Conman Ric Blum ‘transformed’ with name changes

The serial fraudster central to inquiries into a Queensland teacher’s mystery disappearance cited “personal transformation” as a reason he wanted to change his name in a bizarre application that failed to disclose all his past identities.

Ric Blum’s name change application failed to reveal his past identities. Picture: Tessa Flemming

The serial fraudster central to ­inquiries into a Queensland teacher’s mystery disappearance cited “personal transformation” as a reason he wanted to change his name in an application that failed to disclose all his past identities.

Ric Blum has used at least 50 aliases in his life, and was known as Frederick David De Hedervary when he applied to legally change his name to Zabdiel Zillig in NSW in 2005.

The application form instructed applicants to detail the full ­reason for their name change, adding they had to be specific and “personal” wasn’t acceptable.

Marion Barter went missing in 1997 after an affair with Ric Blum, who denies any involvement in her disappearance.

“Each letter of this name is a principle by which I want to live the rest of my life,” Mr Blum wrote.

“Today we often need guidance particularly when we suffer anxiety or feel alienated from ­nature and divorced from the meaning of life.

“Understanding of using these principles is the key to personal transformation and new ways of living.”

The form has been submitted as evidence at a continuing NSW inquest into the suspected death of mother-of-two Marion Barter and has been seen by The Australian.

Barter vanished in 1997 after an affair with Mr Blum, now 83, who has been accused of deceiving and stealing from a series of women. He denies any involvement in her disappearance.

Under a section on the name-change document requiring ­applicants to state “all names you have previously used”, Mr Blum wrote only three: Richard West, Richard Westbury and Rich Richard. He was previously issued Australian passports under those names, but was born Willy Coppenolle and adopted the name Willy Wouters after his mother remarried.

By the time he wanted to be called Zillig, he’d used an array of other names, including obtaining a driver’s licence in Queensland as Fernand Remakel, and another in NSW as Chaim Frederic David De Hedervary.

Ric Blum will continue to give evidence at Byron Bay Local Court in the inquest of Marion Barter. Picture: Tessa Flemming

The name-change form warned that knowingly making a false or misleading representation on a material fact was an offence with a maximum two-year prison sentence.

Mr Blum was asked about the name Zillig at the Barter inquest, replying: “No, never used that name.”

Asked if he was sure of his ­response, Mr Blum said he did apply at Births Deaths and Marriages to use it, “but I was ­refused”. He didn’t know why the application was rejected.

NSW homicide squad detectives asked Mr Blum about his ­relentless name changes when they interviewed him in September 2021 about Barter’s disappearance.

Mr Blum said in the interview that there was “no particular reason”, but it was to do with his mental state.

“I can’t really explain,” he said.

Asked by a detective why he chose particular names, he said: “Phone book I think.”

A note from 1979 in Mr Blum’s immigration file shows authorities were aware decades ago of his many aliases, stating that he was known by names including Ricky David, Fredie David, Bernard Dupont, Christopher Du Pont, Tony Grech and Christopher Stein.

Dozens of aliases are also listed in documents provided to NSW State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan in the Barter inquest.

One, Gaetan Le Bouriscot, uses the first name of one of his sons and surname of a respected French-Australian businessman.

Another, Charles Guyon, was a stuntman in French films, while Bernard Dupont was a bank manager he knew. He is also known to have travelled under his brother Freddy David’s name.

Possible inspirations for his use of the alias Richard West is that it was the name of a well-known Sydney surgeon, and also the name of an author of British coin guide books.

Australian authorities facilitated his shifting identities, granting him approval to legally obtain new names and then passports under those names, with the ­declined Zillig name change a rare exception.