Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion – Part Six: An Eye for an Eye

Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion – Part Six: An Eye for an Eye

In this episode, Ruth Ellis takes the stand in her own defense during her murder trial at the Old Bailey. What unfolds is one of the most disastrous testimonies in British legal history.

Ruth answers questions with little emotion, even while recounting her tumultuous relationship with David Blakely, his violence, her miscarriage, and her decision to end their affair. Her matter-of-fact answers shock the jury, and her own attorney is stunned when she calmly admits, “I had an idea I wanted to kill him.”

🔗 Listen now to hear the dramatic conclusion of Ruth’s trial—and stay tuned for Part Seven, the final chapter of her story.

Don’t miss the finale of this series, dropping September 8th.

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Sources:

A Fine Day for a Hanging: The Ruth Ellis Story, Carol Ann Lee, Mainstream Publishing, 2013.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Ellis

https://realcrimes.co.uk/ruth-ellis-jealousy-rejection-and-a-hanging/

https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/ruth-ellis-real-story-last-woman-hanged-murder-a-cruel-love-b1141748.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20141204212735/http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/women/ellis/5.html

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/sep/12/ukcrime.claredyer

https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/history/woman-hanged-ruth-ellis-hampshire-4192091

https://www.crimemagazine.com/ruth-ellis-love-lust-and-death-gallows


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✈️ Travel with Us to Mexico City! 🇲🇽

We’re taking Once Upon a Crime on the road—and you’re invited! In March 2026, join us for a fun, fabulous 4-day group trip to vibrant Mexico City. Explore incredible sights, savor delicious food, and connect with fellow true crime fans on an unforgettable adventure.

Reserve your spot today with just 25% down—but hurry, space is limited and will sell out fast!

🔗 Click here to learn more and book your spot now!

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Bands Gone Wild: Guns N’ Roses and The Riverport Riot

Bands Gone Wild: Guns N’ Roses and The Riverport Riot

In our first “Rocktober” episode of the month I’ll tell you the story of the Bad Boy of Rock and Roll - Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses.  In July of 1991, Guns N’ Roses was on its 28-month “Use Your Illusion” tour when the lead singer got into a fight with a fan kicking off a 3-hour riot in St. Louis, Missouri.  Guns N’ Roses would be banned from performing in St. Louis for years and face criminal and civil charges as a result. Resources:  “Guns N’ Roses: The St. Louis Incident” https://youtu.be/1qVzAA-v3qM “Looking Back at the Riverport Riot” by David Durchholtz for Billboard, July 26, 2017 “Reclusive Rocker Breaks His Silence” Luke Bainbridge for The Guardian, Oct 25, 2008 “Axl Rose’s Tragic Real-Life Story” by Rob Smith and Brian Boone for The Grunge, August 30, 2022. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

3 Loka 202242min

Crimes on Campus: Brock Turner

Crimes on Campus: Brock Turner

In this episode, I’ll cover a case that sparked a national debate and shone a spotlight on discrepancies in the justice system regarding the treatment and rights of survivors of sexual assault.  Brock Turner was a first-year student at Stanford University when he was accused of sexually assaulting a young woman. The media portrayal of the perpetrator and the leniency he received at sentencing would fuel public outrage regarding this highly publicized case. Resources: Know My Name: A Memoir, Chanel Miller, Penguin Books, 2019.  “Know My Name: Chanel Miller’s Story”, 60 Minutes, CBS, May 3, 2021. https://youtu.be/PTvHn2_0evo “Sentence in Stanford Assault Case Sparks Outrage”, Richard Gonzalez, NPR, June 6, 2016. “Thes Brock Turner Headlines are Beyond Tone Deaf”, Julie Sprankles, Bustle.com, June 6, 2016. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

26 Syys 202233min

Crimes on Campus: Melissa Drexler “Prom Mom”

Crimes on Campus: Melissa Drexler “Prom Mom”

In this episode I’ll tell you about a case that got worldwide media attention due to the bizarre circumstances, the heinous nature of the crime, and the venue at which it occurred - a high school prom. Resources: Melissa Drexler, murderpedia.comhttps://murderpedia.org/female.D/d/drexler-melissa.htm “Before Prom Night, a Suspect was the Girl Next Door” by Abby Goodnough and Bruce Weber for The New York Times, July 2, 1997. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/02/nyregion/before-prom-night-a-suspect-was-the-girl-next-door.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 Syys 202225min

Crimes on Campus: The Murder of Lola Martinez

Crimes on Campus: The Murder of Lola Martinez

A student residing with three roommates on an Indiana college campus finds herself mired in a tense living situation. An unusual set of circumstances soon turns deadly. Resources: Murder Loves Company: Dorm Living Nightmare, Season 1, Episode 1, The Investigation Discovery Channel, (2019). Liette Martinez Obituary, Las Cruces-Sun News, April 22, 2008. A series of articles regarding this case can be found in the Albuquerque Journal, April 18, 2008 - Sept. 19, 2008.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Syys 202226min

Wild Women: Kitty LeRoy

Wild Women: Kitty LeRoy

Kitty LeRoy was a sharpshooter, cardsharp, dancer, and entrepreneur.  She became a well-known entertainer in the Old West and ran with legends like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock. But her fierce temper and fiery personality often made her dangerous to be around. You may have never heard of Kitty LeRoy before but after this episode you won’t soon forget her. Resources:  “Kitty LeRoy: Lady Gambler and Gunfighter” by Kathy Weiser for Legends of America, Feb 2020.  https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-kittyleroy/ “Kitty LeRoy: Untimely Death” by Greta for Explore Dallas History, Dec 29, 2018.  https://exploredallashistory.com/kitty-leroy-untimely-death/ “Kitty LeRoy was a Jig Dancer and Much More” by Marshall Trimble for True West Magazine, August 3, 2016.  https://truewestmagazine.com/kitty-leroy-was-a-jig-dancer-and-much-more/ “Wild Women Wednesday: Kitty LeRoy” by Chris Enss for Cowgir Magazinel, Dec 30, 2015. https://cowgirlmagazine.com/wild-women-wednesday-kitty-leroy/ Boudoirs to Brothels: The Intimate World of Wild West Women, Michael Rutter, Farcountry Press, 2015. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Boudoirs_to_Brothels/QhrICgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

22 Elo 202220min

Wild Women: The True Story of Lavinia Fisher and The Six Mile Wayfarer House

Wild Women: The True Story of Lavinia Fisher and The Six Mile Wayfarer House

In 1819, Lavinia Fisher and her husband John were accused poisoning and murdering multiple guests of their Charleston, South Carolina inn and sentenced to hang.  But were the Fishers really serial killers or is the legend simply a tall tale concocted to entertain tourists? The true story of who Lavinia Fisher was and why she was hanged may shock you. Resources: Lavinia Fisher: Legends of America, https://www.legendsofamerica.com/sc-laviniafisher/ Murder and Mayhem in the Holy City, Pat Hendrix, The History Press, Charleston, South Carolina, 2006. Six Miles to Charleston: The True Story of John and Lavinia Fisher, Bruce Orr, The History Press, Charleston, South Carolina, 2010. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

15 Elo 202237min

Wild Women: Sally Six-Shooter

Wild Women: Sally Six-Shooter

In this series we’ll step back in history to learn about some of the history’s first female outlaws. In this episode I’ll tell you about Sally Skull, ranch owner, horse trader, fandango dancer, and gunslinger. Some say Sally’s quick temper - and even quicker hand with a gun - was responsible for the mysterious disappearances of two of her five husbands.  Resources:  “The legendary Sally Skull was a gun-slinging, foul-mouthed Texas horse trader”, Allison Ehrlich for the Corpus Christi Caller Times, March 17, 2022.  https://www.caller.com/story/news/special-reports/building-our-future/throwback/2022/03/17/tbt-sally-skull-gun-slinging-foul-mouthed-texas-horse-trader/7006359001/ “Two Sixshooters and a Sunbonnet”, Dan Kilgore for Publications of the Texas Folklore Society, Legendary Ladies of Texas.  http://sonsofdewittcolony.org/texwomen.htm Scull, Sarah Jane Newman (Sally) (1817 - unknown), Texas State Historical Association.  https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/scull-sarah-jane-newman-sally “Sally Skull - The Scariest Siren in Texas”, Maggie Van Ostrand for Legends of America. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-sallyskull/ Music Attributions: The following music was used for this media project: Music: Slow Western Intro by Brian Holtz Music Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8782-slow-western-intro License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1 Elo 202226min

Final Curtain Call: Fatal Obsession - The Murder of Catherine Woods

Final Curtain Call: Fatal Obsession - The Murder of Catherine Woods

A young girl leaves her hometown of Ohio for the Big Apple with her heart set on a career as a Broadway dancer. Instead, she meets a young man who becomes obsessed with controlling her life. Unable to let her go, Paul Cortez commits a shocking crime.  Resources: The People v. Paul Cortez, New York Court of Appeals filing, April 8, 2013.  https://casetext.com/brief/e970db1d-the-people-respondentvpaul-cortez-appellant-brief  “A dancer’s secret life and savage murder, Keith Morrison/NBCNews.com, Jan 15, 2006.  https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10868185  “The Last Dance”, 48 Hours, May 4, 2006, retrieved from CBSNews.com https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-last-dance/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

25 Heinä 202237min

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