I always wondered if some ex-spooks faked their own “mystery deaths” to achieve a bit of immortal flare.
How many died in various canoeing or sailing accidents on the Chesapeake Bay? Accidents, murder or suicide? No big deal, I just wonder. Why just blow your brains out or hang yourself? Set up a mystery.
Remember the census worker who hanged himself to make it appear to be a “militia lynching?” It was an insurance job, to benefit an heir. So similar things do happen.
He allegedly told someone his briefcase was stolen. I suppose a really angry neighbor might want to snatch a briefcase if he thought there was something in it that would work against him in in a lawsuit over the property dispute.
But then recall that O'Neil guy with the FBI who left his briefcase unattended or misplaced his briefcase in Tampa? Supposedly the thing contained info relating to aircraft security. He was transferred to the NY FBI office and ended up getting reported as killed in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.