Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion – Q&A Aftershow

Hanged: Ruth Ellis and the Price of Passion – Q&A Aftershow

In this special Aftershow episode, Esther and Lorena answer listener questions and reflect on the powerful story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in the United Kingdom.

Together, we unpack the psychology, the heartbreak, and the social forces behind one of Britain’s most infamous true crime cases. From Ruth’s volatile relationship with David Blakely to the justice system that sealed her fate, we dive deeper into what drove her — and what doomed her.

Plus, Esther reflects on Ruth’s final act, and whether she believed it was her only escape.

If you loved the Hanged series, this Aftershow gives you a chance to go behind the scenes, hear deeper insights, and join the conversation about love, obsession, and justice.


Highlights:

  • The emotional toll of toxic relationships and what they reveal about human behavior
  • Gender, class, and morality in 1950s Britain
  • How Ruth Ellis’s childhood and early adult experiences informed her choices about love, relationships, and obsession



✈️ 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!


Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review. Your support helps us bring more stories like Ruth’s to life.


Sources:

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

The Last Woman to be Hanged: The Ruth Ellis Story, Robert Hancock, Seven Dials Publishing, 2020.

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


Sponsors:

See a list of our sponsors and discount codes on our website:

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/


Links:

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast


✈️ 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 crimefans 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!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Last Stop: The Tokyo Subway Attack

Last Stop: The Tokyo Subway Attack

On March 20, 1995 a group of men board the Tokyo Metro subway system and release deadly sarin gas.  The mass murder was ordered by Aum Supreme Truth cult leader Shoko Asahara. #massmurder #cults #Japan #terrorism #chemicalweapons Resources: Books: The Cult at the End of the World by David Kaplan and Andrew Marshall Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche by Haruki Mrakami www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime to become a patron and get bonus content and merchandise. Social Media Links: www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimepod  www.twitter.com/uponacrime www.instagram.com/onceuponacrimepodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16 Huhti 201855min

Last Stop: The Hijacking of Bus 174

Last Stop: The Hijacking of Bus 174

A hijacking on a bus unfolds live on television in central Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June of 2000.  #hijacking #hostagecrisis #Brazil  Resources: Documentary: Bus 174 (2002) directed by Jose Padilha Podcast Recommendations: Trace Evidence https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/trace-evidence/id1239217007?mt=2 Not Perfect or Functional https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/not-perfect-or-functional-podcast-true-crime-sports/id1273572626?mt=2 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9 Huhti 201854min

Last Stop: The Chowchilla School Bus Kidnapping

Last Stop: The Chowchilla School Bus Kidnapping

In 1976, in the small farming community of Chowchilla, California, a school bus full of children is kidnapped for ransom.  #kidnappings #Chowchilla #ransom #crimehistory #California Resources: Dan Noyes, ABC7 News, "Parole hearing reveals new details about Chowchilla kidnapping," Nov 29, 2012.  Holly Yan, CNN, "California mass kidnapping: After being buried alive, victims relive nightmare," Dec 28, 2015.  Robert Lindsey, The New York Times, "26 Children Found Safe After Being Kidnapped from Bus in Caliifornia," July 17, 1976.  Follow us at: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime www.twitter.com/uponacrime www.instagram.com/onceuponacrimepod www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimepod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2 Huhti 201839min

Unusual Criminal Defenses: The Affluenza Defense

Unusual Criminal Defenses: The Affluenza Defense

A 16-year-old boy from a well-to-do Fort Worth family commits a quadruple vehicular homicide.  His attorneys will argue that his overprivileged upbringing resulted in him not knowing how to discern right from wrong. The term "affluenza" was coined to describe defendants like Ethan Couch - wealthy, spoiled and held unaccountable for their bad behavior.  I'll also describe how this same defense was used in 1924 to defend the wealthy teenaged murderers Leopold and Loeb.  #LeopoldandLoeb #CrimeoftheCentury #EthanCouch #Affluenza Resources: Manny Fernandez, Richard Perez-Pena and Azam Ahmed, The New York Times, "Ethan Couch, 'Affluenza' Teenager, Had Last Party Before Fleeing," Dec 29, 2015.  Michael J. Mooney, D Magazine, "The Worst Parents Ever," May 2015.   American Experience, PBS Television, "The Perfect Crime: Leopold and Loeb". See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

26 Maalis 201845min

Unusual Criminal Defenses: The Twinkie Defense

Unusual Criminal Defenses: The Twinkie Defense

Supervisor Dan White murders San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978. His defense would claim "diminished capacity" to keep him from being sentenced to death. The media dubbed this "The Twinkie Defense". But, what really caused Dan White to become a double murderer? Resources John Geluardi, SF Weekly, "Dan White's motive more about betrayal than homophobia," Jan 30, 2008. Carol Pogash, SFGate.com, "Myth of the 'Twinkie Defense', Nov 23, 2003. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Maalis 201833min

Unusual Criminal Defenses: The Sleepwalking Defense

Unusual Criminal Defenses: The Sleepwalking Defense

Three cases are outlined where a person commits murder and then blames the crime on sleepwalking.  First up, Albert Tirrell murders his mistress in 1846 claiming he was in a trance-like state at the time. Kenneth Parks travels 23 km to commit a murder - all while asleep, he claimed. Finally, another man tries to use the sleepwalking defense after killing his wife in Phoenix, Arizona in 1997. Resources: Karen Abbott, Smithsonian.com, "The Case of the Sleepwalking Killer," April 30, 2012.  Paul Rubin, NewTimes.com, "A Killer Sleep Disorder," Nov 19, 1998.  True Crime Truant, "Scott Falater: Sleepwalking Killer Gets a Wakeup Call," July 20, 2017.  Berit Brogaard and Kristian Marlow, Psychology Today, "Sleep Driving and Sleep Killing: The Kenneth Parks Case," Dec 13, 2012. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

6 Maalis 201839min

Academy Award Winning Crimes: Stolen Oscars, Streakers and Deadly Deeds

Academy Award Winning Crimes: Stolen Oscars, Streakers and Deadly Deeds

In this final chapter of our series, we uncover the sinister side of Hollywood’s biggest night. From missing and stolen Oscars to the shocking murder tied to an Academy Award-winning songwriter, the glamour of the Oscars hides a darker reality. Plus, we revisit the bizarre and tragic tale of the Oscar Night Streaker—one of the ceremony’s most infamous moments. Join us as we pull back the curtain on these chilling true crime stories connected to the Academy Awards. 🔍 Featured Cases: 🏆 The mystery of stolen and missing Oscar trophies 🎭 The tragic fate of the Oscar Night Streaker 🕵️‍♂️ A murder with ties to an Academy Award-winning legacy 🎬 Resources & References: 📽️ Uncle Bob – Documentary by Robert Oppel 📺 Do Not Disturb: Hotel Horrors – S1, E1: Power, Privilege, and Passion (Investigation Discovery) – Featuring the case of Sylvie Cachay 🔗 Follow & Subscribe for More True Crime Deep Dives! #Oscars #AcademyAwards #CelebrityCrimes #HollywoodCrime #TrueCrime #UnsolvedMysteries  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

27 Helmi 201844min

Academy Award Winning Crimes: The Killing Fields and Dr. Haing S. Ngor

Academy Award Winning Crimes: The Killing Fields and Dr. Haing S. Ngor

From the horrors of Cambodia’s Killing Fields to the bright lights of Hollywood, Haing S. Ngor’s journey is one of survival, resilience, and tragic injustice. After escaping the Cambodian genocide, he defied the odds and won an Academy Award for his powerful performance in The Killing Fields. But his story didn’t end with cinematic triumph—it took a heartbreaking turn that remains shrouded in mystery. In this episode, we explore Ngor’s remarkable life, his haunting past, and the crime that cut his story short.   📚 Resources 📖 A Cambodian Odyssey by Haing S. Ngor & Roger Warner 📖 Survival in the Killing Fields by Haing S. Ngor 🎥 The Killing Fields (1984) – Directed by Roland Joffé, starring Haing S. Ngor, Sam Waterston, and John Malkovich 📽️ The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor (2015) – Documentary by Arthur Dong (Deep Focus Productions) 🔗 Follow & Subscribe for More True Crime Stories! #Genocide #Cambodia #VietnamWar #Refugees #HollywoodCrime #TrueCrime #HaingSNgorSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

20 Helmi 201830min

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