cover of episode Episode 589: John George Haigh: The Acid Bath Murderer

Episode 589: John George Haigh: The Acid Bath Murderer

2024/8/8
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Elena
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Elena: 约翰·乔治·海格的母亲认为,他早年家庭的经济和情感不稳定影响了他的精神状态,导致他成年后犯下滔天罪行。他严格的宗教教育和与世隔绝的生活方式也对他产生了负面影响,使他缺乏正常的社会交往和情感体验,最终走向极端。宗教狂热是危险的,孩子需要体验生活中的其他乐趣,才能健康成长。 Elena: 媒体将约翰·乔治·海格描绘成“吸血鬼杀手”,但他的犯罪动机主要是贪婪。他利用自己的魅力和手段,欺骗并杀害多名富有的受害者,窃取他们的财产。检方认为他的犯罪是精心策划的谋财害命。法院驳回了他的精神错乱辩护,认为他充分认识到自己行为的违法性。 Elena: 尽管约翰·乔治·海格试图通过伪造证据和编造故事来掩盖罪行,但最终还是被警方抓获。法医专家通过细致的调查和分析,找到了确凿的证据,证明了他的罪行。 Ash: 约翰·乔治·海格认为对错与否无关紧要,这对他犯罪行为的形成有影响。他缺乏道德观念和法律意识,只追求个人利益的最大化。他选择受害者是基于其经济状况,那些与世隔绝、缺乏社会联系的富人成为他的目标。他高估了自己的聪明才智,最终被捕。他利用精神疾病或人格障碍来为自己辩护,但最终被法院驳回。

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John George Haigh grew up in an intensely religious and isolated environment, forbidden from most forms of entertainment and social interaction. His parents instilled a fear of the outside world and a strict adherence to religious rules. Despite excelling academically, Haigh struggled to form relationships and maintain employment, eventually turning to petty scams and fraud.
  • Haigh's upbringing was defined by strict religious rules and isolation.
  • He was forbidden from entertainment, sports, and most social interaction.
  • Haigh excelled in school but struggled with employment and relationships.
  • He turned to petty scams and fraud after quitting a series of jobs.

Shownotes Transcript

On February 20, 1949, police in London arrested thirty-nine-year-old John George Haigh on suspicion of his connection to Olive Durand-Deacon, a wealthy widow who’d gone missing a few days earlier. Haigh had a long criminal history of fraud and theft, so when police discovered that Haigh had recently pawned several items belonging to the missing woman, they naturally believed he had robbed and possibly killed Duran-Deacon. The truth, they soon learned, was far worse.

After days of interrogation, Haigh eventually confessed to the murder of Olive Durand-Deacon, telling detectives he had drained her of her blood, which he intended to drink, then disposed of her body in a forty-five gallon barrel of acid—but she was far from the first of his victims. By the time his case went to trial, investigators had connected Haigh to six victims, all dissolved in acid, and he’d confessed to three additional murders that were unconfirmed. 

In his confession, Haigh claimed he’d murdered his victims in order to drink their blood; though, it’s far more likely his motive was primarily greed. Nevertheless, Haigh’s claim was immediately seized upon by the British tabloids, who labeled him a “vampire killer” and provided endless sensational coverage of the arrest, trial, and his eventual execution.

Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research!

References

Daily Record. 1949. "Haigh was a model boy." Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland), July 20: 1.

Evening Dispatch. 1949. "Haigh: Defence will plead insanity." Evening Dispatch (Birmingham, England), July 18: 1.

—. 1949. "Silence in court." Evening Dispatch (Birmingham, England), July 1: 1.

Evening Express. 1949. "Haigh for trial at Old Bailey." Evening Express (Liverpool, England), April 2: 1.

Evening Sentinel. 1949. "Dramatic developments in mystery of missing widow." Evening Sentinel (Staffordshire, England), March 1: 1.

Herald Express. 1949. "'Haigh put the body in a drum' - prosectiuon." Herald Today (Devon, England), April 1: 1.

Lincolnshire Echo. 1949. "Haigh lived to lives, says mind doctor." Lincolnshire Echo, July 19: 1.

Lowe, Gordon. 2015. The Acid Bath Murders: The Trials and Liquidations of John George Haigh. Cheltenham, UK: History Press.

Ramsland, Katherine. 2006. "John George Haigh: A Malingerer's Legacy." The Forensic Examiner 59-62.

Root, Neil. 2012. Frenzy: The First Great Tabloid Murders. New York, NY: Preface Publishing.

Sunday Dispatch. 1949. "Wide search for missing rich widow." Sunday Dispatch (London, England), February 27: 1.

The Times. 1949. "Hiagh sentenced to death." The Times (London, England), July 20: 2.

Western Daily Press. 1949. "Haigh smiles at sentence." Western Daily Press, July 20: 1.

Western Morning News. 1949. "Yard fears for fate of five people." Western Morning News, March 3: 1.

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