The True Story of An East Lyme Man Who Became A Nazi Spy

William C. Colepaugh was born and raised in the Black Point section of Niantic but in the late 1930s, he found himself in Germany where he was recruited to spy on the United States. 

Feeling he had no choice at the time, Colepaugh went along with the plan but turned himself and his handler in to the FBI not long after returning Stateside. He was tried by a military tribunal and initially sentenced to death. His sentence was commuted to life in prison, but Colepaugh ended up serving 15 years before he was released. 

Robert A. Miller met Colepaugh through, of all places, the Rotary Club. By that time, Colepaugh was a successful businessman, a family man, and an upstanding member of the community. Few knew of his past until a journalist wrote about it in 2002. 

Tonight, Miller will give a talk based on his book, "A True Story of An American Nazi Spy: William Curtis Colepaugh." The talk will be held at the Niantic Bay Yacht Club at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.