The riveting true story of Lord Lucan's disappearance - where a British aristocrat killed his maid and disappeared forever

Advertisement
The riveting true story of Lord Lucan's disappearance - where a British aristocrat killed his maid and disappeared forever
John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan (1934 - ?) with his future wife, Veronica Duncan (1937 - 2017) after they announced their engagement, 14th October 1963.

byTerry Fincher/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty

Advertisement

John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan with his future wife, Veronica Duncan after they announced their engagement, 14th October 1963.

  • In 1974, Britain was captivated by the brutal murder of a nanny, named Sandra Rivett, and the disappearance of the main suspect, Lord Lucan.
  • He was never seen again but was formally found guilty a year later. In the years since, he's been spotted more than 70 times, but none of the sightings have held up under scrutiny.
  • In January, Rivett's son claimed he found Lord Lucan in an unnamed city in Australia.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

His friends called him "Lucky."

In 1974, Britain, and later much of the rest of the world, was captivated by the brutal murder of a 29-year-old nanny named Sandra Rivett, and the rapid disappearance of the main suspect: an aristocrat named Richard John Bingham - or Lord Lucan.

It helped that Lucan was, according to The New York Times, a "dashing British aristocrat and army officer, known for his prowess at backgammon and bridge and his fondness for vodka martinis, powerboats, and Aston Martin cars."

Advertisement

It helped, too, that the murder took place in an apartment's dark basement, providing space for conjecture. What helped the most, though, was that Lucan disappeared forever, meaning no one could say for sure what happened.

There have been many theories - he committed suicide by ferry propeller, he started a new life in Africa, he was fed to a tiger. No one knows for sure. By 2017, he had been spotted more than 70 times, but none of the sightings proved to be true. To this day, the public doesn't know what happened to Lucan.

One of Lucan's friends, James Wilson, told The Telegraph that Lucan was a gambler. "He gambled on successfully killing his wife and being able to hide her body and get away with murder," he said.

But it all went terribly wrong.

Here's the full story, in photos.

Advertisement
{{}}

At 9 p.m., on November 7, 1974, a 29-year-old nanny named Sandra Rivettt descended into the dark basement of an apartment in Belgravia, London. She never walked out.

At 9 p.m., on November 7, 1974, a 29-year-old nanny named Sandra Rivettt descended into the dark basement of an apartment in Belgravia, London. She never walked out.

Source: History Extra

At about 10 p.m. a different bleeding woman burst into a nearby pub, called The Plumbers Arms, screaming for help.

At about 10 p.m. a different bleeding woman burst into a nearby pub, called The Plumbers Arms, screaming for help.

"Help, help me," she said. "I have just escaped from a murderer. He's in my house. He's murdered the nanny."

Sources: The Atlantic, History Extra

Advertisement

The bleeding woman was Veronica Lucan. She had gone down into the basement, looking for Rivett, wondering why her cup of tea was taking so long.

The bleeding woman was Veronica Lucan. She had gone down into the basement, looking for Rivett, wondering why her cup of tea was taking so long.

Sources: The Atlantic, Telegraph, Independent

The man she called a murderer was her estranged husband, born Richard John Bingham, but known as Lord Lucan, or the seventh earl of Lucan.

The man she called a murderer was her estranged husband, born Richard John Bingham, but known as Lord Lucan, or the seventh earl of Lucan.

He was a skilled backgammon player and known to enjoy a vodka martini.

Sources: The New York Times, GQ

Advertisement

While the identity of the murdered women was certain, a lot still wasn't clear.

While the identity of the murdered women was certain, a lot still wasn't clear.

Rivett was found in a US mail bag in the home's dark basement. Still contested was who did it, and why.

Sources: The Guardian, The New York Times, London Review of Books

Veronica and Lucan's relationship started out happily. In 1963, 11 years before the murder, Veronica and Lucan met at a golfing event. By the end of the year, they were married.

Veronica and Lucan's relationship started out happily. In 1963, 11 years before the murder, Veronica and Lucan met at a golfing event. By the end of the year, they were married.

Veronica had said, "she was looking for a god, and he was a dream figure."

Sources: BBC, Irish Times

Advertisement

But things didn't work out in the intervening years.

But things didn't work out in the intervening years.

Lucan first worked as a banker, but after he won 10 times his salary in an evening of baccarat, he became a professional gambler.

"He was famous for never showing emotion when playing other games, whether he won or lost," Stuart Wheeler told British GQ.

Sources: The Guardian, GQ, Independent, Irish Times

Every night, Lucan gambled at the Clermont Club, while Veronica was expected to sit in a women's area called the "widow's bench."

Every night, Lucan gambled at the Clermont Club, while Veronica was expected to sit in a women's area called the "widow's bench."

His big win had earned him the nickname "Lucky," but money was a problem.

His luck didn't last, and by the time of the murder, he owed about $60,000.

Source: Irish Times

Advertisement

Veronica also resented the evening routine and suffered from depression.

Veronica also resented the evening routine and suffered from depression.

According to The Guardian, she told ITV that he beat her with a cane to get the "mad ideas out of your head." But they were measured blows, she said, and spiced up their love life.

Sources: The Guardian, Irish Times

By 1972, Lucan had moved out. But he was worried he would lose access to his children.

By 1972, Lucan had moved out. But he was worried he would lose access to his children.

Things escalated in the weeks before the murder when Veronica won a court battle for custody. The battle had been bitter, and according to The Times, his efforts to prove she was insane had pushed him further into debt.

Sources: Irish Times, The Times

Advertisement

On the night Rivett was murdered, Lucan never showed up to a date he'd arranged with a woman named Andrina Colquhoun. Instead, he went to the family home, at 46 Lower Belgrave Street.

On the night Rivett was murdered, Lucan never showed up to a date he'd arranged with a woman named Andrina Colquhoun. Instead, he went to the family home, at 46 Lower Belgrave Street.

Veronica maintained Lucan had meant to kill her, and accidentally killed Rivett in the dark.

Veronica maintained Lucan had meant to kill her, and accidentally killed Rivett in the dark.

Down in the basement, she, too, had been bludgeoned over the head with a lead pipe. But she escaped by grabbing his testicles and squeezing.

Source: Independent

Advertisement

In the few hours before he disappeared, Lucan maintained someone else had tried to kill his wife.

In the few hours before he disappeared, Lucan maintained someone else had tried to kill his wife.

That's what he told his friend Susan Maxwell-Scott, after driving 42 miles to her house in Sussex in a borrowed Ford Corsair.

He said his wife had accused him of hiring the killer, and he was going to "lie doggo." At the house, he called his mother and wrote several letters.

Sources: Telegraph, The Guardian, Independent, The Daily Beast

In the early hours of the following morning, Lucan disappeared. He was 39 years old.

In the early hours of the following morning, Lucan disappeared. He was 39 years old.

The last person to ever see him alive was Maxwell-Scott. She said she didn't call the police because she didn't know he was a wanted man.

Sources: Independent, Stuff.co.nz

Advertisement

Three days later, on November 10, the car he borrowed was found in Newhaven, East Sussex, on the southern English coast. Inside the car, there were bloodstains and a piece of lead pipe in the trunk.

Three days later, on November 10, the car he borrowed was found in Newhaven, East Sussex, on the southern English coast. Inside the car, there were bloodstains and a piece of lead pipe in the trunk.

Sources: The Atlantic, BBC, The Guardian, Independent

A nation-wide manhunt began.

A nation-wide manhunt began.
Advertisement

Police used contemporary contraptions like this autogyro, which was fitted with infra-red cameras. It could take X-ray pictures up to 2,000 feet above the Sussex Downs, which scientists hoped would lead to clues.

Police used contemporary contraptions like this autogyro, which was fitted with infra-red cameras. It could take X-ray pictures up to 2,000 feet above the Sussex Downs, which scientists hoped would lead to clues.

But the investigation was impeded, according to the Independent, by Lucan's aristocratic pals doing their best not to help. They were described as "patronizing" and "condescending."

But the investigation was impeded, according to the Independent, by Lucan's aristocratic pals doing their best not to help. They were described as "patronizing" and "condescending."

Source: Independent

Advertisement

Even though Lucan wasn't found, an official inquest in 1975 confirmed he had killed Rivett.

Even though Lucan wasn't found, an official inquest in 1975 confirmed he had killed Rivett.

Lucan was the last person in Britain to be convicted of murder by inquest jury. The jury took 30 minutes to reach their decision.

The New York Times headline read: "A Stylish British Lord Is Named as a Killer."

Sources: Independent, The New York Times

In 1977, four years after his disappearance, Veronica wrote a letter telling him to give himself up. But later in life, she said she thought he'd killed himself.

In 1977, four years after his disappearance, Veronica wrote a letter telling him to give himself up. But later in life, she said she thought he'd killed himself.

Source: Harpers Bazaar

Advertisement

What kept this true-crime mystery in the international psyche for decades were the theories of what happened to Lucan. Many suspected he was still alive, but no one could be sure.

What kept this true-crime mystery in the international psyche for decades were the theories of what happened to Lucan. Many suspected he was still alive, but no one could be sure.

Source: The Telegraph

One theory was that he had committed suicide by stuffing rocks in his pants after he realized his mistake. Veronica said she believed he threw himself off a ferry, purposefully aiming to go under the propellers so that no one would find his body.

One theory was that he had committed suicide by stuffing rocks in his pants after he realized his mistake. Veronica said she believed he threw himself off a ferry, purposefully aiming to go under the propellers so that no one would find his body.

Source: Independent

Advertisement

Another was that he disappeared into Africa. Reports of him have also popped up in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand.

Another was that he disappeared into Africa. Reports of him have also popped up in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand.

In 2012, his brother Hugh Bingham told media outlets that he was sure Lucan had made it to South Africa. Having said that, they hadn't spoken for years even before his disappearance.

By 2017, Lucan had been "seen" more than 70 times.

Sources: BBC, Independent, The Daily Beast

A third was that he shot himself and was then fed to a tiger.

A third was that he shot himself and was then fed to a tiger.

When Lady Osborne met police, she reportedly told them, "The last I heard of him, he was being fed to the tigers at my son's zoo."

Source: Independent

Advertisement

When her son-in-law John Aspinall, who owned a private zoo, was questioned, he said he served his tigers better quality meat.

When her son-in-law John Aspinall, who owned a private zoo, was questioned, he said he served his tigers better quality meat.

Source: Independent

In 2004, police reviewing the case said they thought he had managed to escape, helped by his close-lipped friends.

In 2004, police reviewing the case said they thought he had managed to escape, helped by his close-lipped friends.

Again in 2017, a detective who had run the case at one point told The Sun he had no doubt Lucan got away, helped by his friends, who he called, "The Sloane Square Mafia."

Stephen Raphael, one of Lucan's friends, reportedly said he met with Lucan at Aspinall's zoo to discuss what they should do next.

Source: The Daily Beast, The Daily Mail

Advertisement

In 1999, Lucan was declared legally dead. And in 2016, an official death certificate was released so his son could take the title.

In 1999, Lucan was declared legally dead. And in 2016, an official death certificate was released so his son could take the title.

Source: Harpers Bazaar

A year later, in 2017, Veronica was found dead in the same house her estranged husband had been living in when he disappeared.

A year later, in 2017, Veronica was found dead in the same house her estranged husband had been living in when he disappeared.

She reportedly died of a drug overdose. After her death, letters were found beneath the floorboards. In them, she lamented how she was portrayed in the media and claimed Lucan was unstable.

Sources: Harpers Bazaar, Stuff.co.nz

Advertisement

In January 2020, Rivett's son Neil claimed he discovered Lucan living in an unnamed city in Australia, living as a Buddhist. Scotland Yard says it's looking into the claim.

In January 2020, Rivett's son Neil claimed he discovered Lucan living in an unnamed city in Australia, living as a Buddhist. Scotland Yard says it's looking into the claim.

Sources: The Times, The Daily Mail,

Rivett had previously told the Irish Times, "There is no getting away from the fact that, whatever happened that night, Lord Lucan is guilty of something in my eyes."

Rivett had previously told the Irish Times, "There is no getting away from the fact that, whatever happened that night, Lord Lucan is guilty of something in my eyes."

Source: Irish Times

Advertisement
Next StoryWhat it's like to go to the Super Bowl as an ultra-wealthy VIP, from flying in on a private jet to dropping $100,000 on 'luxury experience' packages