SOLVED: The Heartbreak Murder 1
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What draws us to crimes of passion?
This is Crime House. There's something about a crime of passion that draws us in. Whether it's love, jealousy, even rage, we can all relate to a certain degree. But while most of us never act on those violent feelings, there are some people out there who can't control themselves. In the end, they wind up hurting the person they love the most in this world.
Who were Ruth Ellis and David Blakely?
When David Blakely and Ruth Ellis met in 1953, their hot and heavy romance had the makings of a Shakespearean drama down to the murder and betrayal. The difference was this wasn't a work of fiction. These were real people whose actions had real consequences. And when the dust settled, one of them would be facing execution. People's lives are like a story. There's a beginning, a middle, and an end, but you don't always know which part you're on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon, and we don't always get to know the real ending. I'm Carter Roy, and this is Murder True Crime Stories, the Crime House original show powered by Pave Studios. Every Tuesday, I'll explore the story of a notorious murder or murders.
I'll be bringing awareness to stories that need to be heard with a focus on those who were impacted. At Crime House, we want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, reviewing, and following Murder True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly matters. And to enhance your Murder True Crime Stories listening experience, subscribe to Crime House Plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode ad-free, and instead of having to wait for each episode of a two-part series, you'll get access to both at once, plus exciting bonus content. This is the first of two episodes on the murder of David Blakely. an English race car driver who was killed in 1955 by his lover, Ruth Ellis. Today, I'll introduce you to Ruth and David,
they came from very different backgrounds but when they met at a london nightclub in 1953 they were immediately drawn to each other and for the next year their toxic relationship wreaked havoc on their lives next time i'll walk you through the dramatic end of their relationship and the sensational murder trial that followed I'll talk about the impact it left on the British justice system and why this notorious crime of passion forever changed the way homicides are prosecuted. All that and more, coming up. Not everyone believes in signs, but sometimes they seem so obvious it's hard not to. Ruth Nielsen was born on October 9, 1926, in the seaside town of Rhyl in Wales. That day, an unusually strong sandstorm hit Rhyl.
How did Ruth Ellis's early life shape her future?
It would set the tone for the rest of Ruth's tumultuous life. Still, the first few years of her youth were relatively stable. Ruth's dad, Arthur, was a cellist and made a decent living playing live soundtracks in silent movie theaters. Her mom Bertha stayed at home to take care of Ruth and her four siblings. But by the early 1930s, technological advancements in the film industry meant the end of silent movies, and soon Arthur was out of work. The Nielsen family left Wales and spent the next few years moving around towns in the UK, renting small apartments while Arthur searched for a new job. Arthur was ashamed he couldn't provide for his family. By the early 1930s, he sank into a deep depression that only got worse when his twin brother died in a freak bicycle accident. Arthur turned to alcohol to cope with the loss and soon his behavior spiraled out of control. He began sexually assaulting Ruth and her older sister Muriel, who weren't even teenagers yet.
Bertha turned a blind eye, and the abuse reached a horrible turning point when 14-year-old Muriel became pregnant with her father's child in 1934. Even then, no one punished Arthur. After Muriel gave birth, her son was raised as though he was one of her siblings. No one outside the Nielsen family knew the dark truth. Although the Nielsens tried to pretend they were one big happy family, they were all desperate for a fresh start. They got that chance six years later in 1940, when the family moved to South London. Ruth, who was 14 at the time, was thrilled about living in the big city. She loved the fast-paced lifestyle and exciting new people around her. But the good times didn't last long.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What draws us to crimes of passion?
0:06–0:38
2
Who were Ruth Ellis and David Blakely?
0:38–3:51
3
How did Ruth Ellis's early life shape her future?
3:51–11:38
4
What was Ruth Ellis's relationship with George Ellis like?
11:38
5
How did Ruth Ellis transition from modeling to a nightclub hostess?
10:37–17:30
6
What events led to Ruth Ellis's marriage with George?
17:30–35:45