Steven Lightfoot, the genius behind the ‘Lennon Murder Truth’, has travelled the country in his van for over four decades. He says the generally accepted facts surrounding John Lennon’s murder is horseshit. The dude the NYPD identified as Mark David Chapman, was actually a decoy according to him. Or as Lightfoot claims, a ‘lookalike’. The real perpetrator was none other than the top novelist Stephen King - Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan put him up to it as part of an elaborate conspiracy.
Lightfoot is now in his early 80’s and began this crusade 44 years ago after spotting hidden messages in a few major news magazines like Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and Time. His comically brilliant conspiracy gained traction once he learned how to use the internet in the late 90’s. I remember him calling into the Dennis Miller radio show on a weekly basis and Miller cleverly dispatched him each time.
Lightfoot was born in Helena, Montana and moved to Santa Rosa, CA as a child. He spent the late 70s and 80s in my hometown of San Diego. This is where he decoded the clues about the real murderer in the national weeklies. Growing up he wanted to be a golfer or maybe a golf course designer. But he ended up being a conspiracy theorist instead.
He says the extraordinary headlines and macabre photographs contained secret messages or ‘government codes’. To him, there is no way to argue the powerful cryptographic trail that reveals the advance knowledge of Lennon’s pending death. The codes also identify the responsible conspirators – a former impeached US President and the incoming president-elect.
The claim is that the headlines before and after the murder is the cryptic evidence to exonerate Chapman. He cites examples of magazine headlines that repeatedly reference Lennon, the need for violence, overarching political power and the removal of anyone who disagrees. I gave these a few scans over the years have never been able to spot what he’s seen.
These secret messages were deliberately inserted into national news magazines to communicate information amongst the ‘insiders’. Lightfoot says that these messages will forever remain undetectable by the general public. The frequency and timing of these alleged codes, he says, makes them impossible to be a coincidence.
An important part of his wild argument is the political controversy surrounding John Lennon. Richard Nixon’s administration apparently attempted to deport Lennon from the USA during the 1970s. He says Lennon was his number one target because of his anti-war activism and popstar influence. Lightfoot also interpreted Nixon’s book ‘The Real War’ as undeniable evidence that powerful figures viewed outspoken hippies and cultural warriors as treasonists. He maintains that this hostility towards the former Beatle is a motive for an administrational organised hit.
But the most controversial element of this caper is the claim that bestselling author, Stephen King, was the actual gunman. The photographs of King, published in magazines and newspapers, prior to the murder are said to show a man who looked remarkably similar to Chapman. The image of a man receiving Lennon’s autograph outside the Dakota building on the day before the murder is the best example, according to Lightfoot.
He contends that Chapman was only selected because he superficially resembled King, the real killer. The physical characteristics, head and body proportions, hair texture, and facial features are more consistent with King than with Chapman he claims. Judge for yourself.
It does not stop there. King’s novels also contain references that describe the murder in detail. Salem’s Lot, The Dead Zone, and Firestarter are all said to contain direct evidence of King’s wrong doings which link him to Lennon’s death. In particular, he points out chapters that involving shootings, political figures, and multiple characters named John, Johnny or Jonathan. He seems to think these references amount to a confession or, at least, a coded admission of his involvement in the crime.
Let’s not forget Mark David Chapman. He also plays a role in the conspiracy. Lightfoot says, Chapman’s letter to the U.S. News & World Report editor, published just before the murder, contained wording that alluded to him being armed and guided by the ‘giant hand of Ronald Reagan’. He interpreted this as evidence. Chapman had knowingly participated in a military style operation directed by, the soon to be, President. Reagan has just been elected and did not take office until 6 weeks later in Jan 1981. I am still unclear how Nixon is involved although his name is mentioned throughout the findings.
Chapman’s guilty plea and the absence of a highly publicised trial also indicate a government cover-up. The limited media attention pertaining to specific court proceedings is also suggested to be evidence that authorities looked to prevent closer scrutiny of the official narrative. In Lightfoot’s mind, this all spells out deception.
During the amateur investigation, Stephen King allegedly responded to a letter from Lightfoot. These un-confirmed letters were simple acknowledgements of the investigation and nothing else. But Lightfoot is certain the communications amount to an admission. He also thinks King is trying to discourage him from breaking this story open wide.
Lightfoot has spent decades promoting his evidence to anyone who will listen. He plastered his van with signs and information and hit the road. He travelled throughout the lower 48 states trying to drum up attention from the media. He portrayed himself as an independent investigator who’s uncovered irrefutable evidence that has been deliberately ignored by mainstream media and law enforcement. Over the years he has upgraded his van but the messages remain.
I saw him once. Back in Pacific Beach, San Diego in the early 90s. He had a big sign on the back that said, “Ignoring me is screwing all of you!”.
Not sure what happened to Steve but his fantastic dedication to the absurd is to be commended. With the growth of the internet and social media, old skool weirdos like Lightfoot are now relegated to the annals of history. Or maybe just swallowed up by the sheer amount of people just like him on the internet?
Disclaimer: It is important to point out that none of the stuff about the murder is true. It is certainly not to be considered as factual in anyway. Lightfoot’s claims are not accepted by notable historians and law enforcement agencies.
The official record still stands. Mark David Chapman shot and killed John Lennon outside the Dakota building in New York City on 8th December 1980. Presidents and famous fiction writers had nothing to do with the death of John Lennon.