He Was Declared Dead – Then Reappeared with a New Name: The Lawrence Bader Mystery

Imagine your everyday life suddenly taking a turn so bizarre it feels like it’s straight out of a mystery novel.

That’s precisely what happened to Larry Bader.

This is the story of a well-respected family man who vanished without a trace, only to appear years later with a completely new identity.

Get ready because this story gets strange real quick.

Who Was Larry Bader?

Lawrence Joseph Bader, born to a dentist father on December 2, 1926, led a pretty standard life.

His early years were unremarkable, typical of many American families back then.

He joined the Navy in 1944, a common path for many young men during that time, and this experience likely shaped his character and discipline.

After his service, Larry attended the University of Akron for a semester and met his future wife, Mary Lou Knapp.

Their relationship blossomed quickly, leading to their marriage on April 19, 1952.

The couple settled in the pleasant neighborhood of Akron, Ohio, a community known for its friendly atmosphere and strong family values.

Larry’s life seemed to be on a steady course.

They had three kids, expecting a fourth, making their expanding family a classic example of the American dream.

Larry was passionate about his family and had a particular love for archery.

This hobby gave him a sense of focus and relaxation amid the bustling responsibilities of family life.

Larry’s Disappearance

On the morning of May 15, 1957, Larry informed Mary Lou about a business trip he planned to take.

However, he mentioned that he might go fishing afterward, leaving his intentions unclear with a puzzling remark, “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.”

This casual comment, maybe a playful tease about spontaneity, would later turn much darker.

After caring for some financial matters, paying bills, including a life insurance bill, and cashing a $400 check in Cleveland, Larry rented a boat from Eddie’s Boat House.

Despite warnings of an impending storm from the owner of the boat house and the coast guard, Larry set off into Lake Erie.

A few hours later, the predicted storm hit with full force, and Larry did not return.

Concerned, Lawrence Cotleur, the man who had equipped Larry’s boat, promptly notified the Coast Guard.

The following morning, authorities discovered the boat adrift five miles from the boatyard.

It was undamaged except for a scratch and a bent propeller, but unsettlingly, Larry was nowhere to be found.

His suitcase and one oar were missing, adding to the mystery.

The search for Larry was exhaustive, lasting over two months.

However, as hope dwindled, he was declared legally dead in 1960, leaving his family to grapple with grief and unanswered questions.

The Emergence of Fritz Johnson

The story takes an astonishing turn just days after Larry’s disappearance.

Between May 18 and May 20, 1957, three days after Lawrence disappeared in Ohio, a man named John “Fritz” Johnson appeared at the Roundtable Bar in Omaha, Nebraska, looking for employment.

As he introduced himself, Fritz claimed he had recently been discharged from the Navy due to a bad back.

His outgoing and charming personality quickly made him a popular figure as a bartender.

His new life in Omaha was characterized by quirks and a knack for putting on a show.

Fritz’s lifestyle in Omaha was anything but ordinary.

He drove a hearse that he had converted into a mobile bar, with pillows and all the accessories for a makeshift party.

His reputation grew further as he hosted gatherings in his home that he had furnished with pillows instead of furniture.

Fritz became known for fundraising, including sitting atop a flagpole for 30 days with martinis sent to him, capturing the local community’s attention and admiration.

Initially, Fritz claimed he would never marry, adding to his mysterious allure.

However, in 1961, he wed Nancy Zimmer, with whom he had a daughter.

He also adopted Nancy’s daughter from a previous relationship, cementing his role as a family man in this new life.

Fritz displayed a keen interest in archery, much like Larry, and even went on to compete in archery competitions.

His popularity soared, leading to a job in television, which he embraced with his characteristic enthusiasm.

In 1964, Fritz faced a personal health crisis when he developed a cancerous tumor, resulting in the loss of one eye. He adopted an eye patch, which became a part of his distinctive appearance.

Is This My Uncle Larry?

The true twist in this tale of dual identities came in February 1965.

During an archery show, a former neighbor of Larry Bader spotted Fritz and thought he looked just like Larry Bader.

Unable to shake the resemblance, the neighbor informed Larry’s niece, Suzanne Peike.

Suzanne went to the archery show and confronted Fritz, asking, “Pardon me, but aren’t you my uncle Larry Bader, who disappeared seven years ago?”

Fritz denied the claim, maintaining his identity as John Fritz Johnson, but agreed to have fingerprinting done to show that he was indeed Fritz and not Larry Bader.

However, the fingerprint analysis clearly showed that he and Larry Bader were actually the same person.

The Dilemma of Dual Lives

Larry Bader’s return as Fritz Johnson presented many challenges and raised numerous questions.

Fritz, now revealed to be Larry Bader, insisted that he had no recollection of his previous life, including his family and past experiences.

Medical tests conducted at the time failed to provide any conclusive explanation for his apparent amnesia, leaving everyone involved bewildered.

The revelation had significant repercussions for Mary Lou and Nancy, the two women married to Larry/Fritz.

Mary Lou found herself in a difficult position, as she was required to repay social security benefits and life insurance money she had received after Larry was declared legally dead.

Meanwhile, Nancy faced the annulment of her marriage to Fritz due to his existing marriage to Mary Lou.

The insurance company demanded repayment, and Larry faced legal action for unpaid taxes from his previous life, adding financial strain to an already complicated situation.

Despite the mounting evidence and the challenges that came with the newfound dual identity, Larry was never charged with any crimes.

However, the unfolding events cost him his television job, and he returned to bartending to support his families.

Throughout the ordeal, he continued to insist that he was not Larry Bader despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

A Tragic Ending

The story of Larry Bader, alias Fritz Johnson, tragically ended when he passed away on September 16, 1966, at the tender age of 39.

His death was caused by the return of his cancerous brain tumor, closing the chapter on a life filled with intrigue and unanswered questions.

Unanswered Questions

With all these twists and turns, several questions remain unanswered to this day.

How did Larry Bader end up as Fritz Johnson in Omaha?

Was it a true case of amnesia thanks to the brain tumor he had, or did he intentionally create a new identity?

Did he choose to abandon his family in Akron, or was there some aspect of his life he desperately wanted to escape?

Was Fritz Johnson really Larry Bader? The only test to prove his identity was fingerprint analysis, and this test is not 100% accurate.

What happened to the missing suitcase and oar from the boat?

Could they hold clues to what really transpired on that stormy night in Lake Erie?

While we may never know the answers to these questions, the Larry Bader case is a real-life puzzle mixing mystery and drama, making us think about the complexities of human identity and how far someone might go to start over.