Stuff You Should Know 10 Cases of Mistaken Identity
Oct 13, 2022
Mistaken identity leads to wild mishaps, from wrongful accusations of assassination to the absurdity of eyewitness errors. Intriguingly, identical twins share the blame for their misdeeds, adding humor to grave situations. The dangers of medical identity theft and the challenges of DNA evidence add more layers to this complex issue. Meanwhile, a lighthearted look at the mix-up between Peter Sellers and Woody Allen shines a comedic light on Hollywood's identity chaos. All these tales highlight the serious implications of being misidentified.
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Mossad's Identity Theft
- Nicole McCabe, an Australian expat in Israel, was wrongly identified as a suspect in a Hamas leader's assassination.
- Mossad used her real identity as cover, causing her significant distress and passport issues.
Will West Case
- Will West, accused of manslaughter, was almost imprisoned due to an existing inmate with the same name and nearly identical Bertillon measurements.
- Fingerprinting proved crucial in differentiating them, highlighting its importance in criminal identification.
Adolph Beck's Wrongful Conviction
- Adolph Beck served seven years for crimes committed by John Smith, despite having an alibi and not being circumcised.
- A journalist helped expose the injustice, prompting the creation of the British Court of Appeals.