Former US “Marine” Strangles a Man to Fake His Own Death
The TimesLive in South Africa (SA) published a story today about Karl Kamal Rashid, who is reported to have served time in the US Marine Corps. Rashid has admitted to strangling a man to death, putting him in a car and burning the vehicle to fake Rashid’s death.
“In all the 23 years I have been a soldier, I never killed anyone. But it is now – here, away from my country – that I made a stupid mistake,” a retired American military man said on Tuesday as he prepared to be sentenced for faking his death in an insurance fraud.
Karl Kamal Rashid was believed to have died when his burnt-out Volvo containing the charred remains of a body was discovered in 2011 in Sterkspruit, a small town in the Eastern Cape. Rashid’s watch was strapped to the corpse’s wrist.
If quoted correctly, it is odd that he refers to himself as a “soldier” vs. a Marine, so we poked around a bit.
Although a slight difference of spelling with the middle name – i.e. ‘Kamel’ vs. ‘Kamal’ – we believe this is the guy based on 23 years of service and one of the only people with a prior US address with that name.
I guess if you are a journalist in South Africa you must figure – Ah, Marine, soldier… what’s the difference?
Rashid refers to himself as a “soldier” so we don’t think it is a case of Stolen Valor — claiming to be a Marine instead of a soldier.
Here’s the burning question I have: If you are a retired soldier after 23 years and successfully fake your own death, wouldn’t those US Government retirement checks come to a screeching halt?
Category: Real Soldiers, Veterans in the news
He looks like Gus Fring with a hangover
Yes, a striking resemblance.
No…he doesnt. I guess this falls under all bbn lack guys or light skin guys look alike huh?
Didn’t we just read about how easy it is in SA for a person (say a poacher) to go missing? Couldn’t find a more imaginative way to fake it? Without killing some innocent.
Maybe he did it because it is so easy to find / make a body in SA? He was obviously very motivated to change his identity if he would kill for it.
No one fakes their own death without a reason to do so, especially in a third world shithole…must be something else here that’s going undiscovered at the moment.
He was already in South Africa, how much more gone did he need to be?
Maybe he was involved with some very bad people who wanted him dead, and this was the most effective way to get them to give up trying to kill him. There had to be some serious threat to cause him to potentially give up those sweet Uncle Sam retirement bucks. He’ll have quite a bank balance in about 20 years after all the confinement he faces other there. He better have his lawer get his direct deposit into a US bank account ASAP, as I doubt the South Africans will honor our income exemption statutes when they start trying to collect his penalties and restitution.
Shoulda read the linked article. According to the prosecutor, the defendant’s motive was to recover on three life insurance policies. The popo found him hiding out in a residence rented to his South African wife, so she was likely the beneficiary on the policies.
Those military checks will only continue for 3 months of incarceration.
They do not stock pile checks and hand you a big bundle upon release.
After incarcerated and released, then the checks start again.
Used to be, and still is unless the law changed, VA compensation checks reduce to the 10% rate 60 days after felony conviction. There was no reduction in militant retired pay while incarcerated.
” I made a stupid mistake”
Oops. I accidentally planned and carried out a murder. Everybody makes mistakes.
“I ask for forgiveness. I am sorry.”
Sure. It could happen to anybody.
“I think I can learn from this and be a better person moving forward.”
“What about the man you lit on fire?”
“Build a man a fire and you keep him warm for the night. Light a man on fire and you keep him warm for the rest of his life.”
LOL. I found that very funny. You should worry about that.
Does the BTJ&T Deli have a franchise in SA? If so he’ll have a heaping helping of smoked cockmeat sammiches served up daily.
Musta couldn’t find any openings for nigerian princes with ill gotten loot needing to be gotten out of the country.
Yup….and the manyonaise is usually tainted
Waste of a good watch