachusetts judge set bail at $50 million for the man authorities say is Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, who has been living under fake identities since coming to the US in 1978.

Rockefeller/Gerhartsreiter has also has been identified as a "person of interest" in the 1985 disappearance of a California couple. His attorney concedes that his client has lied about his roots, but says the kidnapping charges are baseless, because both Rockefeller's marriage and custody agreement were invalid. "Sure he told some tall tales," said the attorney. "A lot of people tell tall tales. That's not a crime." (More Clark Rockefeller stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X