New Jersey man is accused of faking his own death

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ -- A man who was indicted on theft charges and then disappeared in a suspicious boating accident has turned up safe and in court.

Andrew Biddle, 45, of Egg Harbor Township, appeared before a judge Thursday in Atlantic County. Biddle and his employer are accused of using Professional Boat Sales, Service and Storage in Egg Harbor Township to deceive people and steal money.

Biddle was reported missing July 20 after he and another man went into the water when their pontoon boat hit a buoy in Longport. His friend swam to shore and called police to say Biddle was missing.

The Coast Guard searched for Biddle, but law enforcement officials said two weeks later that they believed the accident was staged because the disappearance came after Biddle was indicted on three counts of theft by deception and accused of taking boats in trade and reselling them without paying off the loans.

"He recently called me and said he wanted to step up to the plate and take responsibility," attorney Mark Roddy told The Press of Atlantic City. "I told him, if he was serious, to call me when he was back in the area, and I would set something up.

Biddle would not say where he's been since July, his lawyer said. Roddy believes his client returned because of his wife and children.