Rockefeller Impostor Charged with San Marino Murder Claims Innocence

A Rockefeller impostor who lived in San Marino in the 1980s said Wednesday he’s innocent of the murder charges filed against him Tuesday; meanwhile San Marino officials have begun the process of extraditing him from Massachusetts to California

By Justin Chapman, Back Bay Patch (MA), 3/17/2011

Christian Gerhartsreiter -- the man who drew national attention for claiming to be Clark Rockefeller -- told his lawyer Wednesday that he is innocent of the murder charges that were filed against him by L.A. County Sheriff's Department detectives, his lawyer Jeffrey Denner confirmed to Patch in a phone interview Wednesday.
"It was not a new conversation between us," said Denner, who is a founding partner of the Boston law firm Denner Pelligrino LLP. "But, yes, he reiterated to me today that he knows he didn't do it, and he says he's innocent."
Rockefeller pleaded insanity in 2009, but was convicted of parental kidnapping and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after he stole his daughter, Reigh, from a social worker during a supervised visit in Back Bay on July 27, 2008.
The manhunt drew national attention as authorities discovered Gerhartsreiter went by many names, and had convinced many, including his wife, that he was related to the Rockefeller family. Soon after, authorities determined him a "person of interest" in the disappearance of 27-year-old John Sohus and his wife Linda in San Marino, Calif.
The 50-year-old German national is currently serving a four-to-five year sentence in Massachusetts for kidnapping his daughter. His lawyer Denner said he expects Gerhartsreiter will be extradited to California at some point.
If convicted of the San Marino murder, Gerhartsreiter could be sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. Prosecutors are seeking $10 million in bail.
The murder charges
L.A. County Sheriff's Department officials have begun the process of extraditing him to California to  at his San Marino home in 1985, when Sohus and his wife, Linda, were renting their backhouse to Gerhartsreiter.
The couple went missing in February 1985, and it wasn't until 1994 that investigators discovered the remains of John Sohus. However, it wasn't until a couple of months ago that forensic experts were able to determine the identity of the remains.
Steve Whitmore, the LASD's press secretary, backed away from earlier reports by several news agencies that DNA evidence was involved in identifying Sohus' body. Although he told a Patch reporter Tuesday that DNA evidence was a turning point in the case, on Wednesday he told Patch, "I'm not saying DNA evidence was necessarily involved. All I can say is that the latest technology was used to identify him." (
Whitmore added that the LASD, the San Marino Police Department and the City of San Marino feel gratified that the cold case detectives never gave up. He said that they are still actively seeking the remains or whereabouts of Linda Sohus.
"This was a very difficult case," Whitmore said. "This man is a master of evasion, and he evaded law enforcement for 26 years, but we finally brought it to fruition and charged him with murder. The extradition process could take a while, but we're confident that he will be brought to justice, and prosecuted to the fullest extent that's available under the law."
Denner had no further comment on the evidence that LASD detectives and prosecutors say they have that links Gerhartsreiter to the murder.
"I don't know what the evidence is," said Denner. "When the time comes and [LASD officials] share with us what the evidence is, then we'll have a comment. I have no idea what they're talking about, whether they're testing bones, or weapons, I don't know. I could not possibly have any intelligent comment on it right now."
Denner added that after Gerhartsreiter is extradited to California, he hopes to continue on as his lawyer.
"We expect to continue to be his counsel subject to the court's approval of our pro hac vice petition," Denner said.
A man who lives at the residence on Lorain Road in San Marino where the remains were found declined to comment when approached by Patch.
"I want to thank the San Marino PD for all their hard work on this case," said Whitmore. "It's important to thank them because they've aided the investigation with their analysis and review and they've been a partner on this. The Sheriff's Department extends its gratitude to the San Marino PD itself."









A Rockefeller impostor who lived in San Marino in the 1980s said Wednesday he's innocent of the murder charges filed against him Tuesday. Meanwhile LASD officials have begun the process of extraditing him from Massachusetts to California.

By Justin Chapman, San Marino Patch, 3/16/2011

The man who goes by many aliases--including Clark Rockefeller and his San Marino identity, Christopher Chichester--told his lawyer Wednesday that he is innocent of the murder charges that have been filed against him by L.A. County Sheriff's Department detectives, his lawyer Jeffrey Denner confirmed to Patch in a phone interview Wednesday.
"It was not a new conversation between us," said Denner, who is a founding partner of the law firm Denner Pelligrino LLP in Boston. "But, yes, he reiterated to me today that he knows he didn't do it, and he says he's innocent."
The 50-year-old man's real name is Christian Gerhartsreiter. He's a German national who is currently serving a four-to-five year sentence for kidnapping his daughter during a court ordered visitation in 2008 and trying to flee the country.
LASD officials have begun the process of extraditing him to California to  at his San Marino home in 1985, when Sohus and his wife, Linda, were renting their backhouse to Gerhartsreiter.
The couple went missing in February 1985, and it wasn't until 1994 that investigators discovered the remains of John Sohus. However, it wasn't until a couple of months ago that forensic experts were able to determine the identity of the remains.
Steve Whitmore, the LASD's press secretary, backed away from earlier reports by several news agencies that DNA evidence was involved in identifying Sohus' body. Although he told a Patch reporter Tuesday that DNA evidence was a turning point in the case, on Wednesday he told Patch, "I'm not saying DNA evidence was necessarily involved. All I can say is that the latest technology was used to identify him."
Whitmore added that the LASD, the San Marino Police Department and the City of San Marino feel gratified that the cold case detectives never gave up. He said that they are still actively seeking the remains or whereabouts of Linda Sohus.
"This was a very difficult case," Whitmore said. "This man is a master of evasion, and he evaded law enforcement for 26 years, but we finally brought it to fruition and charged him with murder. The extradition process could take a while, but we're confident that he will be brought to justice, and prosecuted to the fullest extent that's available under the law."
If convicted, Gerhartsreiter could be sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. Prosecutors are seeking $10 million in bail.
Denner had no further comment on the evidence that LASD detectives and prosecutors say they have that links Gerhartsreiter to the murder.
"I don't know what the evidence is," said Denner. "When the time comes and [LASD officials] share with us what the evidence is, then we'll have a comment. I have no idea what they're talking about, whether they're testing bones, or weapons, I don't know. I could not possibly have any intelligent comment on it right now."
Denner added that he expects Gerhartsreiter will be extradited to California at some point and that he hopes to continue on as his lawyer.
"We expect to continue to be his counsel subject to the court's approval of our pro hac vice petition," said Denner.
A man who lives at the residence on Lorain Road in San Marino where the remains were found declined to comment when approached by Patch.
"I want to thank the San Marino PD for all their hard work on this case," said Whitmore. "It's important to thank them because they've aided the investigation with their analysis and review and they've been a partner on this. The Sheriff's Department extends its gratitude to the San Marino PD itself."
San Marino Patch will update this story as we get more information so check back for more details and reaction about the murder charge.