COLUMBIA, S.C. - Police arrested a man accused of faking his death more than 25 years ago to avoid paying child support.
Johnny Sterling Martin, 58, had a relative call Family Court in 1979 and report that he died during a bar fight in Alabama, authorities said. That call came a few months after he escaped from a work detail while serving a one-year jail term for failing to pay $4,120 in support for two children.
He was captured Tuesday and jailed, and now owes more than $30,000 in child support and faces an escape charge, authorities said.
"Johnny Martin is the ultimate deadbeat dad, faking his own death to avoid paying money to support his young children who were living in Lexington County," Sheriff James Metts said.
Martin has been living in Myrtle Beach, about 150 miles away, and had been using his real name for about 20 years, investigators. He has been married four times — twice since his disappearance — and has a third child, sheriff's Maj. John Allard said.
The investigation was reopened last week when police got a tip from one of Martin's ex-wives that he was alive and living in Myrtle Beach. A fingerprint analysis confirmed Martin's identity, investigators said.
They are working to identify the caller who told family court Martin was dead.
Yeah, I saw this on tv today. Yes the ultimate dead beat dad. I just can't believe that they do not require a death certificate to be able to prove his death!
Some things are genetic, I agree...my old girlfriend's son is like his dad in many ways too, from what I am told...and the kid has probably seen his dad 50 daays in the last 10 years.
Sometimes I think it is more just the boy/man in him or being a teenager. But there are times when they are so much alike inside, that I worry. I just hope that the nurture part can choke the nature part of him!
