Liz Carmichael
Encyclopedia
Geraldine Elizabeth "Liz" Carmichael (1937–2004?) was an American
entrepreneur
who marketed the three-wheel Dale sports car in 1975.
The Dale car, a design of Dale Clift, was supposed to be produced by Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation in California. According to Twentieth Century's 1975 brochure, it had a two-cylinder engine, would reach 70 miles per US gallon (29.8 km/L) and would cost $2000. The body was to be constructed out of 'rocket structural resin' that would withstand damage well. There were only three prototype copies ever made and only one of them could move under its own power.
After having received money from investors, purportedly for the development and marketing of the Dale car, Carmichael disappeared and the funds were unaccounted for. She was charged with grand theft
, fraud
, and securities
violations. During her trial, Clifft stated that he still believed in Carmichael and expected large royalties once the car would go into production. In fact, he received only $1001 and a bum check.
Following her arrest, it was discovered that Carmichael's given birth name was Jerry Dean Michael, which was still her legal name, and that she was initially identified as a male. She married the former Vivian Barrett while still living as a man and they were the parents of five children. Carmichael stated she had undergone hormone therapy
and was in the process of completing sex reassignment
. Carmichael had previously been charged by the FBI (when living as a male) for alleged involvement in a counterfeiting operation; she had been released on bail
and never appeared for trial.
After her arrest related to the Dale car, Carmichael's bail was paid by a news station that was guaranteed the rights to her story. She subsequently jumped bail and remained at large until the airing of an Unsolved Mysteries
episode in 1989. The episode revealed that Carmichael had been working as a flower vendor in Dale, Texas
by the name of Kathryn Elizabeth Johnson.
Unverified sources (one claiming to be a grandchild) report that Carmichael died of cancer in February 2004.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
who marketed the three-wheel Dale sports car in 1975.
The Dale car, a design of Dale Clift, was supposed to be produced by Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation in California. According to Twentieth Century's 1975 brochure, it had a two-cylinder engine, would reach 70 miles per US gallon (29.8 km/L) and would cost $2000. The body was to be constructed out of 'rocket structural resin' that would withstand damage well. There were only three prototype copies ever made and only one of them could move under its own power.
After having received money from investors, purportedly for the development and marketing of the Dale car, Carmichael disappeared and the funds were unaccounted for. She was charged with grand theft
Grand theft
Grand theft or grand larceny is a category used to rank the severity of crime associated with theft.Generally, in the United States it is defined as intentional taking property of others in an amount exceeding the state statutory amount....
, fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
, and securities
Securities fraud
Securities fraud, also known as stock fraud and investment fraud, is a practice that induces investors to make purchase or sale decisions on the basis of false information, frequently resulting in losses, in violation of the securities laws....
violations. During her trial, Clifft stated that he still believed in Carmichael and expected large royalties once the car would go into production. In fact, he received only $1001 and a bum check.
Following her arrest, it was discovered that Carmichael's given birth name was Jerry Dean Michael, which was still her legal name, and that she was initially identified as a male. She married the former Vivian Barrett while still living as a man and they were the parents of five children. Carmichael stated she had undergone hormone therapy
Hormone replacement therapy (male-to-female)
Hormone replacement therapy for transgender and transsexual people changes the balance of sex hormones in their bodies. Some intersex people also receive HRT, either starting in childhood to confirm the sex to which they were assigned, or later, if this assignment has proven to be incorrect...
and was in the process of completing sex reassignment
Sex reassignment therapy
Sex reassignment therapy is an umbrella term for all medical procedures regarding sex reassignment of both transgender and intersexual people...
. Carmichael had previously been charged by the FBI (when living as a male) for alleged involvement in a counterfeiting operation; she had been released on bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
and never appeared for trial.
After her arrest related to the Dale car, Carmichael's bail was paid by a news station that was guaranteed the rights to her story. She subsequently jumped bail and remained at large until the airing of an Unsolved Mysteries
Unsolved Mysteries
Unsolved Mysteries is an American television program, hosted by Robert Stack, from 1987 until 2002, and later by Dennis Farina, starting in 2008...
episode in 1989. The episode revealed that Carmichael had been working as a flower vendor in Dale, Texas
Dale, Texas
Dale is an unincorporated community in northeastern Caldwell County, Texas, United States.The Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad arrived in 1880 and the town's post office was granted that same year. Within five years, Dale had a population of 75. The town had three stores, a gristmill and cotton...
by the name of Kathryn Elizabeth Johnson.
Unverified sources (one claiming to be a grandchild) report that Carmichael died of cancer in February 2004.