(Continued from Half 1)
Seckel was having fun with a whole lot of success posturing as an “professional,” or not less than as a “collector,” of illusions, primarily visible. He spoke earlier than many audiences, wrote (or plagiarized) articles and books, and traveled throughout the globe to share his displays. Lots of the illusions Seckel introduced have been invented by the magician Jerry Andrus (1918 – 2007). Andrus was a widely known and well-loved determine within the skeptic group, in addition to with magicians, and sometimes spoke at skeptic conferences. I discovered that, following Andrus’ demise, Seckel’s Eye Marvel wished to purchase the rights to all of Andrus’ illusions and different works. I advisable towards it.
“A earlier model of this biography described Seckel as a “cognitive neuroscientist,” which was not correct”.
Nonetheless, Seckel’s 2010 TEDxSCS discuss “[Y]Our Thoughts’s Eye” describes him as “Cognitive neuroscientist Al Seckel, formerly of the California Institute of Technology.”
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| Denice Lewis, 1988 |
After two divorces, in June, 2004 Seckel married Denice D. Lewis, who was reportedly “Europe’s highest paid catwalk mannequin” for over a decade. They transfer right into a customized dwelling in Malibu that rented for $13,500 a month. She information for divorce simply 4 months later. (In all probability he advised her “I’m a scientist” and “I’m wealthy,” each of which have been false.)
Seckel efficiently postures not solely as an “professional” on illusions, but additionally as a futurist and visionary, giving many talks. His monetary standing was all the time slightly dodgy, however he in some way managed to maintain borrowing sufficient from Peter to pay Paul.
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| Al Seckel and Isabel Maxwell converse on the World Financial Discussion board (WEF), 2011 |
In 2007 Seckel married Isabel Maxwell, daughter of the late billionaire fraudster Robert Maxwell, and sister to Ghislaine Maxwell. She had many connections on this planet of excessive tech.
In January, 2011 Seckel organized a “Mindshift Conference” on Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous private island. The contributors have been Murray Gell-Mann, Christof Koch, Catherine Mohr, Gerald Sussman, Frances Arnold, Leonard Mlodinow, Paul Kirkaas, Brock Pierce, Ron Reisman, Pablos Holman, Dan Dubno, and Reichart Von Wolfsheild. Isabel was there with him.
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| “Jeffrey Epstein and Al Seckel have assembled a various and eclectic intimate group of remarkable thinkers and achievers to debate varied matters….” |
Someday round 2010, Seckel and Isabel moved completely to France, dwelling for some time in a Chateau that was owned by a buddy, and transferring round to different locations. Seckel and Isabel repeatedly use the excuse that they’re “destitute” to keep away from touring to the US for court docket depositions and hearings involving their chapter filings and different ongoing court docket circumstances.
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| Al Seckel & household be a part of Stephen Hawking for a Zero-G flight. |
Seckel had been suing skeptic Tom McIver for “libel,” i.e., revealing a few of Seckel’s frauds and impostures. In 2013 McIver contacted journalist Mark Oppenheimer, who had interviewed Seckel just a few occasions beforehand regarding atheism, humanism, and so on., and had attended a few of Seckel’s events. In 2000 the interview was for an article on atheist historical past. Seckel was one of many early officers of Atheists United in Los Angeles, which remains to be lively as we speak. Seckel was with that group when it broke off from the atheist group based by Madelyn Murray O’Hair, who was very a lot a management freak.
McIver prompt that Oppenheimer interview Seckel once more, to look into the numerous accusations of economic impropriety. Seckel apparently didn’t just like the questions that Oppenhiemer was asking, and the article’s October, 2014 publication was cancelled due to authorized threats from Seckel. Seckel realized that Oppenheimer wouldn’t be writing a puff piece (like most journalists these days do), and minimize off all contact with him.
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| The Article that Ended Seckel’s Profession as a Con-Man, and Maybe his Life. (July 20, 2015) |
Lastly, On July 20, 2015: Tablet online magazine publishes Mark Oppenheimer’s article on Seckel, “The Illusionist.” Tom McIver describes the significance of this article:
Article focuses on Seckel’s obsession with befriending, socializing with, and gaining the boldness of celebrities and highly effective and influential folks in science, academia, leisure, media, and the entrepreneurial world, usually internet hosting them at his eclectic events. Amongst his company not talked about elsewhere on this timeline: biologist David Baltimore (Nobelist, Caltech president), billionaire Elon Musk (PayPal, Tesla Motors, SpaceX), actress Sharon Stone, and musician Slash. Mentions that Gell-Mann, Koch, and Shimojo not endorse Seckel, and that Pearce Williams’ spouse was happy he has been uncovered as owing cash to them. Additionally mentions that it’s “remarkably straightforward to search out individuals who imagine Seckel took their cash,” naming a number of. Quotes Gerald Sussman as saying “I do not be ok with it” when requested if he’d given cash to Seckel, implying he had. Mentions that Seckel now making an attempt to promote Robert Maxwell’s papers, with out success. Contains quote from Denice Lewis that their divorce was by no means finalized (and Seckel denying they’d been formally married). Notes that Seckel’s legal professional in Seckel v. McIver (Nicholas Hornberger) admitted that Seckel by no means paid his authorized charges.
After publication of the Oppenheimer article, Seckel’s profession as a
wheeler and seller among the many wealthy and well-known can be over. After studying
this account of 1 particular person after one other complaining that Seckel had
cheated them of great sums of cash, no critical particular person would ever
once more enter right into a enterprise cope with Al Seckel.
The Oppenheimer article dropped a good larger bombshell – Denice Lewis advised him that she and Seckel have been nonetheless legally married! Their divorce was by no means finalized. Due to this fact, Seckel’s marriage to Isabel Maxwell was by no means legitimate, a reality she apparently didn’t know till then. You may think about how she reacted to this!
Al Paul Seckel, who died on the age of 57 close to his dwelling in France, is finest identified for serving to to make optical illusions a family identify all through the world.
No time or place of demise, or reason behind demise, is given on this nameless announcement. Who wrote it? Isabel? Presumably even Seckel himself? Seckel’s alleged demise was famous in varied web postings, however not in any precise information reviews. As time handed, the paucity of particulars on the destiny of Al Seckel turned broadly famous and remarked upon. No demise certificates was ever introduced, even to at the present time (and many individuals tried to search out it). It was broadly speculated that Seckel didn’t die however went into hiding, maybe with the help of Epstein’s circle. However other than rumors, there was no proof whether or not Seckel was alive, or useless.
Al Seckel’s disappearance in 2015 has lastly been solved – he flung himself off a excessive cliff exterior a picturesque French village
Seckel claimed to be the husband of Ghislaine Maxwell’s older sister Isabel, however in truth he had not divorced his third spouse
It was initially believed that he may need faked his personal demise when a serious expose about how he conned patrons of uncommon books was about to be revealed
His physique lay unnoticed for weeks earlier than it was lastly discovered on July 1, 2015
‘It was the scent of putrefaction that finally led to the corpse,’ former deputy mayor Roland Garreau advised DailyMail.com.
‘A hand and a foot have been lacking, most likely eaten by wild boars or foxes,’ Garreau advised DailyMail.com
By RORY MULHOLLAND IN SAINT-CIRQ-LAPOPIE, FRANCE, FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 10:52 EDT, 14 April 2022 | UPDATED: 10:52 EDT, 14 April 2022
Seckel eaten by pigs? Perhaps I do imagine in Karma.
At current I might say that the “preponderance of proof” means that Seckel most likely did die in France in 2015, however I wouldn’t say that it’s established “past an affordable doubt.” On the one hand, it’s solely affordable to assume that an individual who has simply suffered a devastating , irreparable setback would possibly develop into suicidal.Alternatively, do not forget that Seckel’s reported demise was inexplicably stored secret for 2 months, then reported anonymously. There’s additionally the dearth of a proper demise certificates. When coping with the likes of Jeffrey Epstein, Al Seckel, and the Maxwells, it’s affordable to imagine that any individual may need gone to a whole lot of bother to deceive you.
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| Isabel Maxwell arrives at her sister’s trial, 2021. |
(Finish)
