A New Hampshire Democratic congressional candidate staged a car crash, fabricated a disappearance and altered his appearance in a bid to gain publicity for his 2006 campaign, WMUR-TV reports.

According to court documents obtained by the station, Gary Dodds faked his April 2006 car accident on the Spaulding Turnpike in Dover as well as his subsequent 24-hour disappearance in order to increase the publicity surrounding his primary campaign.

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Investigators also said Dodds — who was running for the Democratic nomination to face Republican U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley — took out two mortgages on his property in order to pay for the race.

In the end, Dodds' efforts to take New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District were unsuccessful. Carol Shea-Porter, who won the Democratic nomination, beat Bradley.