The wife of a canoeist missing for five years has admitted to newspapers a photo of her and her husband taken last year in Panama is genuine.
The wife of a canoeist missing for five years has admitted to newspapers a photo of her and her husband taken last year in Panama is genuine.
John Darwin, 57, was presumed dead after going missing off Hartlepool in the North East, in March 2002, but reappeared in London on Saturday.
John Darwin, 57, was presumed dead after going missing off Hartlepool in the North East, in March 2002, but reappeared in London on Saturday.
He was arrested by Cleveland Police on suspicion of fraud after he met up with his sons and is due to be questioned.
He was arrested by Cleveland Police on suspicion of fraud after he met up with his sons and is due to be questioned.
His wife Anne, 55, has reportedly described her life as a nightmare.
His wife Anne, 55, has reportedly described her life as a nightmare.
My sons will never forgive me Anne Darwin
My sons will never forgive me Anne Darwin
She told the Daily Mirror, who originally published the image: "Yes, that's him. My sons will never forgive me.
She told the Daily Mirror, who originally published the image: "Yes, that's him. My sons will never forgive me.
"They knew nothing. They thought John was dead. Now they are going to hate me."
"They knew nothing. They thought John was dead. Now they are going to hate me."
Mr Darwin has now been taken to a police station on Teesside for questioning.
Mr Darwin has now been taken to a police station on Teesside for questioning.
It emerged officers began investigating his reappearance three months ago.
It emerged officers began investigating his reappearance three months ago.
Mr Darwin's canoe was found in pieces the day after his disappearance, leading to the assumption he had drowned.
Mr Darwin's canoe was found in pieces the day after his disappearance, leading to the assumption he had drowned.
But he walked into a police station in London on Saturday and told officers: "I think I am a missing person."
But he walked into a police station in London on Saturday and told officers: "I think I am a missing person."
There has been no independent verification of the Mirror's photo
There has been no independent verification of the Mirror's photo
He claimed he could remember nothing since 2000.
He claimed he could remember nothing since 2000.
Mrs Darwin sold the family home in Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool and moved to Panama six weeks ago.
Mrs Darwin sold the family home in Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool and moved to Panama six weeks ago.
The BBC's correspondent in Panama, Andy Gallagher, said the apartment she bought was currently empty and that it was thought she could be staying in a nearby hotel.
The BBC's correspondent in Panama, Andy Gallagher, said the apartment she bought was currently empty and that it was thought she could be staying in a nearby hotel.
He said reporters from Panama news stations were camped outside the small flat, as the revelations about the Darwins had sparked worldwide interest and a frantic search for Mrs Darwin.
He said reporters from Panama news stations were camped outside the small flat, as the revelations about the Darwins had sparked worldwide interest and a frantic search for Mrs Darwin.
The Daily Mirror newspaper published a photo which apparently showed the Darwins pictured in an apartment in Panama last year.
The Daily Mirror newspaper published a photo which apparently showed the Darwins pictured in an apartment in Panama last year.
Cleveland Police said the photo would be examined as part of their investigation.
Cleveland Police said the photo would be examined as part of their investigation.
But in several newspapers on Thursday, Mrs Darwin is reported as confirming that the photo is genuine.
But in several newspapers on Thursday, Mrs Darwin is reported as confirming that the photo is genuine.
She describes her life as a nightmare, and the situation she finds herself in, as a mess.
She describes her life as a nightmare, and the situation she finds herself in, as a mess.
Mr Darwin was reunited with his sons and arrested by police at the home of one of them in Hampshire late on Tuesday, before being driven to the North East.
Mr Darwin was reunited with his sons and arrested by police at the home of one of them in Hampshire late on Tuesday, before being driven to the North East.
Certainly three months ago we did not know that John Darwin was alive, and we did not know that until he walked into the police station on Saturday morning Det Supt Tony Hutchinson
Certainly three months ago we did not know that John Darwin was alive, and we did not know that until he walked into the police station on Saturday morning Det Supt Tony Hutchinson
He covered his head with a newspaper as he arrived at the police station, flanked by two officers just before 2330 GMT on Wednesday night.
He covered his head with a newspaper as he arrived at the police station, flanked by two officers just before 2330 GMT on Wednesday night.
He was due to undergo a medical examination before being questioned later.
He was due to undergo a medical examination before being questioned later.
Police revealed earlier in the day that new information had caused them to reopen the case in September.
Police revealed earlier in the day that new information had caused them to reopen the case in September.
The detective leading the case also said police may be questioning Mrs Darwin.
The detective leading the case also said police may be questioning Mrs Darwin.
Det Supt Tony Hutchinson revealed the case had been reopened earlier in the year at a news conference on Wednesday.
Det Supt Tony Hutchinson revealed the case had been reopened earlier in the year at a news conference on Wednesday.
He said: "There was some information which was reported to us three months ago to suggest that perhaps there was something suspicious with regards to his disappearance, and as a result of that information we then began to conduct some inquiries on a financial basis.
He said: "There was some information which was reported to us three months ago to suggest that perhaps there was something suspicious with regards to his disappearance, and as a result of that information we then began to conduct some inquiries on a financial basis.
"Certainly three months ago we did not know that John Darwin was alive, and we did not know that until he walked into the police station on Saturday morning.
"Certainly three months ago we did not know that John Darwin was alive, and we did not know that until he walked into the police station on Saturday morning.
"But it is fair to say that we were conducting some inquiries as a result of some information we had which raised some suspicions."
"But it is fair to say that we were conducting some inquiries as a result of some information we had which raised some suspicions."
Have you been affected by any of the issues in this story? Have you met John Darwin?
