One night after a party at their home, on January 10th, 1910, Belle vanished. Dr. Crippen told everyone she returned to the United States and later added that she had died in California and been cremated. Meanwhile, his lover Ethel Le Neve moved in with him, openly wearing Belle's clothes and jewelry. The British Police was informed of Belle's disappearance. The house was searched, but nothing was found. Hawley and Ethel fled to Antwerp, Belgium where they boarded a ship to Canada, the SS Montrose. Scotland Yard did a second search of the house, this time finding human remains in the basement. Sir Spilsbury found traces of hyoscine, a muscle relaxer, in her body. Very toxic in small amounts. It is generally used in fractional amounts to calm insane people and alcoholics. Larger doses can lead to hallucinations, outbursts, and lunacy, and a fraction more can be lethal. The body's head, limbs, and skeleton were missing. She was identified by tissue samples taken from her torso's abdomen. Crippen's lover was disguised as a boy on the ship, but an alert Captain who was following the crime on his radio, recognized the couple and contacted the British authorities. When the ship docked the couple was arrested on July 10th, 1910 and taken back to England to face charges and a brief trial.
The evidence and theory which he killed his wife was gruesome. After she died, he professionally removed her bones and limbs, burning them in the kitchen stove. Her organs were dissolved in acid in the bath tub. Her head was placed in a hand bag and thrown overboard during a day trip to Dieppe, France. Dr. Crippen showed no remorse and claimed his innocence throughout. He admitted to Ethel he killed his wife, because she had syphilis. Though Ethel was tried as an accessory, she was found not guilty and released. Dr. Crippen was found guilty, an appeal rejected at the last moment. He was executed at Pentonville Prison in London, England, by hanging on the gallows. He was 48 at time of death. With his last wish granted, to be buried with a photo of his lover, Ethel, and her letters. She had visited him and wrote him often in prison.
It was later learned that the remains may not have been his wife's.
One night after a party at their home, on January 10th, 1910, Belle vanished. Dr. Crippen told everyone she returned to the United States and later added that she had died in California and been cremated. Meanwhile, his lover Ethel Le Neve moved in with him, openly wearing Belle's clothes and jewelry. The British Police was informed of Belle's disappearance. The house was searched, but nothing was found. Hawley and Ethel fled to Antwerp, Belgium where they boarded a ship to Canada, the SS Montrose. Scotland Yard did a second search of the house, this time finding human remains in the basement. Sir Spilsbury found traces of hyoscine, a muscle relaxer, in her body. Very toxic in small amounts. It is generally used in fractional amounts to calm insane people and alcoholics. Larger doses can lead to hallucinations, outbursts, and lunacy, and a fraction more can be lethal. The body's head, limbs, and skeleton were missing. She was identified by tissue samples taken from her torso's abdomen. Crippen's lover was disguised as a boy on the ship, but an alert Captain who was following the crime on his radio, recognized the couple and contacted the British authorities. When the ship docked the couple was arrested on July 10th, 1910 and taken back to England to face charges and a brief trial.
The evidence and theory which he killed his wife was gruesome. After she died, he professionally removed her bones and limbs, burning them in the kitchen stove. Her organs were dissolved in acid in the bath tub. Her head was placed in a hand bag and thrown overboard during a day trip to Dieppe, France. Dr. Crippen showed no remorse and claimed his innocence throughout. He admitted to Ethel he killed his wife, because she had syphilis. Though Ethel was tried as an accessory, she was found not guilty and released. Dr. Crippen was found guilty, an appeal rejected at the last moment. He was executed at Pentonville Prison in London, England, by hanging on the gallows. He was 48 at time of death. With his last wish granted, to be buried with a photo of his lover, Ethel, and her letters. She had visited him and wrote him often in prison.
It was later learned that the remains may not have been his wife's.
Gravesite Details
Grave is unmarked and not accessible to the public.
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