The only question bigger than “Who is the Isdal Woman?” is “Who’s keeping her identity secret?” Found in 1970, her body was burned beyond recognition. And what started as a murder case quickly led to a web of international crime rings, espionage, and conspiracy.
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Feb 18
Did the Pope Cover Up His Son's Murder?
When Juan Borgia died in 1497, his father, Pope Alexander VI, swore he’d find the killer. But just two weeks later, the Pope suddenly closed the case – without naming or punishing the murderer. The Pope might have covered up the killer’s identity for political reasons… or because ... Show More
47m 14s
Feb 11
The Spymaster and the Exiled Queen: Was Mary Queen of Scots Framed?
By the time she was 25, Mary, Queen of Scots had lost her thrones in two countries, France and Scotland. And officially, she was executed for conspiring to take a third throne: England’s. But was Mary naive enough to get caught committing treason? Or was she a shrewd politician w ... Show More
54m 37s
Apr 2019
“The Queen of Mean” - Leona Helmsley
Born in 1920 to poor, Jewish immigrants, Leona Helsley spent the first 30 years of her life doing whatever it took to rise above her humble origins. She changed her name, bullied her competitors, and, if necessary, skirted the corners of the law, engaging in blackmail and fraud. ... Show More
42m 16s
Feb 2024
Lady Killers: what murder scandals reveal about Victorian society
What can brutal murders reveal about society at the time they were committed? And what additional insights can we gain when those killings were committed by women? In today's Long Read, Rosalind Crone, historical consultant on the BBC series Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley, reveal ... Show More
20m 49s
Jul 2023
Death in Ice Valley: The Isdal Woman
The Isdal Woman (Norwegian: Isdalskvinnen, c. 1930–1945 – November 1970) is a placeholder name given to an unidentified woman who was found dead at Isdalen ("The Ice Valley") in Bergen, Norway, on November 29th, 1970.
Although police at the time ruled a verdict of likely suicide, ... Show More
47m 29s
Aug 2020
"The Hippie Skyjacker" Pt. 1: Cathy Kerkow
Before she hijacked a plane in 1972, Cathy Kerkow was simply a young woman from Oregon with a penchant for risk and scandal. Days of aimless rebellion reunited her with a man from her past, who enlisted her in a brash scheme to free the imprisoned political activist, Angela Davis ... Show More
41m 21s