A man declared dead in 1986, now known as the "Dead man walking" has to remain legally dead, according to an Ohio judge's ruling.
Donald Miller disappeared in 1986 after losing his job, leaving behind a wife and two kids. In order to collect Social Security benefits for her two minor children, his wife Robin had him legally pronounced dead in 1994.
Much to Robin's astonishment, a few months ago she found out that not only was her "dead husband" alive, he was also back in Ohio and trying to re-establish his social security number. Robin was in for an even bigger surprise when she learnt that her "dead man walking" was pressing legal charges against her for declaring him dead.
"To realize that he was back and then to realize that he was going to be taking legal action, from her standpoint, was pretty unsettling and emotional, Robin's attorney James Hammer toldABCNews.com.
During the legal proceedings Robin was shocked to find out that her husband had returned to Ohio in 2005 but refrained from getting in touch with either her or their children. However, her attorney said Robin didn't wish ill for her husband. Miller has alcoholic problems, which has forced him to take some very bad decisions.
Despite proving he's still alive Ohio judge Allan Davis ruled that Miller would be staying legally dead. When asked if they would be appealing elsewhere, Miller's attorney Francis Marley said they're not sure at the moment though the chances are very slim.
"It's one of those once-in-a-lifetime cases," Judge Davis said. "I've never known anything like that to occur."
Though Judge Davis may not be aware, this is not the first time reports about a dead man walking have made the rounds. Earlier in May, scientists revealed that a condition known as "Cotard's syndrome" can trick people into believing they have become zombies.
Such an incident took place with a man identified as Graham. He told New Scientist that after he woke up from a suicide attempt in which he tried to electrocute himself in his bathtub, he was convinced that he was dead.
"I just felt like my brain didn't exist anymore," Graham told the magazine "I kept on telling the doctors that the tablets weren't going to do me any good, because I didn't have a brain. I'd fried it in the bath."
"I lost my sense of smell and taste. I didn't need to eat, or speak or do anything," Graham said. "I ended up spending time in the graveyard because that was the closest I could get to death."
Graham admits that he's not afraid to die, he feels lucky he's still alive.
