One of the most bizarre and mysterious stories to grace international news in recent times had a tragic outcome. The body of young student Lauris Zaube, whose name and image were used in a ‘fake funeral’ held in a historic church in London, was found dead in Latvia, his homeland.
For those who didn’t connect the name to the story or have no idea about this brain-exploding plot, let’s remember this infamous story that gained new, stranger elements.
In early March, Father Rupert McHardy was hired to deliver the sermon at a luxurious funeral at the London Oratory Roman Catholic Church, in South Kensington, one of the most important in the English capital. The ceremony, with a body present, would be in memory of Lauris Zaube, who would be inside the coffin placed at the site.
The event, which cost around R$63,700, was reportedly organized by the deceased’s brother, who hired a carriage to transport the coffin, a choir for religious music and even a director to document the ceremony.
However, the ‘wake’ was canceled because the priest discovered that the coffin was empty, that the boy’s death certificate had been produced in Russia and that the dead man’s brother, Clyde Zaube, was not who he claimed to be. The church would have been taken over by two groups that, according to the priest, were made up of hired actors and mysterious people wearing black clothes and balaclavas – including the deceased’s supposed brother.
At the time it was discovered that Lauris had disappeared at New Year’s Eve and that he did not have a brother. The boy who pretended to be Clyde was, in fact, Jacky Jhaj, a digital influencer with an extensive criminal record.
Jhaj was convicted and jailed for four years in 2016 on four counts of sexual activity with two 15-year-old girls he groomed by lying that he was a prominent Hollywood film producer. He offered them alcohol, took them to parties and sexually assaulted them.
The influencer also has a history of staging strange events to be filmed and had already impersonated a film producer and actor at least twice. He even hired dozens of extras to organize a fake film premiere to monetize and gain followers.
In the meantime, the Daily Mail discovered that Lauris and Jhaj knew each other and even appeared together in a video made before the Latvian’s disappearance, which raised suspicions that the boy was still alive and that he was one of the masterminds of the ‘prank’.
However, this Wednesday, it was announced that Lauris’ body was found lifeless in his homeland after he had allegedly drowned. A statement from Latvia’s state police said Lauris’ body was recovered from a river in Spunciems, about three kilometers from the house from where he disappeared. “Forensic examinations were ordered, but at this time there are no indications that a crime has been committed against Zaube,” said the corporation spokeswoman.
It seems that, finally, Lauris will have his real wake held and, finally, rest in peace.
