Catch Her if You Can: Esther Reed’s Story

We just adore watching films, especially those packed with thrilling drama about the lives of spies, cunning tricksters, secret agents, and the likes. Among the many we’ve enjoyed, Catch Me If You Can stands out as one of our most cherished ones.

Did you know that a Steven Spielberg film is actually based on the true story of a man named Frank Abagnale Jr? There’s a similar story about a woman who is often associated with the saying, ‘Catch Her If You Can.’ Her many names include Esther Reed, Natalie Fisher, Natalie Bowman, and Brooke Henson. This woman, surprisingly a high school dropout, cleverly used the identities of missing people to erase her past and start afresh. Not only did she do that, she managed to blend into Ivy League schools, dreaming of becoming a lawyer. Now, the real big question is, did this slick trickster manage to escape the law? To discover that, you’ll need to stick around and read more…

Who Is She

When it comes to enjoying cinema, there’s nothing quite like being captivated by a thrilling drama that takes us into the world of spies, undercover agents, tricksters, and more. There are certain films that simply stand above others – for instance, James Bond, Now You See Me, The Bourne Identity, and Catch Me If You Can. But what sets Catch Me If You Can apart from many other films is its basis in real life. Directed by the renowned Steven Spielberg, it tells the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr. In the realm of tricksters and con artists, Abagnale doesn’t just hold the title of the most well-known, he’s also the most successful. Before even celebrating his 20th birthday, he had fooled people into giving him millions of dollars by pretending to be an airline pilot, a prosecutor, and a doctor. Over time, Abagnale’s reputation soared to become one of the most respected in the con industry. His prowess was such that the FBI eventually hired him to help them track down others who operated like him.

Although Frank Abagnale Jr. still holds the crown as the most notorious trickster in history, other fraudsters have tried to challenge his title. There’s one woman, in particular, her name often echoes with the words ‘Catch Her If You Can.’ This lady is known by a variety of pseudonyms, such as Esther Reed, Natalie Fisher, Natalie Bowman, and Brooke Henson. Actually, her real name is Esther Reed, a name she tucked away while she adopted multiple identities intending to build a brand new life. This crafty womаn, who did not finish high school, cleverly used the profiles of missing individuals to climb up the social ladder and gain entry into prestigious Ivy League schools. She aspired to become a lawyer. But the question stands, could this ingenious fraudster escape the claws of justice indefinitely? Keep reading to unravel the mystery… Hence, meet Esther Reed, the woman with several aliases such as Natalie Fisher, Natalie Bowman, and Brooke Henson. She is truly no more than Esther Reed but stole numerous identities to escape her past and begin anew. It soon came to light that this sharp-witted school dropout utilised the profiles of the disappeared to make strides in life while attending top-tier Ivy League institutions with dreams of donning the lawyer’s robes.

The Early Years

Esther Elizabeth Reed, known as Esther Reed, came into the world on March 8, 1978. Her early years were spent in the cozy and quaint town of Townsend in Montana, where she was a part of a big family. This meant she was often unnoticed in the crowd of her relatives. Her childhood memories are filled with times spent with her eight older siblings, particularly her sister Edna. They would often escape to the local creek, where they would swim and play together. But, there was something distinct about Esther; she wasn’t exactly the typical cheerful child you’d expect.

Esther’s Parents

Esther was brought up by her mom, Florence Reed, and her dad, Ernest ‘Ernie’ Reed. The reputation of Florence’s choices in men was a bit mixed, having been married two times before she met Ernie. But Ernie, he was unlike Florence’s previous husbands; he had a sincere intention to provide for Florence and their kids. And oh boy, did the children adore him. As time passed, Ernie took the responsibility of always putting food on the table and ensuring his children were taken care of, which he did quite well.

A Pretty Baby

Esther was always seen as a ‘pretty baby’, growing up in a home filled with love. But despite this, she felt it wasn’t enough. As she grew older, Esther felt more like an outlier. She started to think she was heavier than she should be and always felt eclipsed by her more academically inclined, charismatic, and good-looking older siblings. This sense of inadequacy heralded the emergence of Esther’s cunning side. Whenever Esther was instructed not to meddle with something, she would cheekily test her limits to see how far she could go before she overstepped.