Millionaire’s Wild Bunker Gone Wrong: From Flashy Suit to Firehouse Flashbacks
A dude named Daniel Beckwitt, a 27‑year‑old multimillionaire stock trader who thinks conspiracies are the new black, is headed back to court this Friday. He’s facing second‑degree murder and involuntary manslaughter charges after a tragic tunnel fire in his Bethesda home wiped out 21‑year‑old Askia Khafra last fall.
The “Bunker Plan” That Turned Into a Bad Habit
- Beckwitt wanted a secret underground lair to escape what he calls growing “intercontinental missile threats” from North Korea.
- He recruited Khafra, promising the young guy a pay‑check to build and live in the tunnel for days—think whole‑day, no‑breaks bunker life.
- The supposed tunnel started a good 200 feet below a 20‑foot shaft, but it went way too messy: piles of junk, a tangled chase of power cords, and an overall unsafe vibe.
- When the basement caught fire, Khafra couldn’t escape. The fire was the ultimate spoiler for the bunker project.
Why a Fortune‑Hoarder Is in This Mess
Beckwitt kept his identity under the cover of a shiny gold suit and a hood that looked eerily similar to a firefighting protective mask. He even boomed at a hacking convention about “Orwellian tyranny” and “signals intelligence”—all while wearing that ridiculous look.
Later on, the grand jury dropped a legal hat on him on Thursday, and his lawyer, Robert Bonsib, picturing him as “an unusual individual,” stressed that the whole venture was all about seeking safety amid escalating U.S.–North Korea tensions.
What Made the Case Worse
- Khafra was allegedly transported in a car on a deceptive route with dark glasses to keep the project under the radar.
- The government‑agent John McCarthy slammed the project as “disregarding human life.”
Dried Taxes: $100k Bond — Too good to keep this guy behind bars for a while. He’ll be out of custody on Monday morning, WRC‑TV reports.
The courtroom drama is set for June 8th. Everyone is watching to see whether someone who thinks a bunker might balance a stock portfolio gets a chance to breathe again—or if the judge will just say, “Dude, you can’t build a submarine out of junk.” The story is a grim reminder that even the most expensive plan can go on fire when you ignore safety.
