True Crime - Truth Uncovered

Look Into Brighton's Chocolate Cream Killer by Mandeep Rai Yes, the CHOCOLATE CREAM killer. I thought the same thing... It's not quite how it sounds. This murder took place in the 1860s in Brighton, UK (off topic, but why do so many murders seem to be happening in seaside towns?? We learned about the Herne Bay, Kent bathtub murders earlier, and now we have a killer in sunny Brighton!) So who was the chocolate cream killer, and how did she get that name?  Christiana Edmunds was a woman scorned, or so she believed! In the 1860s, she became quite the jealous "lover", and thus began her poisoning spree. I use the term "lover" loosely as she was never actually dating the man in question. Nevertheless, Edmunds was madly in love with the man, who was a local doctor, and she believed the only way to be with him would be to simply poison, and therefore get rid of, his wife. The wife, being married to a doctor, was of course seen to straight away. He examined her sudd...

Profile of George Smith, by Mandeep Rai In 1912, the people of Herne Bay, Kent would learn of the tragic passing of one of their own, Bessie Williams. At the time, it was believed that Williams had accidentally drowned in her bathtub. It's always the spouse that did it right? Well Williams' husband, known as Henry William (real name George Smith) was questioned by the police, but later released due to lack of evidence. Case closed.  After Williams' death, Smith moved out of the Herne Bay area to Blackpool. In 1913, he would go onto marry a second woman, Alice Burnham. Similarly, Burnham would go on to suffer from the same fate as Williams in Herne Bay: accidental drowning in the bathtub. Once again, Smith adopted another alias and moved to a different area. The following year, 1914, Smith would marry a third woman, Margaret Lofty, who would, you guessed it, drown in her bathtub. Purely accidental of course(!). Fortunately, a friend of Burnham, Smith's second wife, had h...

Profile of Patrick Mackay by Mandeep Rai We often find ourselves asking what could have happened if things had been different. Hindsight is everything. It is important that we learn from what has happened in the past in order to prevent future tragedies. I spent lockdown in a Kent cottage with no neighbours nearby. After reading into some stories of stalkers, I began to wonder...are we ever really alone?  Please educate yourself on stalking cases, and reach out to the appropriate channels if you or a loved one are experiencing this.  Today we look at a case of severe stalking, which would result in a young woman's life coming to a tragic end.  Molly McLaren was a University of Kent student, aged 23, when her life was taken by her ex-boyfriend Joshua Stimpson. Stimpson, 26, a warehouse worker, was born in Stoke on Trent, but moved to Medway, Kent. He was described by those who knew him as a bright man, but there were 2 sides to Stimpson. The Kent based man became depressed...

Profile of Patrick Mackay, by Mandeep Rai In 1975, Patrick Mackay committed what is now considered one of the worst crimes in Kent history. So who was Patrick Mackay? Mackay, born in Dartford, was considered by those who knew him to be quite troubled. Nazi obsessed Mackay would do the unthinkable at aged 22 when he ended the life of beloved priest, 63 year old Anthony Crean. Prior to his death, Crean had developed a friendship with Mackay, however things went sideways when Mackay was caught stealing a cheque belonging to the priest. Tensions would grow, and would lead to Mackay armed with an axe.  He had made his way to Crean's home where a fight would later ensue once Crean arrived home. Crean escaped to his bathroom, however Mackay was quick to follow with an axe, and would stab him multiple times, with multiple blows to the head. Mackay then placed Crean's body in a bathtub and left the taps running, all while watching his victim slowly bleed to death. A nun who grew concern...