A man nearing the end of his life bequeathed a significant £1 million inheritance to his virtual romantic partner, who unfortunately turned out to be a fabricated persona.
William Ian Southey passed away at 73, leaving his substantial assets to an individual named Kyle Stuart Jackson, supposedly his lover as well as the executor of his will. However, investigations revealed that the persona of William’s alleged boyfriend, Kyle, was entirely fictitious.
The poignant connection between the two began when William, hailing from Melbourne, delved into online dating subsequent to the passing of his long-time partner. Their interaction initiated in early 2022, with purported plans of marriage between William and Kyle. Yet, posthumously, the courts invalidated the existence of the online profile.
The doubts surrounding Kyle’s authenticity arose as legal representatives encountered difficulties in verifying his identity. William’s former spouse, Kaye Moseley, who was married to him for over a decade, petitioned the court to ascertain the legitimacy of Kyle, resulting in the revelation of the fabricated identity.
Rachael Hocking, the lawyer representing Kaye, elucidated the obstacles faced due to the inability to establish Kyle’s identity, hindering the estate’s distribution to the alleged beneficiary.
Following William’s demise in 2022, a two-year-long endeavor was undertaken by solicitors to authenticate Kyle’s identity through various means, including unsuccessful communication attempts and confirmation of a fraudulent passport.
Furthermore, inquiries were made regarding a cheque issued to Kyle for acquiring two valuable paintings, which was later confirmed as invalid by Toronto-Dominion Bank in 2023.
Associate Judge Caroline Anne Goulden determined that the individual linked to Jackson’s email account exhibited irregular communication patterns and provided an untraceable address. Consequently, the judge concluded that the person identified as Kyle Stuart Jackson did not exist in the manner perceived by the deceased.
Subsequently, Rachael Hocking emphasized the significance of vigilance in light of this case, portraying it as a cautionary tale, especially concerning online relationships resulting in potential financial exploitation.
Communication between William and the non-existent Kyle was solely conducted online, leading to the latter being designated as the estate’s executor and sole beneficiary, including a property in Melbourne’s Kew suburb, sold for £1.25 million ($2.5 million).