Allen Kirk Wolford has been sighted in New Zealand.
Allen Kirk Wolford has been sighted in New Zealand.
KEY POINTS:
An embalmer who faked his death is on the run in New Zealand, trying to get a job as a funeral director.
American fugitive Allen Kirk Wolford, 46, is wanted by police in the United States for skipping a court date after being convicted on forgery and impersonationcharges.
He has since been sighted in various New Zealand locations, from Kaitaia to Carterton.
Interpol has confirmed Wolford is in this country but says its hands are tied unless the American authorities ask for the convicted fraudster to be extradited.
Last year, he was convicted offaking his own death to get out of US$49,000 (NZ$65,400) of childsupport and student loans.
Wolford confessed to forging his death certificate in hopes of avoiding paying the debt. He told police he wanted to buy a house but couldn't qualify for a loan. "I didn't think I'd get caught," he told Colorado Springs police, according to the affidavit. "I guess it was pretty stupid."
But Wolford served no prison time after skipping a court date and disappeared - until he applied for a funeral director's job in New Zealand.
Wolford faxed his CV from the Philippines to New Zealand last month. However, a quick Google search of his name reveals his colourful history, which includes three years' probation for threatening to kill a judge.
People he contacted then alerted Colorado authorities to his presence in New Zealand, who confirmed Wolford was wanted on several felony counts and has active warrants for his arrest.
Wolford arrived in the country on October 5, according to an email he sent to an Auckland consultancy, and has since been sighted in Kaitaia, Carterton, Auckland and Wellington.
Detective Colin Rudd, of the Wellington branch of Interpol, confirmed investigators were watching Wolford, but they could not take action unless American authorities sought to extradite the alleged fraudster.
His visitor visa expires next January, after which Wolford would be given 42 days to leave the country.
