Historical True Crime

In 1692, a handful of accusations in Salem,Massachusetts, ignited one of the most infamous witch hunts in history. As fear spread, neighbours turned against neighbours, spectral evidence was accepted in court, and innocent people faced imprisonment and execution. In this milestone 200th episode of Historical True Crime, we explore the Salem witch trials, from Tituba's extraordinaryconfession and the first accusations to the trials, executions, and devastating aftermath. What caused the hysteria, why did it spread, and how did it finally end? Support Historical True Crime on Patreon! Get access to exclusive bonus episodes and additional historical true crime stories: https://www.patreon.com/historicaltruecrime Love the podcast? Vote for Historical True Crime in the iHeartRadio Top Host contest! Your support helps introduce the show to new listeners. TopHost: https://tophost.org/2026/elizabeth-scott Source Materials Emerson W. Baker — A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience (2015) Benjamin C. Ray — Satan and Salem: The Witch-Hunt Crisis of 1692 (2015) Mary Beth Norton — In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 (2002) Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum — Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft (1974) Robert Calef — More Wonders of the Invisible World (1700) John Hale — A Modest Enquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft (1702) Increase Mather — Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits Personating Men (1692) Cotton Mather — The Wonders of the Invisible World (1693) Bernard Rosenthal, general editor — Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt (2009) University of Virginia — Salem Witch TrialsDocumentary Archive and Transcription Project: https://salem.lib.virginia.edu/ Salem Witch Museum — Historical research and primary-source resources: https://salemwitchmuseum.com/

In 1922, Edith Thompson's husband was stabbed to death while the couple walked home from the theatre in London. Her young lover, Frederick Bywaters, admitted to the killing but Edith was also charged with murder. At the centre of the sensational trial were Edith's passionate letters, which prosecutors claimed revealed a deadly conspiracy. Was Edith involved in her husband's murder, or were her private words used to condemn her? This week on Historical True Crime, we explore the Edith Thompson and Frederick Bywaters case, one of Britain's most controversial murder trials. Support Historical True Crime! Vote for me in the iHeartRadio Top Host contest! I'd love your support as I work to grow the podcast. Every vote means so much! Vote here: https://tophost.org/2026/elizabeth-scott Join me on Patreon! For exclusive bonus episodes and more historical true crime stories, you can support the show for just $2/month. Join here: https://www.patreon.com/historicaltruecrime Thank you for listening and supporting Historical True Crime! Source Materials Filson Young (ed.), Trial of Frederick Bywaters and Edith Thompson (Notable British Trials, William Hodge & Co., 1923). René Weis, Criminal Justice: The True Story of Edith Thompson (1988). Lewis Broad, The Innocence of Edith Thompson: A Study in Old Bailey Justice (1952). The Trial of Frederick Bywaters and Edith Thompson — Original trial proceedings, Old Bailey, December 6–11, 1922. Edith Thompson and Frederick Bywaters — Surviving correspondence and letters presented as evidence at trial. René Weis, Edith Jessie Thompson — Historical research, archival documents, original correspondence, and supplementary materials. https://edithjessiethompson.com https://edithjessiethompson.com/notable-british-trials-1923/ https://edithjessiethompson.com/verbatim-trial-transcript-december-1922/ https://edithjessiethompson.com/letters-of-edith-thompson-and-frederick-bywaters-4/

In July 1918, Russia's last emperor, Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, their five children and four loyal attendants were murdered in the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg. For decades, the disappearance of their remains fuelled rumours that Anastasia Romanov had survived. From the family's final months in captivity to the investigation, disputed survival claims and eventual DNA discoveries, this episode explores the murders of the Romanov family and the mystery that endured for nearly a century. Support Historical True Crime on Patreon Love Historical True Crime? Support the podcast on Patreon for access to exclusive bonus episodes, including historical murders, mysterious disappearances and fascinating cases you won't hear on the main feed. Your support helps keep the podcast going and allows me to continue bringing these stories to life. Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historicaltruecrime Source Materials Helen Rappaport, The Last Days of the Romanovs: Tragedy at Ekaterinburg (2008) Helen Rappaport, The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra (2014) Pierre Gilliard, Thirteen Years at the Russian Court Robert Wilton, The Last Days of the Romanovs (1920) Joshua Hammer, “Resurrecting the Czar,” Smithsonian Magazine (2010) Michael D. Coble et al., “Mystery Solved: The Identification of the Two Missing Romanov Children Using DNA Analysis,” PLOS ONE (2009) Michael D. Coble, “The Identification of the Romanovs: Can We (Finally) Put the Controversies to Rest?” Investigative Genetics (2011)

In 1877, Harriet Staunton died after months of isolation at a cottage in Kent. Her husband, his brother, sister-in-law and mistress were charged with her murder in a case that became known as the Penge Murder. But when doctors disagreed over whether Harriet had died from starvation or disease, the verdict sparked a controversy that would change the fate of all four defendants. Love Historical True Crime? Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes, extra historical mysteries and more stories that don’t make it onto the main feed. Your support helps keep the podcast going and means so much to me. You can find us at patreon.com/historicaltruecrime.Source Materials J. B. Atlay, Trial of the Stauntons (1911) Old Bailey Proceedings, Trial of Louis Staunton, Patrick Staunton, Elizabeth Staunton and Alice Rhodes (September 1877) J. E. Wilkinson et al., “Report of Post Mortem Examination, and on the Cause of Death, of Harriet Staunton, Aged Thirty-Five,” The British Medical Journal (October 27, 1877) Dr. J. F. Payne, commentary on the Staunton case, The British Medical Journal (October 27, 1877) Dr. W. S. Greenfield, “Some Remarks on the Medical Evidence in the Staunton Case,” The Lancet (October 6, 1877) The Lancet, contemporary commentary on the Staunton verdict and medical evidence (1877) The Daily Telegraph, contemporary reporting and correspondence on the Penge Murder (1877) Lilly Library, Indiana University, Off the Pedestal: Images of Women in Victorian Broadsides, Ephemera, and Books

In 1924, George Mallory and Sandy Irvine disappeared high on Mount Everest, leaving behind one of mountaineering’s most enduring mysteries. A century later, new discoveries have added clues but still no definitive answer. Did they reachthe summit nearly 30 years before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay? In this episode, we trace the 1924 Everest expedition, Mallory and Irvine’s final climb, the evidence found in the decades since, and the 2024 discovery believed to be linked to Irvine. Love Historical True Crime and want more? Join me on Patreon for bonus episodes and extra historical deep dives that don’t make it onto the main feed. Your support also helps keep the show independent and makes it possible for me to keep researching and producing new episodes. Patreon.com/historicaltruecrime Source Materials Wade Davis, Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest E. F. Norton et al., The Fight for Everest: 1924 Noel E. Odell, “The Last Climb of Mallory and Irvine,” The Geographical Journal (1924) Royal Geographical Society, “The Mount Everest Expedition of 1924,” The Geographical Journal (1924) Grayson Schaffer, “Exclusive: Remains of Andrew ‘Sandy’ Irvine Believed to Have Been Found on Everest,” National Geographic (2024) Tessa Wong and Flora Drury, “Family Tells of ‘Relief’ After 1924 Climber’s Foot Found on Everest,” BBC News (2024) Mark Synnott, “The Mystery of Mallory and Irvine,” Artful Living (2024) Aberdeen Press and Journal, “More Light on Everest Disaster: Mr Odell’s Last View of Lost Climbers” (1924)