Infamous Murders: Murdering Conmen
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Throughout history there have been plenty of people prepared to murder others for money. Infamous Murders examines three modern examples of murdering conmen.
On 8th November 1947, Mrs. Lucille Thompson, a teacher from New York, was found dead in a Spanish hotel room. She appeared to have died from a heart attack.
Three weeks later her travelling companion Raymond Fernandez returned to New York, where he produced documents naming him to be her sole heir. Fernandez found lonely women through Lonely Hearts advertisements and then poisoned them.
In this way, he began a relationship with Martha Beck, who turned out to be even more evil than he. They were put on trial in New York in June 1949 and after 44 days, were both found guilty of murder and sentenced to death.
In the exclusive Knightsbridge area of London, Mr and Mrs Scott-Elliot had employed a new butler. They had no reason to suspect that his references were false. On 8th December 1977, Fontaine and a small time crook, Michael Kitto, decided to plunder the Scott-Elliot's apartment.
They suffocated Mrs Scott-Elliot and later strangled Walter Scott-Elliot, dumping both bodies in a deserted and lonely part of the Scottish countryside. But suspicions were voiced and police discovered a body in the back of their car. They were both imprisoned for a very long time.
In 1935 Donald Merrett bought a boat and, together with his wife, their two children and his mother in law, set sail for Malta where he intended to work as a smuggler.
When World War II broke out, he served in the British Royal navy and returned a hero, but his future was far from heroic. After a prison sentence Merrett was determined to reclaim some money he had given his estranged wife.
Legally, the money would revert to him after her death, but Merrett couldn't wait that long. In February 1954 Vera Merrett and her mother were found dead. The following day Merrett's body was discovered in some woods near Cologne, Germany. He had shot himself, and escaped justice for his horrible crimes.
On 8th November 1947, Mrs. Lucille Thompson, a teacher from New York, was found dead in a Spanish hotel room. She appeared to have died from a heart attack.
Three weeks later her travelling companion Raymond Fernandez returned to New York, where he produced documents naming him to be her sole heir. Fernandez found lonely women through Lonely Hearts advertisements and then poisoned them.
In this way, he began a relationship with Martha Beck, who turned out to be even more evil than he. They were put on trial in New York in June 1949 and after 44 days, were both found guilty of murder and sentenced to death.
In the exclusive Knightsbridge area of London, Mr and Mrs Scott-Elliot had employed a new butler. They had no reason to suspect that his references were false. On 8th December 1977, Fontaine and a small time crook, Michael Kitto, decided to plunder the Scott-Elliot's apartment.
They suffocated Mrs Scott-Elliot and later strangled Walter Scott-Elliot, dumping both bodies in a deserted and lonely part of the Scottish countryside. But suspicions were voiced and police discovered a body in the back of their car. They were both imprisoned for a very long time.
In 1935 Donald Merrett bought a boat and, together with his wife, their two children and his mother in law, set sail for Malta where he intended to work as a smuggler.
When World War II broke out, he served in the British Royal navy and returned a hero, but his future was far from heroic. After a prison sentence Merrett was determined to reclaim some money he had given his estranged wife.
Legally, the money would revert to him after her death, but Merrett couldn't wait that long. In February 1954 Vera Merrett and her mother were found dead. The following day Merrett's body was discovered in some woods near Cologne, Germany. He had shot himself, and escaped justice for his horrible crimes.
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