In 1974, Lord Lucan murdered nanny Sandra Rivett. Then he disappeared. Now a woman who protected him ten years after his alleged death is coming forward.
Lord Lucan is one of the most mysterious criminals in British history. To the outside world, he and his wife Veronica presented the image of a perfect British upper-class life. The title, noble origins and a house in the elegant area of Belgravia. Then in 1974, in a fit of rage, the Lord killed the nanny Sandra Rivett with a lead pipe: in his madness he believed she was his wife.
Then he disappeared without a trace: his bloodied Ford Corsair was found abandoned in Newhaven harbor a few days later, but nothing else. He was later pronounced dead. Since then, his disappearance and possible survival have occupied the British media. There were wild theories. For example, that the lord had hidden with his relatives, but because of the misfortune he had brought on the family, they killed him and threw his body to a tiger they kept as a pet.
Now a woman, Editha Moynihan, swears to the Daily Mail that she saw Lord Duncan in the Philippines, ten years after the death of Sandra Rivett. Your social position makes the statement plausible. Editha is the widow of Baron Moynihan of Leeds. A notorious aristocrat, associated with fraud, prostitution and drug trafficking. Also present at a party were Michael Taylour, the Marquess of Headfort, also a man of dubious reputation, and a third nobleman whom she did not know. Her husband later told her that it was Richard John Bingham, Lord Lucan.
Baron Moynihan lived in Manila because he was wanted for fraud in Britain. He had squandered his fortune, but found a new source of money with “massage parlors.” Furthermore, he managed to obtain “real” passports. He used the trick described in the novel “The Jackal”. He obtained the birth certificates of the dead and used them to apply for passports. The British registration system had no way of knowing whether these people were dead.
These arrangements were made possible by a network of upper-class “old” men who remained close throughout their lives. Through school, university and the army. With Baron Moynihan and Lord Lucan gambling was added. Lucan was a professional gambler and a heavy alcoholic. Handsome, charismatic and popular. His friend John Aspinall said after the murder of Sandra Rivett that in order to leave the country, Lord Lucan “had more friends to turn to than anyone I know”.
Editha Moynihan said she also has proof of her claims. The Lord gave her a farewell note and cut off a lock of her hair, telling her that this gift would be useful to her later. Her husband told her to tell Scotland Yard one day that the missing lord was “not a figment of her imagination, but the result of her own incompetence”. The newspaper believes that something like this is quite possible. Moynihan and Lucan were close friends and both despised the police. The idea of humili
Shocking scenes from a wedding
Lady Lucan died in 2017, very close to her old home. The entire life of Veronica, Dowager Countess of Lucan, was overshadowed by the murder. In a television documentary and in his biography, he provided insights into his destructive marriage. “I deeply regret that my marriage was responsible for the death of Sandra Rivett,” Lady Lucan said in the documentary. Think about Rivett every day. At the time, he was taking strong medications for depression. He lived in fear of ending up in a psychiatric hospital. Her husband sometimes seemed distant. Before they had sex together, Lucan punished her with the cane, but only moderately, never uncontrollably. The night of the murder he was completely out of his mind. Suddenly he recovered. He recalled: “Then he told me: ‘This is why I go to Broadmoor’.”
May 26, 2018, 4.27pm
Lady Lucan gave no room for speculation as to whether her husband might still be alive. “I think he got on the ferry and jumped into the water in the middle of the English Channel, right above the propellers, so that no remains would be found. He was quite brave.” In all the statements of the Dowager Countess we see her remorse, but also her fascination with her violent husband. Maybe she protected him all his life.
What are the key factors that contributed to Lord Lucan’s downfall and the subsequent murder case?
Interview between Time.news Editor and True Crime Expert, Dr. Amelia Kensington
Editor: Good day, Dr. Kensington. Thank you for joining us to discuss one of Britain’s most notorious mysteries—the case of Lord Lucan. It’s been nearly half a century since Sandra Rivett’s tragic murder, yet it continues to captivate the public’s imagination. Can you start by telling us about Lord Lucan’s persona before the murder? How did his life contribute to his eventual downfall?
Dr. Kensington: Thank you for having me. Lord Lucan was often viewed as the epitome of British aristocracy—charming, charismatic, and well-connected within elite circles. He lived a life filled with privilege, but beneath that facade were deep personal struggles, including alcoholism and financial difficulties. His dual existence—as a professional gambler living beyond his means and as a public figure in the upper class—created a brewing storm that ultimately culminated in tragedy.
Editor: It’s fascinating how the image of a perfect life can hide such darkness. The murder of Sandra Rivett was shocking not just because of its brutality, but also due to its circumstances. Can you elaborate on the events that led to that terrible night?
Dr. Kensington: Certainly. On that fateful night in 1974, Lord Lucan mistakenly believed that Sandra Rivett was his wife, Veronica. In a fit of rage, he brutally attacked her with a lead pipe. This violent act was not born out of a clear motive but rather a culmination of his deteriorating mental state and substance abuse. When confronted with his actions, he fled, leaving the scene and essentially vanishing from the face of the earth.
Editor: And what happened after he disappeared? There were theories about his fate and whereabouts. Can you walk us through those speculative narratives?
Dr. Kensington: After Lucan vanished, the media frenzy began. His bloodied car was found near Newhaven harbor, and numerous theories arose—from possible suicide to outright murder by his own family, driven by the shame he brought upon them. Some even suggested he had escaped to live in hiding abroad. The tantalizing question remained: Did he survive? The sensational stories surrounding him often tended to overshadow the gravity of the crime itself.
Editor: Recently, Editha Moynihan—widow of a notorious aristocrat—claimed to have seen Lucan alive in the Philippines a decade after the murder. What do you think of her assertion and the context around it?
Dr. Kensington: Editha’s claim raises intriguing possibilities, particularly given her social standing. It ties into the notion that Lucan may have had access to a network of upper-class friends who could help him evade capture. Stories of connections within British nobility re-emerge as potential avenues for his survival. If these claims are substantiated, it would not only be a shocking twist in Lucan’s saga but would also evoke questions about the lengths to which the elite would go to protect one of their own.
Editor: It’s a tale that intertwines crime with class and loyalty among the upper echelons of society. How has Lady Lucan’s portrayal in the media, especially after her death in 2017, influenced public perception of the case?
Dr. Kensington: Lady Lucan’s perspective brought a human element to an otherwise sensationalized narrative. In her interviews, she expressed deep regrets and highlighted the personal torment she experienced throughout her marriage. Her reflections added layers of complexity, illustrating how the tragedy rippled through their lives and those around them. The public began to understand that this was not just a story of murder, but of heart-wrenching consequences for an entire family.
Editor: Indeed, it casts a shadow over notions of justice as well as mercy. As time passes, do you think we’ll ever reach a resolution regarding Lord Lucan’s fate?
Dr. Kensington: It’s difficult to say. The mystery will likely continue to linger as long as new claims emerge, and as society craves closure in such haunting cases. The allure of unresolved mysteries often keeps them alive in public consciousness. Until definitive evidence emerges—whether proving Lucan’s death or establishing his survival—we may always be left with more questions than answers.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Kensington, for your insights into this complicated case. The intersection of wealth, power, and crime certainly makes for a gripping narrative, reminding us of the shadows hidden within even the most glamorous lives.
Dr. Kensington: It has been a pleasure to discuss it with you. The legacy of such crimes often shapes societal views and memories, challenging us to reflect on the implications of privilege and accountability.