Infamous Murders: The Trunk Murders
Coming Soon
Killing a person is just the beginning of the murderer's trail of deception. Often, disposing of the body is more problematic than the act of killing. A surprising number of murderers find that a large trunk is just the right size to hold a human corpse.
On 10th May 1927, a foul smell led staff at a London rail station to a dismembered body hidden in a trunk. Police identified the body as one Minnie Bonati. Using some sharp detective work, the police tracked down the owner of the trunk.
He was former Army Sergeant John Robinson and was taken to Scotland Yard, where he confessed to the murder. His trial began on Monday 11th July 1927. Robinson was condemned to death for the murder of Minnie Bonati, and hanged one month later at Pentonville Prison.
In 1934, police were conducting a house to house search in Brighton. At number 52 Kemp Street, they discovered a trunk containing a body in an advanced stage of decomposition. The body was soon identified as 42-year-old prostitute, Violette Kaye. The resident of the house, Tony Mancini had long since disappeared.
When the police later picked up Mancini, he told them that he had discovered his girlfriend Violette dead on her bed, apparently killed by one of her clients. He panicked and hid the body in the trunk. But the police didn't believe his story, when they discovered the charred remains of a hammer in his basement.
Mancini was charged with murder on 17th July. At the trial five months later, the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty. 42 years later, Mancini finally confessed to a British newspaper that he had indeed murdered Violette.
Hippie Guru Ira Einhorn encouraged the Philadelphia business community to spend their money to save the universe, but unfortunately, his private life wasn't as clean as his environmental credentials.
On 28th March 1979 he was arrested on suspicion of murdering his ex-girlfriend Holly Maddux, who had been missing for 18 months. The police found Holly's suitcase, driver's licence and social security card in Einhorn's apartment. Then, in a cupboard, there was a black steamer trunk. Holly's body was stuffed inside.
In January 1981, just as his trial was about to begin, Einhorn jumped bail. He left the country and moved to France with his new girlfriend. Four years later he was arrested but judicial disagreements between French and American law meant that Einhorn remained in France. Finally, the French Government agreed to extradite Einhorn back to Philadelphia.
On 21st July 2001, Einhorn returned to the US after being on the run for two decades. The contents of the trunk had finally caught up with him and he was back on home soil to face American Justice.
On 10th May 1927, a foul smell led staff at a London rail station to a dismembered body hidden in a trunk. Police identified the body as one Minnie Bonati. Using some sharp detective work, the police tracked down the owner of the trunk.
He was former Army Sergeant John Robinson and was taken to Scotland Yard, where he confessed to the murder. His trial began on Monday 11th July 1927. Robinson was condemned to death for the murder of Minnie Bonati, and hanged one month later at Pentonville Prison.
In 1934, police were conducting a house to house search in Brighton. At number 52 Kemp Street, they discovered a trunk containing a body in an advanced stage of decomposition. The body was soon identified as 42-year-old prostitute, Violette Kaye. The resident of the house, Tony Mancini had long since disappeared.
When the police later picked up Mancini, he told them that he had discovered his girlfriend Violette dead on her bed, apparently killed by one of her clients. He panicked and hid the body in the trunk. But the police didn't believe his story, when they discovered the charred remains of a hammer in his basement.
Mancini was charged with murder on 17th July. At the trial five months later, the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty. 42 years later, Mancini finally confessed to a British newspaper that he had indeed murdered Violette.
Hippie Guru Ira Einhorn encouraged the Philadelphia business community to spend their money to save the universe, but unfortunately, his private life wasn't as clean as his environmental credentials.
On 28th March 1979 he was arrested on suspicion of murdering his ex-girlfriend Holly Maddux, who had been missing for 18 months. The police found Holly's suitcase, driver's licence and social security card in Einhorn's apartment. Then, in a cupboard, there was a black steamer trunk. Holly's body was stuffed inside.
In January 1981, just as his trial was about to begin, Einhorn jumped bail. He left the country and moved to France with his new girlfriend. Four years later he was arrested but judicial disagreements between French and American law meant that Einhorn remained in France. Finally, the French Government agreed to extradite Einhorn back to Philadelphia.
On 21st July 2001, Einhorn returned to the US after being on the run for two decades. The contents of the trunk had finally caught up with him and he was back on home soil to face American Justice.
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