The Canoe Man: The Unbelievable Fake Death of John Darwin

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February 10, 2026 • 49 mins

John Darwin, a prison officer from the UK, vanishes after a morning kayak trip, leaving behind a shattered canoe and a grieving family. After he’s declared legally dead, his wife Anne collects a £250,000 life insurance payout. But the story is far from over. Five years later, John walks into a police station claiming amnesia, unraveling a web of deceit that includes a secret passage, a new life in Panama, and a single photograph that exposed one of the most audacious fake-death scams in modern history. Thank you to this week's sponsors! Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/moms. Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/vwn13ren #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Direct deposit and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Watch on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}The Canoe Man: The Unbelievable Fake Death of John Darwin