Esther Reed
Encyclopedia
Esther Elizabeth Reed is an American
convicted on fraud and identity theft charges. She is best known for assuming a number of identities, including that of missing person Brooke Henson, to gain entry to universities.
, to Ernie and Florence Reed in 1978 and was the youngest of Florence's eight children. When Ernie and Florence separated in the early 1990s Esther moved with her mother to Lynnwood, Washington
, where she dropped out of high school after a year, shortly after her mother died from cancer.
At various times she claimed to be a skilled chess player, and claimed chess tournaments as her income to friends to cover up her financial scams.
Reed assumed the identity of Natalie Bowman, the name of the sister of an acquaintance, to attend Harvard University. At Harvard Reed joined the debating team as they travelled across the country.
After leaving Harvard Reed became romantically involved with a number of cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point
and at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis
. The US Army Criminal Investigation Command investigated Reed, believing she might have been involved in espionage
, when she attempted to procure a certificate from the Army's Assault School
.
Between 2004 and 2006 Reed attended Columbia University
, using the identity of Brooke Henson, a missing person from South Carolina
. In 2006 after an internet search by a potential employer revealed Brooke Henson's real identity, police in South Carolina alerted New York City police
to Reed. After agreeing to give DNA
to prove she was indeed Brooke Henson, Esther Reed bailed and relocated to Chicago
, and changed her identity to Jennifer Myers.
She was featured on the United States Secret Service
's 10-most-wanted fugitive list and America's Most Wanted
on the Fox Television Network
. She was featured twice in 48 Hours Mystery
episodes on CBS
the first, Capture the Queen, aired in 2007, and the second, Catch Her If You Can, aired in 2009.
, she was captured by Tinley Park Police who were alerted by the United States Marshals Service that she would be staying at a local hotel.
where she was tried on four felony
charges and a potential sentence of 47 years in prison. Her defense lawyer, Ann Fitz
, argued that her behavior was a result of mental illness caused by a strict family upbringing.
She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 51 months in prison. She was released from federal prison on October 27, 2011. Reed's Federal Bureau of Prisons
register number was 40024-424.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
convicted on fraud and identity theft charges. She is best known for assuming a number of identities, including that of missing person Brooke Henson, to gain entry to universities.
Early life and education
Reed was born in Townsend, MontanaTownsend, Montana
Townsend is a city in and the county seat of Broadwater County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,867 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, to Ernie and Florence Reed in 1978 and was the youngest of Florence's eight children. When Ernie and Florence separated in the early 1990s Esther moved with her mother to Lynnwood, Washington
Lynnwood, Washington
Lynnwood is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 35,836 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest in Snohomish County and twenty-ninth largest in Washington State. The city is a mix of urban, suburban, small city, crossroads and bedroom community to many...
, where she dropped out of high school after a year, shortly after her mother died from cancer.
Missing person
Reed disappeared in October 1999 shortly after she was convicted of stealing her sister's checkbook. She was reported missing in 2004 by her father after Social Security checks revealed she was alive.At various times she claimed to be a skilled chess player, and claimed chess tournaments as her income to friends to cover up her financial scams.
Reed assumed the identity of Natalie Bowman, the name of the sister of an acquaintance, to attend Harvard University. At Harvard Reed joined the debating team as they travelled across the country.
After leaving Harvard Reed became romantically involved with a number of cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
and at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. The US Army Criminal Investigation Command investigated Reed, believing she might have been involved in espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
, when she attempted to procure a certificate from the Army's Assault School
United States Army Air Assault School
The Sabalauski Air Assault School is a FORSCOM TDA unit located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Its primary task is training leaders and soldiers assigned to the 101st Airborne Division , other US Army units and US armed services in several courses annually.- Background :Air Assault School qualifies...
.
Between 2004 and 2006 Reed attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, using the identity of Brooke Henson, a missing person from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. In 2006 after an internet search by a potential employer revealed Brooke Henson's real identity, police in South Carolina alerted New York City police
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
to Reed. After agreeing to give DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
to prove she was indeed Brooke Henson, Esther Reed bailed and relocated to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and changed her identity to Jennifer Myers.
She was featured on the United States Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
's 10-most-wanted fugitive list and America's Most Wanted
America's Most Wanted
America's Most Wanted is an American television program produced by 20th Television, and was the longest-running program of any kind in the history of the Fox Television Network until it was announced on May 16, 2011 that the series was canceled after twenty-three years, with the final episode...
on the Fox Television Network
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
. She was featured twice in 48 Hours Mystery
48 Hours (TV series)
48 Hours is a documentary and news program broadcast on the CBS television network since January 19, 1988. The program originally presented documentaries of various events related to a particular subject occurring within a 48-hour period, and is credited as one of the first to air a "reality show"...
episodes on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
the first, Capture the Queen, aired in 2007, and the second, Catch Her If You Can, aired in 2009.
Capture
Finally on February 3, 2008, in Tinley Park, IllinoisTinley Park, Illinois
Tinley Park is a village located primarily in Cook County, Illinois, United States with a small portion in Will County. The population was 48,401 at the 2000 census, and 58,322 in the 2007 census. It is one of the fastest growing suburbs south of Chicago...
, she was captured by Tinley Park Police who were alerted by the United States Marshals Service that she would be staying at a local hotel.
Conviction
Esther Reed was then extradited to South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
where she was tried on four felony
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
charges and a potential sentence of 47 years in prison. Her defense lawyer, Ann Fitz
Ann Fitz
Ann Marie Fitz is an American criminal defense attorney and television personality who often appears as a legal expert on national cable news programs.-Background:...
, argued that her behavior was a result of mental illness caused by a strict family upbringing.
She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 51 months in prison. She was released from federal prison on October 27, 2011. Reed's Federal Bureau of Prisons
Federal Bureau of Prisons
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is a federal law enforcement agency subdivision of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the federal prison system. The system also handles prisoners who committed acts considered felonies under the District of Columbia's...
register number was 40024-424.
External links
- The Girl Who Conned The Ivy League, Rolling Stone magazine, Issue 1080, June 11, 2009