French Man Impersonated Brother to Evade Justice for 15 Years

The Chameleon: The Story of Frédéric Bourdin, the Serial Imposter

Frédéric Pierre Bourdin, known to the press as “The Chameleon,” is a French serial impostor who gained notoriety for assuming false identities, including those of missing people. Born on June 13, 1974, Bourdin is currently 51 years old. He reportedly claims to have taken on at least 500 false identities.

Bourdin’s story took a particularly dramatic turn with the case of Nicholas Barclay, a 13-year-old boy who disappeared from San Antonio, Texas, in June 1994. Three years later, in 1997, a 23-year-old Bourdin began impersonating Barclay, convincing the boy’s family that he was their long-lost son.

Despite significant discrepancies – including a French accent and, initially, different eye color – Bourdin managed to maintain the deception for almost five months. He told the family he had escaped a child prostitution ring that had altered his appearance. According to reports, the family appeared unconcerned by these inconsistencies.

The ruse began to unravel when a local private investigator, working with a television crew, grew suspicious. The investigator compared photographs of Bourdin’s ears to those of the real Nicholas Barclay and found they did not match. Further investigation by the FBI led to the obtaining of fingerprints and DNA evidence, which confirmed Bourdin’s true identity.

In March 1998, Bourdin’s deception came to an end. He pleaded guilty to passport fraud and perjury in a San Antonio federal court in September 1998 and was sentenced to six years in prison – a sentence longer than what was initially recommended by sentencing guidelines.

Bourdin’s early life included being raised by his grandparents in Nantes after running away from Paris. He reportedly never knew his father, who his mother described as a married Algerian immigrant named Kaci. He began his impersonations as a child.

The story of Frédéric Bourdin and Nicholas Barclay has recently resurfaced with the release of a documentary, “The Imposter,” now available on Netflix. The documentary details how Bourdin was able to convince the Barclay family and others that he was Nicholas, despite the obvious differences in his appearance and background.

Bourdin’s case highlights the complexities of identity, family dynamics, and the lengths to which someone will go to create a false life. His motivations, stemming from a difficult upbringing lacking affection, led him down a path of deception that captivated and shocked the world.