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Man who ended up arrested and sectioned after thief successfully stole his identity opens up about rebuilding his life

Home> News> US News

Published 14:54 10 Apr 2024 GMT+1

Man who ended up arrested and sectioned after thief successfully stole his identity opens up about rebuilding his life

William Woods ended up penniless and homeless after Matthew Keirans stole his identity for over 35 years.

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck

A man has revealed how he's started rebuilding his life again after having his identity stolen for over 35 years.

On April 1, former University of Iowa hospital employee Matthew Keirans, 58, pleaded guilty and was convicted on one count of false statement to a National Credit Union Administration insured institution and one count of aggravated identify theft - he now faces a potential combined sentence of up to 32 years in prison.

However, for the victim of his crimes, 55-year-old William Woods, this conviction marks the next step in what has already been a complicated journey which saw Woods himself suspected, arrested and sectioned.

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Matthew David Keirans pleaded guilty to two offences earlier this month (Johnson County Jail)
Matthew David Keirans pleaded guilty to two offences earlier this month (Johnson County Jail)

In 1988, Keirans and Woods both worked at a hot dog cart in Albuquerque, New Mexico when one day, Woods' wallet went missing and the pair nearly came to blows, but Keirans eventually handed the item back.

At the time, Woods checked to see if anything was missing, but nothing appeared to have been taken - his birth certificate and Social Security card still tucked inside and so he 'didn't think anything of it,' he told The LA Times.

However, from that year on, Keirans didn't use his name, own Social Security number or date of birth on any records.

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He started to use Woods instead - from getting ID cards, opening bank accounts, and even having a child who took on Woods' surname, too, as per Keirans' plea agreement.

But when Woods realised someone was using his credit card and had racked up severe debt in his name, he wasn't believed.

Kierans and Woods met while both working at a hot dog stand (Eduardo Parra/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Kierans and Woods met while both working at a hot dog stand (Eduardo Parra/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Instead, the real Woods was charged with two felonies of identity theft and false impersonation himself and his behavior during the trial even led him to be sectioned to two psychiatric hospitals before being convicted.

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Woods plead 'no contest' and receiving a two year sentence - credited with the prior days he spent in jail in hospital.

In the years which followed, Woods desperately fought to have his voice heard and believed, but it wasn't until 2023 when Iowa Police Department Detective Ian Mallory confirmed Woods' true identity with a DNA test.

And the 55-year-old has since opened up about how he's rebuilding his life.

A DNA test proved the truth (Sazzad Hossain/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Image)
A DNA test proved the truth (Sazzad Hossain/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Image)

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Woods moved back to Albuquerque last year and at the time of writing, is reportedly staying with a friend in their van in El Paso.

He's argued that he was 'put in jail on purpose' as a result of the banker allegedly conspiring with members of the LAPD, however, these claims have not been substantiated.

When asked about Wood's allegations, an LAPD spokesperson told The Times that an investigation was ongoing and that 'additional information regarding this case is not currently available'.

UNILAD has contacted the LAPD for additional comment.

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Woods also told The Times that he's not sure what job role he's going to pursue, resolving: "What’s next for me? I guess I have to regain all my stuff back and just rebuild what I was."

Featured Image Credit: U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Iowa / KGAN

Topics: Crime, Health, Life, Mental Health, True crime, US News, Money

Poppy Bilderbeck
Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.

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