The Disappearance of Michael Rockefeller
Was the New York heir killed and eaten, or did he live on among Asmat tribes?
It is one of the most enduring mysteries ever known: what happened to Michael Rockefeller, heir to the famous New York dynasty, after his canoe overturned off the coast of Papua New Guinea?
The official story is that he drowned, but some believe he was killed and eaten by cannibals — and there is even a story suggesting he voluntarily left his wealthy lifestyle to live among the tribes. Here, we’ll take a closer look at the evidence.
Who was Michael Rockefeller?
Michael Rockefeller was the fifth child of Nelson Rockefeller, a New York governor and eventually vice-president of the USA. A fourth-generation member of the dynasty, Michael had grown up in Manhattan and was known for being quiet and studious.
He graduated cum laude from Harvard with qualifications in history and economics, and it was expected he would follow his kinsmen into the world of finance or business. However, he also had a more artistic side.
At the age of 23, he had decided to pursue his passion for art and photography and was travelling the world to study and collect tribal art in what is now Indonesian Papua New Guinea.
