Mysterious disappearance

This is Richard Hoagland. 23 years ago, his family thought that he had gone missing! His relatives suffered and cried every day, the police searched for the man everywhere, but could not find him... Everyone even believed that he was clearly dead... But no one even suspected how this mystical disappearance would end!

They were the perfect family

And it all started great. Linda and Richard Hoagland got married about 30 years ago. They were incredibly happy together, the smile never left their faces! Those around them never tired of repeating what a beautiful couple they are!

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

Man of dreams!

Richard was a real man - it seemed that you could rely on him in any situation! He worked hard so that his family would not need anything. He was also the life of the party - always cheerful and with a great sense of humor! But if only his relatives knew who the ideal family man would actually be!

@FOUND After 23 Years: The Case of Richard Hoagland/Rachel Shannon True Crime/YouTube.com

The illusion of a happy family

Linda and Richard had two beautiful sons - Matthew and Doug. It seemed that their father loved them very much - he spent a lot of time with them and played. But all this was just an illusion... Later, Richard's sons would sue him for the crime he committed!

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

He had suspiciously large incomes

Richard's family did not need anything - they had a luxurious house, several cars, and enough savings. Life seemed simply wonderful for the family... It is difficult for many to believe that such a fairy tale is possible in real life!

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

Their life became more and more luxurious

It even got to the point that Richard bought a yacht! Only very cool businessmen can afford such a luxury, but Richard was not like that... 

These smiles won't last long

Their family often traveled to the most exotic corners of the world, not realizing that these were their last moments of family happiness. Then smiles will be replaced by grief and tears!

@FOUND After 23 Years: The Case of Richard Hoagland/Rachel Shannon True Crime/YouTube.com

His behavior began to change

Meanwhile, Richard continued the illusion of a family idyll. Their home was always filled with laughter and joy, but over time, Richard began to withdraw into himself... He spent less and less time with his family.

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

Linda sensed impending danger

Linda tried her best to spend as much time with the children as possible so that they would not notice that their father was no longer very interested in them. Linda tried to console herself with the thought that Richard was just having temporary troubles at work, but her intuition told her that the problems were much more serious.

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

False expectations that everything will fall into place

Richard continued to act a little distant and participated less in family conversations. Maybe someone threatened him? Linda scrolled through millions of questions in her head and waited for the moment when everything would be the same for them again.

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

Day X

February 10, 1993. Linda had no idea then that this day would change her life forever! She, as usual, took care of the children and household chores. And while Richard was at work, Linda was figuring out how to congratulate him on February 14th. She was picking up a gift and had no idea what a terrible “surprise” was waiting for her.

What was Richard up to?

Then something very strange happened...Richard called Linda and said that he was not feeling well and would be late for work. Strange...But why then, on the contrary, doesn’t he go home sooner if he feels bad?

Family happiness is under threat

An hour later he called again and said he would not come home to spend the night. This happened for the first time in all the years of their family life and made Linda very alarmed. Then Linda did not even suspect that this was their last photo together…

@MISSING MAN FOUND ALIVE AFTER 23 YEARS! The Case of Richard Hoagland/Bella Fiori/YouTube.com

Richard is missing…

Linda forced herself to sleep in the hope that everything would fall into place in the morning. However, the situation only got worse! Linda called Richard at work - it turned out that in the morning he didn't show up for work... Linda started to panic and called the police.

Everyone was terrified!

Linda also immediately called one of her closest people - her mother. It is she who will support Linda over the coming years, which will turn into a nightmare for their family!

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

What she saw in the closet shocked Linda

For several days after his disappearance, Richard did not show up. Having recovered a little from the shock, Linda began to look for at least some clues at home, but when she opened Richard’s closet, she became numb. All his clothes were in place! It was already very cold outside, but even Richard's coat was still there…

Things got even more confusing

Moreover, all the Richards documents were also at home... Linda was sure that Richard had been kidnapped! At that time, no one knew that there would soon be a shocking discovery - they would find Richard's car…

The child's psyche could not stand it

Her children, who were then 9 and 6 years old, who were often seen at their home by the police, began to ask questions and worry about where their father was. Linda consoled them as best she could and barely made ends meet...However, why?

@MISSING MAN FOUND ALIVE AFTER 23 YEARS! The Case of Richard Hoagland/Bella Fiori/YouTube.com

There was barely enough money for bread

The fact is that Richard did not leave his wife any savings, so Linda was forced to sell her jewelry and even clothes. Linda had no idea then that another test would soon await her.

@MISSING MAN FOUND ALIVE AFTER 23 YEARS! The Case of Richard Hoagland/Bella Fiori/YouTube.com

Will they become homeless?!

The house in which Linda lived with her children was taken out by Richard as a hypothec. The woman did not have the financial ability to pay it, she barely had enough money for food... Could she really stay on the street with her children?

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

Soon another shocking event awaited Linda!

Her missing husband's car was found near the airport. Police checked to see if anyone had purchased airline tickets under the name Richard Hoagland - and the answer was no. So Richard was still around somewhere?

@FOUND After 23 Years: The Case of Richard Hoagland/Rachel Shannon True Crime/YouTube.com

Hopeless despair

The search for Richard continued, but all in vain... A year later, something happened that no one expected... Linda was simply in despair at the madness that was happening!

It was simply impossible to believe!

One of Richard and Linda's sons just had a birthday. There were no surprises - when suddenly Linda found a greeting card from...Richard in her mailbox!

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

It would be better if this congratulation did not exist…

Linda was shocked - it turns out her husband was alive all this time! However, why didn’t he get in touch? By the way, the words in the greeting card are the last thing the sons will hear from their father.  

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

The height of cynicism

By the way, Richard included $50 in the card as a gift for his son. Questionable financial assistance, given that Linda and with children were on the verge of losing their home.

They lost their home!

Linda completely gave up - she was left alone, without money, with two children. The bank took their house for failure to pay the mortgage... What should she do now?

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

What if they are in danger?

After thinking, Linda decided that she needed to look not only for a new home but also for a new city to live in! After all, if Richard got into something dangerous, then it’s better for no one to know where Linda and her sons live. Finally, they moved from Indianapolis to McCordsville, Indiana.

@MISSING MAN FOUND ALIVE AFTER 23 YEARS! The Case of Richard Hoagland/Bella Fiori/YouTube.com

Death message

So 10 years passed. There was no further news from Richard... Therefore, after 10 years of unsuccessful searches, in 2003, he was officially declared dead. It was hard for Linda, but for the sake of her children, she tried to start a new life.

@FOUND 23 Years Later! Richard Hoagland/Kendall Rae/YouTube.com

Hope for a new happy life

Over time, Linda's life began to improve little by little - her sons grew up to be wonderful men, and she got married again, not suspecting that her first husband would soon be found…

@MISSING MAN FOUND ALIVE AFTER 23 YEARS! The Case of Richard Hoagland/Bella Fiori/YouTube.com

The opposite of Richard

This time her husband turned out to be a wonderful man who, unlike Richard, did not get involved in terrible things.

@dailymail/27 October 2016

The phone call that turned everything upside down

23 years have passed since Richard disappeared... However, one day something happened in Linda’s new happy life that no one expected! She was driving and enjoying a beautiful day when suddenly the police called her and told her shocking news!

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

The ground disappeared from under her feet…

The detective told Linda that her first husband, Richard, was alive! Moreover, he was arrested and accused of terrible things! 

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

Such stories don’t happen even in thrillers!

Where Richard disappeared for more than 20 years and what he was doing all this time shocked everyone so much that it was even reported on the news!

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

Richard deceived everyone!

By the way, Pasco County police called Richard a “selfish coward” for his deception that spanned two decades. Because the police have seen many shocking stories, but this one surpassed them all!

@FOUND 23 Years Later! Richard Hoagland/Kendall Rae/YouTube.com

The sons will want retribution

Moreover, when the already adult sons of Linda and Richard found out why their father abandoned them, they demanded almost $2 million from Richard for the crime he had committed, which they heard about.

@dailymail/27 October 2016

The remainder of his dysfunctional father is always with him

However, Richard's son Matthew still always has something with him that always reminds him of his father. He never takes it off! But why?

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

It makes sense

Matthew always wears his father's ring as a reminder of a bad example of what not to do in life! But that's not all that will be revealed about their bad father.

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

How to run away without documents?

And now the time has come to return to the fateful date when Richard, who seemed to be an ideal family man, once and for all abandoned his loving wife and two sons. In 1993, this man fled not only from his home but also from his city. But how did he do it, leaving all the documents at home?

@MISSING MAN FOUND ALIVE AFTER 23 YEARS! The Case of Richard Hoagland/Bella Fiori/YouTube.com

His scam could be the envy of the biggest criminals

Richard moved to Florida (most likely hitchhiking) where he spent the rest of his life in the town of Zephyrhills. And to live a normal life - at least to be able to get a job, Richard used someone else's documents! Did he kill a person to obtain these documents?! The terrible truth is revealed very quickly.

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

While his family was looking for him, he led a carefree life

As if nothing had happened, he got a job and started earning good money again. He did what he loved, took care of his appearance, and, forgetting about his own family, never forgot to visit the barber…

@FOUND 23 Years Later! Richard Hoagland/Kendall Rae/YouTube.com

He didn't live alone

His wife and children almost died of hunger and were left without a home, meanwhile, Richard bought a new luxurious house. Moreover, he did not live there alone…

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

Did he have an accomplice?

In 1995, 2 years after he left his family, Richard married again! His chosen one was a woman named Mary Hickman. Maybe she really knew that Richard abandoned his family and supported him in this?! Soon the couple had a son, but the family idyll quickly gave way to scandals and there were serious reasons for this.

@FOUND 23 Years Later! Richard Hoagland/Kendall Rae/YouTube.com

He was no longer Richard

Mary was sure that her husband, Terry, was hiding something because he never talked about the past and sometimes behaved strangely. Yes, Richard became Terry! He even had documents in that name. Is that really true that Richard really did something so terrible that he even had to forge his documents?!

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

Is he really capable of murder?

And here, in fact, is Terry Symansky, who was now Richard according to the documents. However, how did he steal the man's identity? Did he really kill him?

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

Perhaps the worst thing has happened…

Here's Terry Symansky's death certificate. Please note that he died in 1991. That's when Richard disappeared... Suspicious coincidence, isn't it?

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

It's a shame people let him into their house

It all started with Richard renting an apartment from Terry Symansky’s father Edward. Then nothing foreshadowed trouble - Richard seemed to everyone a calm, safe man incapable of committing a crime. How wrong everyone was!

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

Terrible death

Terry Symansky did not die a natural death...His life was truly stolen! However, it was not Richard who did this, but a boating accident in 1991. After burying the real Terry, Richard stole his death certificate to not only hide from everyone but also to pull off a scam.

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

Everyone around was deceived

Meanwhile, Richard lived quietly under the name Terry Symansky for several years. Let us remember that the fake Terry had everything he needed to be happy - a house, a new wife, and a newborn son. However, this did not last long and Richard's deception unexpectedly came to light!

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

Call the police immediately!

The fact is that one of the nephews of the real Terry Symansky began to study his ancestry and accidentally found in the databases that his late uncle had recently married and received a pilot's license! And this is 2 years after death! Naturally, the guy immediately called the police to understand what was going on.

@FOUND After 23 Years: The Case of Richard Hoagland/Rachel Shannon True Crime/YouTube.com

Paying for a crime

Naturally, the police immediately found the fake Terry Symansky, according to whose documents Richard lived. He was convicted and spent several years in prison for identity theft. But the main question remained open. Why did Richard leave his family 23 years ago?

For the sake of his salvation, he was ready to betray his family!

It turned out that Richard decided to run away from home, because of his fault there was a huge embezzlement at work, after which he decided to run away so as not to bear responsibility for it.

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com

He will pay for everything!

Richard's sons did not forgive their father for his betrayal and filed a lawsuit against him - now Richard must pay them $1.86 million in alimony for the time they grew up without their father. And of course, Richard will never see his grandchildren! Stories like this once again prove that karma exists and it works!

@How Missing Man's Family Finds Him Alive 23 Years Later/ABC News/YouTube.com