Robert Spears (naturopath)

Robert Vernon Spears (June 26, 1894 – May 2, 1969) was a

Investigators learned that William Taylor, a fellow felon and longtime criminal accomplice of Spears,[1] had boarded Flight 967 using a ticket made out to "Dr. Spears." The theory arose that Spears, desperate to avoid trial and wanting a fresh start, had tricked Taylor (perhaps through hypnosis)^[1] into boarding the aircraft with a piece of luggage containing a bomb; when the aircraft crashed, it would be assumed that Spears was on board. His wife would then cash in an insurance policy for $100,000 on Spears' life. However, Taylor himself purchased $37,500.00 worth of life insurance at the airport; when his ex-wife attempted to collect on that policy, authorities were notified. It was determined that Taylor had boarded the flight using a ticket issued for Spears.^{[citation needed]}

Spears was eventually arrested in Phoenix after being turned in by the ex-wife of a fellow naturopath in Arizona.^[1][2][3] In February 1960, Spears was convicted of interstate transportation of a stolen car (Taylor's Plymouth). He was sentenced to the maximum term of 5 years. Due to lack of evidence, however, Spears was never charged with any offense in relation to the Flight 967 crash.^[4]

Spears died in