SEATTLE — A man who wandered out of Seattle’s Discovery Park three weeks ago suffering from apparent amnesia has been identified as Edward F. Lighthart, according to friends and family who recognized him from his photograph published in The Seattle Times.
Friends have e-mailed photographs of Lighthart, and he acknowledges that he is the man in the photos.
“The name isn’t ringing a bell, but the image is definitely me,” said the man who had been at Swedish Medical Center and referred to as “Jon Doe” since he walked out of the park last month.
Lighthart was found wearing pressed khakis and had $600 tucked in his sock. He said he didn’t know who he was or when he was born. He is fluent in French and German and has a professorial knowledge of European cultural history.
Lighthart has a sister in Las Vegas. She told The Seattle Times on Thursday that he lived with her for a year and a half but left last month after her roommate said Lighthart could no longer stay without paying rent.
He had been in Calgary, Alberta, before moving to Las Vegas.
“He just disappeared,” said his sister, who asked not to be identified for personal reasons. She tried to report his disappearance to the police, without success.
She said he didn’t have a car and left his belongings behind, including his computer.
“We never got along very well,” the sister said. “He would disappear for eight or 10 years at a time and then pop back up. It’s obvious he’s got issues.”
Lighthart said none of the information from the woman sparked any recollections. “I’m sort of stunned by it,” he said. “I need to let it sink in.”
