Murder: True Crime Stories - SOLVED: The Heartbreak Murder 1

Episode Date: February 18, 2025

In 1953, 27-year-old nightclub hostess Ruth Ellis began a tempestuous romance with 24-year-old race car driver David Blakely. Two years later, their passionate but toxic relationship set the stage for one of the UK’s most infamous crimes of passion. Murder: True Crime Stories is a Crime House Original. For more, follow us on TikTok and Instagram @crimehouse To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. 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 are 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. and more. Follow Crime House True Crime Stories now wherever you get your podcasts. And for ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House Plus on Apple podcasts.

With the Fizz loyalty program, you get rewarded just for having a mobile plan. You know, for texting and stuff. And if you're not getting rewards like extra data and dollars off with your mobile plan, you're not with Fizz. Switch today. Conditions apply. Details at fizz.ca. 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. 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 Nielsen's 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. When the Nielsons first moved to London, the city was relatively unscathed by the violence of World War II, but by 1941, London became a major battleground. That year, Ruth's house was bombed by the Germans. Ruth's father was buried in the rubble and she didn't hesitate to save him. Despite the awful things he'd done to her and her sister, Ruth still loved him. She raced into the carnage to drag him out. Thanks to Ruth's bravery, Arthur survived.

But the event made Ruth rethink her life. But the event made Ruth rethink her life. As a young girl living through a war, she realized she didn't have much use for school. At 14 or 15 years old, Ruth decided to drop out and find a job. She was determined to escape the cycle of poverty she'd been born into and didn't think she needed an education to do it. One of her first jobs was as a machine operator at a factory. She wasn't making much money, but it was enough to buy a new dress from time to time. As a teenage girl, that's all Ruth really wanted. She didn't care about boys or making friends. She was focused on keeping her head

above water. The girls at the factory described Ruth as stuck up. Even though she was one of them, it seemed like Ruth thought she was above her working class peers. She stuck it out at the factory for the next couple of years, but all the while Ruth imagined a better life for herself, one filled with luxury and sophistication. In 1943, 16-year-old Ruth got one step closer to that dream when she took a job as a photographer's assistant at the Lyceum Ballroom in central London. at the Lyceum Ballroom in central London. With World War II still in full swing, the Lyceum was packed with soldiers on leave looking for a good time. One night, as Ruth made her way around the ballroom taking photographs, a male Canadian

soldier in his late twenties named Claire struck up a conversation with her. Although Claire had a wife and two children back home, he was immediately smitten with Ruth, and she didn't seem to mind that he was a married man, especially because he had a lot of money to burn. Soon he was whining and dining Ruth at fancy restaurants and spoiling her with lavish gifts. Just a few months later, in the winter of 1943, 17-year-old Ruth discovered she was pregnant. Claire offered to divorce his wife and stay in London with Ruth, but her mom Bertha was outraged at the proposal.

She basically told Claire to get lost and promised Ruth she would help take care of the baby. Ruth was devastated, but she didn't put up a fight. With a child on the way, she had to think about her future. She quit her job at the Lyceum and found work as a cashier at a café. It was a far cry from the opulence of the ballroom, but at least she could sit down when she wasn't checking out customers. Ruth continued to work at the cafe until she was well into her pregnancy, and in September

1944, just a few weeks shy of her 18th birthday, Ruth gave birth to a son named Andy. When people asked about the father, Ruth said he was an American pilot who had been killed in combat. Regardless of the truth about Andy's origins, the reality was the same. Ruth was a single mother, and even with her family's help, she desperately needed to support her son. Which is why a year or so after giving birth, she answered an ad looking for nude models at a studio called The Camera Club.

With as many as 20 men at a time snapping pictures of her, it took some getting used to. Many men at a time snapping pictures of her it took some getting used to, but Ruth quickly realized how comfortable she was in front of the camera. She gained confidence, and soon she actually enjoyed her work at the studio. But most of all, she enjoyed getting paid. Ruth was making one pound an hour, which would be around $70 today with inflation, it was more money than she'd ever made in her life. Plus, the cameramen treated her well.

The war was over by then, and after work they'd take her out on the town and buy her drinks and food. One evening in 1946, about a year into her time at the camera club, 19-year-old Ruth and her companions made their way to an upscale nightclub in the Mayfair neighborhood. She had no idea she was about to meet a man who would change her entire life. Get groceries delivered across the GTA from real Canadian Superstore with PC Express. Shop online for super prices and super savings. Try it today and get up to $75 in PC Optimum Points. Visit superstore.ca to get started.

Hey everyone, it's Carter. If you're loving murder true crime stories, you won't want to miss our studio's new show, Crime House True Crime Stories. Every Monday, you'll go on an in-depth journey through two of the most notorious true crime cases from that week in history, all linked by a common theme. From infamous serial killers and mysterious disappearances to unsolved murders, we are bringing you the defining events that shape true crime, both past and present. Each episode dives into the stories behind the headlines,

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By 1946, World War II was over and the streets of London were buzzing with activity. By then, 19-year-old Ruth Nielsen had been working as a nude model for around two years to support herself and her two-year-old son, Andy. While Ruth still lived in South London with her parents, she was well on her way to the bigger and better life she'd always dreamed of. After finishing up her photo shoots for the day, Ruth would often go out on the town with her friends and clients. They frequented fancy spots like the Crown Club in the Mayfair neighborhood.

To Ruth, these nightclubs represented the pinnacle of society. The champagne was free-flowing, the clothing was high-end, and the people were rich. It was exactly the kind of place Ruth wanted to be. One evening that year, in 1946, Ruth was out at the Crown Club when she started chatting with the owner, Maury Conley. He was immediately impressed by Ruth and saw unrealized potential in the tough girl from South London. By the end of the night, Maury offered Ruth a job as a hostess at the club. With a commission from all the money her customers spent at the club, Ruth stood to make way

more than she did as a model. Plus, the hostesses were given fancy dresses to wear to work. It was music to Ruth's ears. But there was a catch. Maury had a reputation for operating outside the law. It was common knowledge that his hostesses also slept with male customers to make extra cash. Ruth wasn't thrilled by the idea, but when Maury told her just how much his patrons were

willing to pay, she decided the arrangement was well worth it. With her good looks and charming personality, Ruth quickly became one of Maury's most popular employees. For the next four years, she continued working at the club, making a solid paycheck on and off the books. Most of the time, Ruth kept 24, one of her clients started to develop real feelings for her. 41-year-old George Ellis was a successful dental surgeon going through what seemed like

a midlife crisis. The previous year, his wife filed for divorce and left with her two young children. George was heartbroken and turned to alcohol to numb the pain. He became a regular at the Crown Club, though he wasn't exactly a welcome guest. George was usually a drunken mess whenever he showed up and became known as the mad dentist. According to Ruth, she found George pathetic when she first met him, but he spent a lot of money at the club while Ruth was hosting, which meant she got a hefty commission. And after a night of drinking, one thing led to another, and she ended up in his bed. Their relationship progressed quickly from there. After a few months of actual dating, George invited Ruth to spend the summer of 1950 with

him on the English seaside. Ruth jumped at the opportunity. Not only was she excited about the idea of a relaxing getaway, but it seemed like the perfect chance for a fresh start. She told Maury she was quitting the Crown Club and arranged for her parents to watch six-year-old Andy while she was gone. The summer passed mostly without incident. George was still drinking and the two would occasionally fight, but on the whole it seemed like things were going well for the new couple.

It looked as though Ruth had developed real feelings for George by this point. However, the honeymoon stage came to an abrupt end when they returned to London. George asked Ruth to move in with him and she agreed, on the condition that Andy could join them. George was happy to have Andy around, especially since he was missing his own sons. But while it seemed like George was a relatively good father figure, he wasn't a good partner to Ruth. She'd always known he had a drinking problem, but in the fall of 1950 it was worse than

ever before. Soon they were fighting constantly about his addiction. Things reached a boiling point in October. After a particularly bad argument, Ruth told George that if he didn't get his act together, she would leave him. It was enough to motivate George to check himself into a rehab center. After a few weeks he came home, and almost right away he picked up the bottle again. Ruth was at her wits end, but no matter what she said, George refused to go back to the

facility, so she decided to try something drastic. She said she would marry him, as long as he gave rehab another shot. Now this was partially to convince George to get the help he needed, but there was another reason Ruth wanted to stick it out. Besides the fact that George was supporting Ruth and Andy, she also believed he stood to inherit a good deal of money when his mother died, and luckily for her, George agreed to her proposition. After George got back from rehab, the two exchanged marriage vows.

On November 8, 1950, 25-year-old Ruth Nielsen officially became Ruth Ellis. Their marriage got off to a good start. It seemed like George was truly committed to staying sober. Ruth was thrilled by the progress he'd made and decided to stop drinking in solidarity with him. Things only continued to improve from there. Since George had to quit his job when he went to rehab, he looked for a new position. Just a few weeks later, he was hired at a dental practice in southwest London.

It was on the other side of town, so the newlyweds, along with Andy, relocated to an apartment closer to the office. For the first few weeks of 1951, life was good for Ruth and George. He settled back into work, and Ruth fixed up the apartment. But their happiness was short-lived. At first, George seemed like he was on the path to staying clean. But before long, he was frequenting a nearby pub, buying rounds of drinks for himself and whoever happened to be at the bar. His behavior opened old wounds and soon he and Ruth were arguing on a daily basis. This time though, George wasn't the only one battling demons.

Around this period in the spring of 1951, Ruth became incredibly possessive over George. Although there was no indication he was cheating on her, Ruth was convinced he was having an affair. She was so paranoid about it, she would show up at his office while George was in surgery, hoping to catch him in the act. George denied Ruth's allegations, but it wasn't enough to calm her fears. And eventually, George grew so frustrated with Ruth, he became violent. During one incident that April, Ruth locked George out of the house. He responded by kicking the front door down.

It was the last straw for Ruth. She took 7-year-old Andy and they moved in with her parents. But the separation was overshadowed by some unexpected news. Almost as soon as Ruth left, she realized she was several months pregnant. With a baby on the way, Ruth and George tried to work things out one final time. But by then they were too far gone. George kept drinking and Ruth kept worrying he was cheating on her. After more fighting and yelling, she decided it was better if she and Andy stayed with

her mom permanently. On October 2, 1951, Ruth gave birth to a girl named Georgina. George wasn't there for her birth because he was back in rehab. He wasn't ready to be a father and insisted Ruth give the baby up for adoption. Ruth refused, but by this point the writing was on the wall. Her marriage to George Ellis was broken beyond repair. And while the couple wasn't talking about divorce, they would never be together again. With George out of the picture, 25-year-old Ruth was facing a grim reality. For the last

year she'd relied on him to support her. Now she was a single mother with two kids, and she couldn't count on anyone but herself. So she got in touch with someone from her past, nightclub owner Maury Conley. Maury was happy to have Ruth back in the fold, and even set her up in an apartment in West London where some of his other employees lived. It's not clear where Andy and Georgina were staying at the time, but they were likely with Ruth's parents. Which meant Ruth could fully re-immersed herself in the bustling nightlife scene. This time around, she decided to dye her hair platinum

blonde, which definitely caught the attention of Morrie's clientele. Soon Ruth was back in the swing of things, and after a very toxic marriage, she finally felt like herself again. But old habits die hard, especially with Ruth. It wouldn't be long until her jealous streak reared its ugly head again, and this time the damage would be much more permanent than a broken door. In the winter of 1951, 25-year-old Ruth Ellis decided to end things with her husband George, although the two never officially divorced, they were very much over, especially because George

didn't want to have anything to do with their daughter Georgina. Not that Ruth was the most hands-on mother herself. After returning to Maury Conley's nightclub, she decided to send her two children to live with her parents. Still, it was probably for the best. Ruth worked as a hostess and a call girl for Maury, which meant she kept late hours. On top of that, she lived in a flat with Maury's other employees. Although she didn't have her own place, she was finally happy.

For the next two years she thrived at the club. By the fall of 1953, Morrie was so impressed with her work as a hostess, he offered to make her the manager at one of his other locations, a spot called the Little Club. Like the Crown Club, it was in a high-end area of town in the Knightsbridge neighborhood. 27-year-old Ruth was thrilled. Not only would she be in charge of her own establishment, but Maury was setting her up with an apartment all to herself above the club. It was a dream come true for Ruth. After so many years of relying on other people, she felt free. It seemed like things were finally going her way. Now all Ruth needed was someone to share her life with.

Before long, her prayers were answered. One night in late 1953, Ruth was managing the club when a man named David Blakely came in. They got to talking and Ruth learned that the handsome 24-year-old was a part-time race car driver. It only made him even more attractive to Ruth. David kept coming back to the little club to see Ruth. Within a few weeks of meeting, they were sleeping together. But while they may have been compatible in the bedroom, Ruth and David came from two

very different worlds. Born in June 1929 in Sheffield, England, David had a privileged childhood. His father John was a well-known doctor and his mother stayed home to take care of their four children. Although David may have grown up with more stability than Ruth, he also experienced his own childhood trauma. When David was almost five, his father was accused of murdering a waitress he was having an affair with after she died from a failed abortion.

While the charges against John were eventually dismissed, it was too much for David's mom to deal with his parents' divorce six years later when David was 11. David went to live with his mother, although he maintained a close relationship with his dad. But soon his mom remarried and David had a new father figure in his life. A man named Humphrey Cook.

Humphrey was a wonderful stepfather. Not only was he a retired race car driver, but he was incredibly wealthy from all the competitions he'd won. He sent David to all the best schools and made sure he was well cared for. But while Humphrey was happy to spoil David, he still wanted his stepson to understand the value of hard work. So in 1950, when David was 21, Humphrey got him a job as a trainee at the Ritzy Hyde Park Hotel in Knightsbridge.

The idea was for David to learn the business and then later on he could manage his own hotel. David did as he was told, but the truth was, he didn't want to get into the hospitality business. He wanted to follow in his stepdad's footsteps and become a race car driver. But for that, he needed a race car. His salary wasn't enough to buy anything worthwhile, though, so David begged Humphrey for help. Eventually, in early 1951, his stepdad relented and bought David a used HRG, a classic

English sports car. One of his best friends, Anthony Ant Finlater, was a skilled mechanic and agreed to help David refurbish the car. Together, they fixed it up, and soon David was racing part-time. Still, the entry fees and upkeep were expensive. David's salary from the hotel wasn't nearly enough to finance his dreams. It didn't help that he had a habit of buying rounds of drinks for strangers when he was out. In a sad twist of fate, David's fortunes changed in February 1952 when he was 23. That month his biological father John unexpectedly died at 67 years old. Despite his parents' divorce, David had always been close with his dad. He often drove from London to Sheffield to visit him.

After John passed away, David inherited 7,000 pounds. Today that would be almost 225,000 US dollars. Now that David was flush with cash, he had even less incentive to take his job at the hotel seriously. He routinely docked out of work to drink and run around town with various women. In October of 1952, David was fired after a dispute with his manager at the hotel, which was fine by him. Although David quickly found another job with a manufacturing company, he dedicated most

of his time to the three things he loved most, racing, booze, and women. David continued this way for another year or so, and by October 1953, at 24 years old, he was frequenting a new bar, The Little Club, which is where he met Ruth Ellis. When they got hot and heavy fast, it wasn't a monogamous relationship for either of them. Ruth still worked on the side as a call girl, and David was seeing several women at once. Even so, they were spending the majority of their time together. And after a few months, in early 1954, 27-year-old Ruth got pregnant a third time. Given her line of work, Ruth couldn't be sure who the father was.

Still, David asked her to marry him so they could raise the child together. But Ruth already had two children, which was more than enough to keep her hands full. Her parents were taking care of Andy and Georgina, but around this time, Georgina's father, George, unexpectedly re-entered the picture. He told Ruth he wanted their daughter, who is now three, to go live with him until he could get her adopted into a more suitable home. This time Ruth said yes, but that didn't mean she was ready to fill the void with another child, so in the end she decided to have an abortion.

David didn't seem bothered by her decision. Before long he and Ruth returned to life as usual. David spent his money on booze at the little club and Ruth tried to keep him in line. But eventually everyone at the club got tired of David's drunken antics, including Ruth, his friends in the racing world, and the club's owner, Maury. Ruth didn't want to end the relationship with David completely, but she decided it was time to add another companion to the mix. That way she could put some distance between her and David and enjoy the attention of another man.

Ruth set her sights on one of David's friends and drinking companions who also frequented the little Club. 33-year-old Desmond Cousin. It wasn't difficult for Ruth to hook him. Apparently he'd been infatuated with her from the moment he laid eyes on her. Soon, Ruth was in the middle of a love triangle with Desmond and David. Sometimes at the Little Club, Ruth would devote all her attention to Desmond while David sat at the other end of the bar drinking gin.

Other nights she would fawn over David. Manipulation was the name of the game, and Ruth seemed to enjoy pitting Desmond and David against each other. Still at this point, Ruth wasn't sleeping with Desmond, if anything she was using him to make David jealous. Unfortunately for her it didn't seem to be working, because while Ruth's thoughts were on David, his thoughts were on the race car he was building with his friend Aunt Finn later.

They planned to enter it in races, then sell it as a prototype to car enthusiasts. A few months later, they were ready for their first event. In June 1954, David and Aunt went to France to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. David told Ruth he would be back in London on the Tuesday after it finished, but when he didn't return on time, Ruth got very upset. Her feelings of possessiveness kicked into high gear, and Ruth was ready to do some damage. So she decided to get back at David the best way she knew how, by sleeping with Desmond. Little did she know her act of revenge wasn't going to pan out quite how she expected.

When David learned what Ruth had done, he wasn't angry. He wanted out. But Ruth wasn't ready to let him walk away unscathed. If he wanted to leave her, she'd make sure he was gone. Permanently. Thanks so much for listening. I'm Carter Roy and this is Murder True Crime Stories. Come back next time for part two of our series on Ruth Ellis and the murder of David Blakely.

Murder True Crime Stories is a CrimeHouse original powered by PAVE Studios. Here at CrimeHouse we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today, reach out on social media at CrimeHouse on TikTok and Instagram. Don't forget to rate, review, and follow Murder True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference. 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. We'll be back next Tuesday. Murder True Crime Stories is hosted by me, Carter Roy, and is a Crime House original back next Tuesday. Lori Marinelli, Sarah Carroll, Matt Gilligan, and Russell Nash. Thank you for listening. Crime House True Crime Stories. Follow Crime House True Crime Stories now wherever you

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