John always had some scheme he’s working on to make money or just to live a higher life. Whether it’s buying apartments or a fancy car, this man did not think about how he’s going to pay the creditors. He simply bought more and more. Anne was a little concerned about their debts, but John had her wrapped around his little finger so she went along with his schemes – even when they became illegal.

To get out of their enormous debt, his last plan was to fake his death so they could collect on the life insurance money. Anne was dead against this far-fetched plan — no pun intended. How was she going to look their two grown sons in their eyes and tell them their father is dead? After all, according to John, no one could know he was alive.

One day, he paddled his canoe out into the deep blue and abandoned it while swimming to shore. Anne’s responsibility was to pick him up and take him to a campsite for a few weeks while the insurance was settled. Little did either of them know that once she reported him missing, the police and search and rescue brigade were on top of the situation, not to mention the media.

Their sons Mark (Mark Stanley) and Anthony (Dominic Applewhite) were devastated, but put on a brave front for their mother. So, as the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, etc., Anne was tempted to tell the truth but was always talked out of it by John. He had an emotional hold over her. She was timid and gullible. She knew what they were doing was wrong, but his pull over her was too strong. She simply could not think for herself and went along with this whacky scheme.

As the couple confronted one problem after another, and the sons lived with the fact that their father was dead, things continued falling apart. It is interesting to watch and see these people, especially John, who thought things would suddenly turn his way. He was an optimist and took Anne along on his ride to escape their debts and start anew. Viewers will see an absolutely delusional man who wove an intricate web of deceit, and his wife who just went along with everything.

“The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe” is a four-part mini-series now streaming on BritBox. While there are some dramatic elements added to the mini-series, this is the true depiction of the scheme first undertaken in 2002.