I feel a disturbance in the net.

On 20 August 2006, blogger Marc Luetkemeyer was reported to have died. This shocked his readers, who had been following his struggles with cancer for the prior year. A final entry was found by his friend Steve Pulignani and posted on his blog:

“So, this week – I had to accept the news that my health is not good. In fact, it’s piss-poor. I need to be thankful for the years given me. I truly defied the odds. But like any gambling game – sooner or later; one’s luck run’s out.

The irony is that the very day I found out about my health situation – was the same day I found out that my book was going to be published (it will most likely be posthumously, though).

I’ve never learned how to say goodbye to living people. I know how to let go of dead people – but when they’re still alive; I’ve always believed in not ending it. I’ve always just left it open-ended; and sometimes those people have returned in my life.

That’s how I’m approaching blogland. I can’t say goodbye because I don’t want to. I’m not ready to give up something; which has brought me so much joy.

But realistically, my life’s focus is bonding with those in my life; outside cyber.

But thank you for listening to my stories and befriending me. My blogbuds have been my lifeline……through many years of sickness. You guys may’ve not realized that; but you were – and you still are. It’s just that I need to start letting go.

Thanks for your emails, comments, prayers, and friendship.

Lastly….I realize I’ve teetered back and forth between a supposed blog break…..and then blogging…..several times…..over now……I’m sorry for the roller coaster ride……It’s just a demonstration of how completely overwhelmed and frightened I am.

Sometimes……I utilize writing when I’m feeling this way……and that’s what the world has witnessed……over the past few weeks.

This is no longer a positive outlet for me…..Going through the journey of death…..is a personal exodus……One which……even The_Gay_Dude isn’t willing to put out there…..for the universe to see.

Love,
Marc”

Many bloggers and readers left comments talking about how Marc had touched their lives. Typical response included “I just can’t believe he’s gone. I am in shock. This all happened so quickly, I miss you Marco. I hope you are at peace somehow” from the “Persian Guy.” On a tribute on another blog, Kelly wrote: “Though I have not men Marc (VoyeurNation) in person, or known him very long, he seems to have made his mark on me and many other people in this world. In the very short time I have known him through the blogging world, I feel I know who he is. A very nice, kind and warm hearted individual.”

But buried within those 100+ comments left on Marc’s blog was a distinctly different one, made on 11 September 2006:

“After reading blogs by Marc, Bailey and Josh for about a year now, I have concluded that they are all written by one person.I didn’t want to believe that we in blogland have been scammed, I even denied it to myself that it couldn’t be true, but after much investigating, I am sad to say it is. I also am going out on a limb knowing that I will be villified for saying so but Marc did not die, it’s just another scam. The whole thing that baffles me is why. Why the elaborate charade? I feel so cheated, violated, betrayed. Anyone want more info, please e-mail me at xboxster1@aol.com and I will give anyone out there more info xboxster | 09.11.06 – 12:20 pm | #”

View a screenshot of the actual comment and “Joshua’s” response here.

Why would someone write something like that? Was there any truth to this statement?

Whitecotton Journal to Voyeur Nation

Marc first known blog was “The Whitecotton Journal,” which may have started as early as 11 May 2004 (which was the date Marc stated he began blogging). Unfortunately, this blog does not appear to be archived on the internet. The number of entries and their character are unknown. It appears to have had some readership. Joy, whose blog is titled “A Little Happiness Sent to you” (http://lifeinnd.blogspot.com/2006/08/thinking.html), recalled this early blog on an entry posted on 23 August 2006:

“Do you remember the first time that you ever wrote on your blog? I know that I don’t BUT I remember that there were just a few comments…and then all of the sudden I stumbled accross a blog that was entitled “The Whitecotton Journal” and I started to read it…well, then he changed to “Voyeur Nation” and I am sure that is the one that some of you are familiar with…Well, he left a great impression on me…just because he was always there with some great advice to hand out…and he always did it in a great way. Well, I write this and I am thinking about him because I have missed his little comments and words of advice…and trust me there were times that I needed it…
So, to you I leave this final note of the night…Even though we never knew each other in person…you still had a great impact on me…just through your comments and being so bright and cheerful…forever laughing with us in Wednesday chat…Just remember that you may be gone but you will never be forgotten…to all those that you ever touched…and I will take your brilliant advice and make my “Joy List”…while I am listening to “I Summon You”…”

She also posted a picture created by Steve Pulignani or Joshua Luetkemeyer, which appeared on a number of blogs after Marc’s death.

Marc.

Marc’s boyfriend Bailey (who went by Voyeur Lawyer online), once had a blog named “2 guys in love” (http://thestartofsomethingsmart.blogspot.com) (one entry from 19 May 2006 is available on the Way Back Machine), explained why Marc had changed his blog’s name in a comment sent to Joy:

“Let me tell you what I know about that That was his Father’s native-given name; because his skin was white as cotton. He changed it after he got a better vision of what he wanted to do with his blog. He told me that he thought voyeur nation was more fitting because he was letting people voyeur on his innermost emotions.”

Bailey, Marc’s boyfriend.

Another blogger, Lynn of Gingerbread Lynn (http://mysecondlifechance.spaces.live.com/) wrote in another comment on Joy’s site: “I remember the name Whitecotton… and then that long name he wrote out once that he said was his ‘real name’. I couldn’t have cared less about his name, or his family, other than Josh and Jules. It was Marc. All Marc.”

It isn’t clear what Lynn means by “his real name,” although it is possible that she means Luetkemeyer, which is the last name of Marc’s older brother Joshua.

Marc went on to change the name of his blog to “The_Gay_Dude of Voyeur Nation.” A single entry for this blog, created on 18 August 2006, is still available online (http://thegaydudeofvoyeurnation.spaces.live.com/). Marc reported on BestGayBlogs that “By the way….I came up with the title, “Voyeur Nation”……cuz reading someone’s blog is like voyeuring upon someone’s life…….And in that sense……all bloggers are voyeurs.”

Marc last blog was called VoyeurNation, (http://voyeurnation.blogspot.com). The WayBackMachine website archived this website on 18 February 2006 and 29 June 2006. Marc described himself in an “about me” section of the blog:

“I’ve been blogging since May, 2004….and I’ve loved, almost, every second of it…..But, with each ‘unplanned, emergency transition,’…I lost a lot of great entries….and this is frustrating….Although, what’s really important to me is that many of ya followed me along for the ride! (THANKS FOR DOING THAT)….Anyways….I’m always bragging about being a cancer survivor….I spent half my life in Seattle and half in Baltimore….and my favorite things sortta reflect those 2 cities—> My hobbies and interests change all the time and I’m not afraid to try new things…..My heritage is Sioux Indian and Italian-Jew….so I’ve been exposed to alotta interesting cultures….I enjoy life and demand being surrounded by good people…..I’m a lil over 6′2″, brown-eyed & haired, guy…..I prefer flirting with guys tween 25-40…My big turnoffs are: energydrainers, fatalistic people and flakes…..and for the curious….I am happily attached to a great guy!”

The surviving blog entries describe health problems, a surgery to correct a blockage in his intestines, his attendance at a Police concert in 1983 when he was 8-years-old, the death of his father sometime in 2004 or 2005, and the fact he had a twin brother and a much older brother, Joshua. He also added a set of earlier entries dating back to January 1990. On 20 June 2006, Marc noted that he was concerned with people who “accusing a blogger of being a fake or a liar.”

Another set of entries was collected by a blogger. These provide additional biographical information- that his mother was killed by a drunk driver, that his father beat him, that his twin brother was murdered, his boyfriend John of five years was drowned, and that he had a contract to write a book.

This blog apparently started in September 2004 and the last entry was posted on 18 August 2006, two days before his death. After his death, Marc’s blog was maintained by Steve Pulignani. Sometime after August 2007, Steve deleted Marc’s blog, with only a small portion surviving on the Way Back Machine website or a few entries preserved as screen captures by other individuals.

Marc and a friend.

After Marc’s death, Steve Pulignani created “The Best Gay Dude” award and presented it to various bloggers. Marc was also part of a now defunct group blog, “Gay Men Rule.” (http://gaymenrule.wordpress.com), numerous pages of which are available on the Way Back Machine. The blog was in existence from at least April 2006 until sometime after June 2007. Steve and Joshua were also involved with this blog, with Joshua apparently running the website (into the ground).

Joshua

Marc had an older brother, Joshua Luetkemeyer, born in 1955. He was some 20 years older than Marc, yet they appear to have been very close, especially at the end of Marc’s life. Joshua also has another brother a few years younger than him.

Joshua used to have a blog called (http://ikeepsmiling.blogspot.com) (for which no archived pages have been located). In April 2006, he began posting on a blog called “Smiley’s Place” (http://joshua1955.wordpress.com). The Way Back Machine has archived pages between 20 February 2007 and 27 May 2007, although the blog was on hiatus from April and May. The blog archive section indicates the blog began in April 2006, stopped, and started up again in September 2006.

Surviving entries include a discussion of surgery for his “ureter,” the death of a neighbor while sledding, and the fact that he began to date a 41-year-old self-employed artisan/craftsman (whose initials spelled J.E.W.) in February 2007. Other entries by Joshua were placed on the “Gay Men Rule” website, some of which are still available on the Way Back Machine.

Joshua left a comment on Marc’s blog following his death:

“It’s difficult to surf the net today. You’ve left comments, everywhere. And it makes me happy – and it makes me cry. People are honoring you with comments, emails, and stories. Of course, I’m sure you already know that. I fed the dogs and cats a little while ago. They’re in good hands – but of course – I’m sure you don’t believe me. It’s lonely here, without you. Walking through the house – everything has a strange echo. Thanks for not shutting me out in your last days. Thanks for being brave. Thanks for fighting for as long as you did. If you hadn’t been such a fighter – I would have lost you years ago. I I still can’t believe you’re gone. What am I going to do without you? Say hi to Mom, Dad, Auntie, and Bro. It’s going to be a while till I see you again. “I wish there were no such thing as time – because you’d be alive and dead at the same time” Do you remember saying that to me? I thought you were losing your marbles – but right now – I’m wishing there was no such thing as time, too.”

Steve

Steve Pulignani was reportedly Marc’s best friend. He started a blog in June 2006, titled “Defying Despondency” (http://anythingbutsad.wordpress.com). Steve stated on the blog that he was born in July 1968, and had lived in a number of cities including Washington, D.C.; Bel Air, California; New York City, and Seattle. He is currently living in Baltimore, quite close to the John Hopkins University campus. Steve describes himself as:

“Steve is a published novelist & illustrator. He’s also an accomplished songwriter & musician. Nope, he ain’t a Tom Clancy or a Bob Dylan (but he could be some day). Before writing & music (which were once only hobbies) turned into profitable careers; he made his living as a white-collared professional. But some physical problems led him to no longer continue down that path. However, Steve is much happier now, and his health is absolutely fine. In Steve’s free time: he writes songs, works on novels, illustrates books, draws pictures, spoils 2 dogs, plays bass in a band, and blogs. He does all of this in a city neighborhood, where he makes blogbuds from all over the world”

After Marc’s death, he took control of Marc’s website. According to an email he sent another blogger, on 25 August 2006:

“My name is Steve and I just added your latest entry to my tribute site. I was Marc’s (Voyeur Nation) best friend in the real world. I found you by way of Joshua (his Brother); who has a guy named Daniel as a bud. Joshua saw your name on Daniel’s MySpace bud list. I’m sorry Marc hurt your feelings. I wish he could have told you he was sorry. I do know that he actually tried to; because I was sitting with him when he was on the computer. He actually opened up an account through your service to leave you a message. But he couldn’t figure out how to make it work. I swear I’m not making this up.

Somewhere, out there in Cyber is a skeleton “Voyeur Nation” account created around the time all this controversy happened with you. He realized he’d been manipulated into feeling ‘falsely compassionate’ for another sick person; based on half-facts.

Marc had a lot of empathy for sick bloggers – since he was one, also; and would always defend the underdog. Usually he’d get his facts straight, but obviously – this time he didn’t. I know this because we were hanging out drinking beer when this all went down.

Once again, I’m glad you were able to forgive him. At any rate, I’ve been busy going through all the cookies on Marc’s computer to try to track down every tribute I can. As well as search engines and services like technorati (which is how I found your story).

It will take me months, but I’m putting them all on this site – in his honor. Thanks again for your blog entry Sincerely, Steve Rouse.”

The email indicates that Steve also went by the name Steve Rouse.

Steve’s blog has been the center of several controversies since July 2007. On 17 July 2007, Steve claimed to have been mugged, with the muggers going on to kill an 11-year-old epileptic girl. Steve later attended her wake and reported taking the girl’s parents out to lunch on the day of a court proceeding. A commenter named Bailey questioned whether the girl Steve had linked to had actually been murdered. Others noted that no evidence for the crime could be located. Steve reacted by calling those who questioned him jealous liars. He afterwards deleted or modified many blog entries and comments.

The controversy continued when he reported the death of his friend Eric in a motorcycle accident on 20 October 2007. A commenter apparently noted that the man whose pictures Steve had posted was not the man killed in a motorcycle accident in Baltimore. Steve and Joshua commented heavily on this situation, claiming the accident had actually occurred in Florida. The entries and comments were subsequently deleted.

In December 2007, Steve reported that he had received a $5,500 shopping spree with about 20 other families at a Nordstrom in Tyson’s Corner. It was quickly established that no such shopping event was taking place. Again, Steve and Joshua replied in an angry manner, calling the person who questioned Steve a liar, among other names.

An important characteristic of Steve’s blog is the frequent removal or editing of past entries and comments. The changed entries have been used to “prove” that person’s questioning certain entries were liars. Some of the entries that have been removed from Steve’s blog are still present on a group blog that he started, “Queer Deviations,” others were posted on the “Gay Men Rule” and are available at the Way Back Machine.

The Problem of Marc

The Social Security Administration maintains a database of every individual who has died in the United States since the mid-1960s. The genealogical website Ancestry.com reports The Social Security Administration Death Master File contains information on millions of deceased individuals with United States social security numbers whose deaths were reported to the Social Security Administration. Birth years for the individuals listed range from 1875 to last year. Information in these records includes name, birth date, death date, and last known residence. Marc would have received a Social Security card at any time between his birth or into his teen years. One must have a Social Security card to be employed in the United States.

The database is comprehensive and contains the data on over 80 million deceased individuals. A search for persons born in 1975 who died on 20 August 2006 revealed seven names: Eliot B___, Dolores C____, Norma C____, June G____, Kristofer H____, Matthew P____, and Roman S____.

None of the four males in the database named Marc or any obvious variation of that name. None had the Luetkemeyer or Whitecotton surname. Three explanations are possible: Marc was an alias for one of the four men, Marc did not exist, or Marc did not die.

Steve Pulignani noted on a comment on a blog on 22 August 2007 that: “You probably can’t find mark because it’s his online name. Like he was or is the only one who uses a different name online?”

Steven was suggesting that either Marc’s surname was not Whitecotton or Luetkemeyer. Is this the truth?

Steve Pulignani has spoken to at least two individuals by phone. Independently, the phone numbers provided by these individuals was (410) 585-XXXX [the last four digits are obscured for obvious reasons]. A reverse phone number check revealed that this number was assigned to an individual named “M. Whitecotton.” Could this be Marc Whitecotton?

“M. Whitecotton” lives in Pikesville, Maryland. A Mark Douglas Whitecotton, born 30 July 1968, was also located. He had previously lived in Baltimore and Bel Air, Maryland, and in Seattle, Washington. It is interesting to note that Marc, Steve, and Joshua all claim to have lived in both Seattle and Baltimore. In addition, Steve stated that he had lived in Bel Air, California. Steve’s birthdate is reported to be July 1968, the same month and year as Mark Douglas Whitecotton. Both M. and Mark Whitecotton are associated with a woman named Barbara Whitecotton in these online search sites.

The internet has many websites where individuals have left behind information about themselves. One such website focuses on travel, Virtual Tourist (http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/800b1/). On 29 August 2004, Marc Whitecotton created a profile on the website, which he last visited on 26 June 2005.

Marc Whitecotton.

Whitecotton prepared a brief biographical sketch “Several of my family members and friends tell me to write a book. Well, folks, this may be chapter one. Give me time to collect all my photos and journal entries; and I’ll present quite a story – balanced between fact and fiction – for nothing should be too depressing.”

The photographs of Marc Whitecotton match those of Marc, the VoyeurDude. Marc Whitecotton was also Mark Luetkemeyer.

What’s the truth?

Did Marc die? There is no evidence to suggest that he did. No Social Security death record. No obituary published in any newspaper- the major newspapers in Baltimore and Seattle have no obituary for a man with this given name and a surname of either Whitecotton or Luetkemeyer. Instead, he appears to be living in Maryland with a woman named Barbara Whitecotton.

On 10 December 2007, Steve wrote at 7:56 PM: ”Wow, I just pretty much crawled outta bed. I think I’m gonna call it the night and go back to bed! Talk to you all tomorrow.” A short time later someone called the telephone number Steve Pulignani had used and the caller asked for Mark Whitecotton. The person who answered the phone said they had been asleep and then verified that he was that person, before changing his mind and refusing to verify it was in fact Mark. Steve Pulignani then noted at 8:51 PM “Well, I was asleep. That’s until I was awakened by someone pretending to call from a company. Mysteriously pumping me for information on someone, I know, who died over a year ago. I know it’s a prankster from the net, cuz of the questions they asked. And the number they called. Cuz the number they called is a rarely used line. Hmmmm I’ve only given that # to 2 online people (I’ve only spoken to 2 people online). Makes it easy to figure out, eh? I really wish these people would get lives.” Steve Pulignani is “Marc.”

As suspected, Marc never died. In emails to several people, as “Steve Pulignani,” Steve has recently revealed that he is actually “Marc.”

Every aspect of the blogs created by “Steve” and “Joshua” have become suspect. It appears that all three are the same person. Many of the biographical details reported in the blogs produced by “Marc” and “Steve” match, including being born a twin, the death of the twin, and dealing with cancer. Their writing styles are very close, using similar phrasing and punctuation (especially the use of semi-colons). This writing style is duplicated in the tourist profile created by Marc Whitecotton.

There is no evidence to indicate that Joshua is a separate individual. A string of comments left by “Steve” on a blog switched to “Joshua,” although the writer continued writing as “Steve.” The two have the same IP address and another comment on a blog, left by “Erin” from Buffalo, New York, also shared this IP address. It is impossible for a computer from the Baltimore area and one in Buffalo to share the same IP address. Other cases of commentators collaborating statements on “Steve’s” blog, most now deleted, appeared to be cases where the blog’s author was leaving comments on their own blog.

What drives someone to do this? The definition of pathological liar on Wikipedia may contain the answer: “A pathological liar is someone who often embellishes his or her stories in a way that he or she believes will impress people. It may be that a pathological liar is different from a normal liar in that a pathological liar believes the lie he or she is telling to be true—at least in public—and is “playing” the role. He or she sometimes is seen to have a serious mental problem that needs to be rectified.”