Crimeless: "5 More Ways to Fake Your Death"

Podcast: CrimeLess
Episode Air Date: April 10, 2026
Hosts: Rory Scovel (comedian), Josh Dean (journalist & true crime podcaster)
Format: Humorous, true-crime storytelling and commentary

Episode Overview

This episode—the fourth bonus installment in the series—dives deeper into the bizarre world of people who have faked their own deaths. In classic Crimeless fashion, Rory and Josh present a countdown of the top five most outrageous (and often ridiculous) cases of fake deaths, blending historical storytelling, pop-culture wit, and plenty of tongue-in-cheek analysis. The hosts not only break down the “how” and “why,” but also explore the sometimes absurd motivations behind these escapades.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Joan of Leeds: The Runaway Nun (02:22 – 03:48)

• Story Summary:
  Joan of Leeds, an English nun in 1318, faked a fatal illness, crafted a dummy of herself, and escaped the convent life she loathed. Her peers buried the dummy, either in obliviousness or as accomplices.

• Notable Details:

  • The Archbishop of York sent a warning to keep an eye out for Joan, speculating she was “seduced by indecency” and living with a man—scandalous by medieval standards.
  • The hosts joke about the possible complicity or gullibility of the nuns and the drama worthy of a medieval soap opera.

• Quote:

  • “Her dummy was exceptionally realistic, her colleagues are really dumb, gullible, and have terrible eyesight, or they’re cool as hell and help Joan get away with this.” — Rory (02:36)

2. David Friedland: The Disappearing Senator (03:52 – 04:58)

• Story Summary:
  Former New Jersey senator David Friedland staged his own deadly scuba diving accident in 1985 while facing racketeering charges. Despite his “death,” Friedland resurfaced in the Maldives as a dive shop owner/instructor under a new name. His boldness—including posing for a postcard feeding a shark—eventually led to his arrest and nine-year prison stint.

• Notable Details:

  • Friedland’s love for scuba diving evidently eclipsed his knack for subtlety.
  • The hosts riff on the image of Friedland’s absurd postcard and ponder the fate of the friends who “couldn’t find” him underwater.

• Quote:

  • “He’d been living under the alias of Richard Smith Harley. Great choice.” — Rory (04:29)

  • “How is that not a movie?” — Josh (04:58)

3. Friedrich Gulda: The “Terrorist Pianist” (05:29 – 06:56)

• Story Summary:
  The eccentric classical/jazz pianist Friedrich Gulda faked his own death in 1999 to promote a concert. He faxed a death announcement to the press, only to reappear at a “Resurrection Concert," which sold out.

• Notable Details:

  • Gulda was infamous for naked performances and unpredictable antics.
  • The hosts banter about his reputation and the confusion around his nickname.

• Quotes:

  • “I think I’m saying that right. If you’re a listener and you know, call in, let us know. Win a pair of tickets to How to Fake Your Own Death, the live musical…” — Rory (05:30)
  • “Do you think performing nude is why they called him the terrifying penis?” — Josh (06:23)
  • “Terrifying?” — Rory (06:27)

4. Aleister Crowley: Occultist on the Run (06:56 – 08:08)

• Story Summary:
  Occultist Aleister Crowley faked his suicide in Portugal in 1930 mainly to irk his former lover. He left a melodramatic suicide note, vanished, and then enjoyed the spectacle of his own "death" in the press before reappearing weeks later.

• Notable Details:

  • Crowley’s fake suicide was a blend of attention-seeking and romantic spite.
  • His flair for drama inspired the hosts to riff on his “magic” and optometry mix-up.

• Quote:

  • “Occultist, I believe, is what you’re… — Josh (06:56)
  • “Yeah, I know, I said oculist—he’s actually an optometrist…” — Rory (06:59)
  • "His suicide note was addressed to Jaeger. 'I cannot live without you.'" — Rory (07:30)

5. Harry Gordon: The Serial Newlywed (08:08 – 09:24)

• Story Summary:
  Desperate for an insurance payout, businessman Harry Gordon faked his drowning in 2000, assumed a new identity, and started over—with a new job and even a new wife. His ruse unraveled by chance when his brother recognized him during his honeymoon, leading to his arrest.

• Notable Details:

  • Gordon’s wife in Sydney was an accomplice—all for a “dream” life working in a potato crisp warehouse.
  • Both he and his first wife ultimately did time for the scheme.

• Quote:

  • “I just want to pretend I’m dead and finally work at a potato crisp warehouse like we’ve all dreamed of since we were children.” — Rory (09:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We’ve got a top five fake deaths coming at you. Here we go. Number one through five…” — Rory (02:22)
• “If you plan to fake your own death someday, you now have plenty of ideas. But ideally you wouldn’t. People would be sad.” — Josh (09:48)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:22] – Kickoff: Top five countdown begins
• [02:24-03:48] – #1: Joan of Leeds, the fake-dead nun
• [03:52-04:58] – #2: David Friedland, scuba senator
• [05:29-06:56] – #3: Friedrich Gulda, the pianist prankster
• [06:56-08:08] – #4: Aleister Crowley, occultist suicide scam
• [08:08-09:24] – #5: Harry Gordon, honeymoon cat-astrophe
• [09:48] – Wrap-up and moral (kind of)

Tone & Style

The hosts bring irreverence and a wink-wink attitude to true-crime podcasting, focusing on strange facts, punchlines, and the often ridiculous motivations of the scammers. Rory’s one-liners, Josh’s deadpan observations, and their friendly back-and-forth keep the pace brisk and the commentary laugh-out-loud.

Conclusion

Episode 5 of Crimeless is a fast-paced, hilarious gallery of history’s weirdest death-faking escapades. From medieval nuns to theatrical pianists and crooked senators, the stories are astonishing—and the Crimeless hosts’ gleeful delivery ensures that even those not interested in “how to” guides for vanishing will be thoroughly entertained. And if you ever consider faking your own death? Don’t. People would be sad… and you’d probably get caught.