Chelsea Wood

Hey, Serial Killers listeners, producer Chelsea here. I wanted to tell you about some new information I discovered since working on this episode. Just a few days after we recorded, author Hallie Rubenhold released a book about the case titled Story of a Murder, The Wives, The Mistress, and Dr. Crippen. As its title suggests, the book focuses on the women in Holly Harvey Crippen's life.

Hey, Serial Killers listeners, producer Chelsea here. I wanted to tell you about some new information I discovered since working on this episode. Just a few days after we recorded, author Hallie Rubenhold released a book about the case titled Story of a Murder, The Wives, The Mistress, and Dr. Crippen. As its title suggests, the book focuses on the women in Holly Harvey Crippen's life.

Information about his first wife, Charlotte, was sparse when I researched this episode. In Story of a Murder, Rubenhold fills in those gaps. Charlotte immigrated from Ireland in the mid-1880s and settled in New York City. She trained to be a nurse, then got a job at a homeopathic hospital. That's where she met Holly Harvey Crippen.

Information about his first wife, Charlotte, was sparse when I researched this episode. In Story of a Murder, Rubenhold fills in those gaps. Charlotte immigrated from Ireland in the mid-1880s and settled in New York City. She trained to be a nurse, then got a job at a homeopathic hospital. That's where she met Holly Harvey Crippen.

The couple married in 1887, and Charlotte quit her nursing career to join her husband as he jumped from job to job, city to city. Rubenhold discovered evidence suggesting Crippen may have been abusing his wife. Neighbors witnessed Crippen throwing a book at Charlotte. They claimed she lived in fear of her husband. The couple welcomed a boy in 1889, but never had another child.

The couple married in 1887, and Charlotte quit her nursing career to join her husband as he jumped from job to job, city to city. Rubenhold discovered evidence suggesting Crippen may have been abusing his wife. Neighbors witnessed Crippen throwing a book at Charlotte. They claimed she lived in fear of her husband. The couple welcomed a boy in 1889, but never had another child.

Charlotte sent letters to her brother alleging Crippen had been performing unwanted abortions on her. In one letter, Charlotte wrote, "'If I die, it will be his fault.'" Charlotte's death in 1892 was officially ruled apoplexy, a stroke, but hindsight certainly raises some questions. Charlotte was only 33 and reportedly healthy.

Charlotte sent letters to her brother alleging Crippen had been performing unwanted abortions on her. In one letter, Charlotte wrote, "'If I die, it will be his fault.'" Charlotte's death in 1892 was officially ruled apoplexy, a stroke, but hindsight certainly raises some questions. Charlotte was only 33 and reportedly healthy.

Crippen had access to various poisons through his homeopathic practice. That would be the method he would later use to kill his second wife, Cora. Could he have also murdered his first wife the same way? Ultimately, the real answer is likely lost to time, but at least now we have a fuller picture of Charlotte's story.

Crippen had access to various poisons through his homeopathic practice. That would be the method he would later use to kill his second wife, Cora. Could he have also murdered his first wife the same way? Ultimately, the real answer is likely lost to time, but at least now we have a fuller picture of Charlotte's story.

Another important woman in Dr. Crippen's life was his second spouse, Cora Turner, which was just one of the stage names she used in her career. Crippen painted Cora out to be a talentless dilettante who bled him dry with her penchant for high fashion. But in her book, Rubenhold found several positive reviews of Cora's performances.

Another important woman in Dr. Crippen's life was his second spouse, Cora Turner, which was just one of the stage names she used in her career. Crippen painted Cora out to be a talentless dilettante who bled him dry with her penchant for high fashion. But in her book, Rubenhold found several positive reviews of Cora's performances.

And Dr. Crippen's problems with money date back to long before he even met Cora. Finally, there's Crippen's mistress, Ethel Lenev. While she was briefly jailed after her and Crippen's transatlantic escape, she was not found to have taken part in the murder or even known anything about it. After her release, Ethel lived the next decade or so in relative obscurity.

And Dr. Crippen's problems with money date back to long before he even met Cora. Finally, there's Crippen's mistress, Ethel Lenev. While she was briefly jailed after her and Crippen's transatlantic escape, she was not found to have taken part in the murder or even known anything about it. After her release, Ethel lived the next decade or so in relative obscurity.

She got married and had two children, but never told her family about her past. Rubenhold's research uncovered some interviews Ethel granted throughout the 1920s. Being acquitted of the murder didn't stop the press and locals from believing she knew something about it. She wanted to put a stop to the rumors once and for all. But Rubenholdt says the interviews only fan the flames.

She got married and had two children, but never told her family about her past. Rubenhold's research uncovered some interviews Ethel granted throughout the 1920s. Being acquitted of the murder didn't stop the press and locals from believing she knew something about it. She wanted to put a stop to the rumors once and for all. But Rubenholdt says the interviews only fan the flames.

Like her one-time lover, Ethel's story changed often. Sometimes she would insist Cora was still alive. Other times she claimed Cora's death was little more than an accident. She also never publicly expressed remorse or sympathy for Cora's death, only an insistence that Ethel herself was the victim, robbed of a happily ever after with Dr. Crippen.

Like her one-time lover, Ethel's story changed often. Sometimes she would insist Cora was still alive. Other times she claimed Cora's death was little more than an accident. She also never publicly expressed remorse or sympathy for Cora's death, only an insistence that Ethel herself was the victim, robbed of a happily ever after with Dr. Crippen.

Story of a murder does help enrich our understanding of the Crippen case, but it doesn't answer every question. If the doctor did kill his wife, what was the motive? Was it premeditated? A crime of passion? A total accident? And those questions only exist if the body in the cellar was really Cora's. Forensic toxicologist John Trestrail's examination found no genetic connection to Cora's relatives.

Story of a murder does help enrich our understanding of the Crippen case, but it doesn't answer every question. If the doctor did kill his wife, what was the motive? Was it premeditated? A crime of passion? A total accident? And those questions only exist if the body in the cellar was really Cora's. Forensic toxicologist John Trestrail's examination found no genetic connection to Cora's relatives.