LORD Lucan vanished after being accused of murdering his ex-wife’s nanny in 1974.
His whereabouts have been shrouded in mystery for decades, but a new BBC documentary hopes to uncover just what happened to the killer aristocrat.
Lucan murdered his children’s nanny when she was just 29-years-oldGetty Images
Sandra had two children before Lucan killed her
Murder in Belgravia
Lucan’s ex-wife, Veronica Duncan, sent her nanny down to the basement at 9pm to get some tea, but grew suspicious when the nanny did not return.
Veronica went down to investigate and was attacked by her ex-husband.
She said that he admitted to murdering the nanny, who was named Sandra Rivett, but Veronica was able to persuade him to let her go.
Veronica ran into a local pub, drenched in blood, and called for help but Lucan had vanished when the police arrived.
However, Sandra’s body was found in a sack inside the house.
Veronica and her husband had split after just ten years of marriage, during which Veronica claims that Lucan was abusive.
He was also an avid gambler who was on a crippling losing streak, despite the ironic nickname of Lucky.
Lucan’s last known whereabouts
Lucan was last seen at the home of his friends, Ian and Susan Maxwell-Scott, who lived in Sussex.
Years later, Susan revealed her friend’s version of events.
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She said: ‘He had a key to the front door and hurried downstairs to the basement.
“When he entered the room, he slipped in a pool of blood and the man ran off.
“I asked him about the man, and he said he hadn’t got a clear sight of him, but he was large.
“He said he didn’t know him.
“He said the sight in there was absolutely awful.
“He was very distressed at this point and briefly covered his face with his hand.”
An inquest found that Lucan had been responsible for the attack, but he was never arrested because the aristocrat was never seen again.
Susan, who always maintained that Lucan was innocent despite the overwhelming evidence which suggested that he was guilty, was the last person to see him on November 8, 1974.
Veronica and Lucan divorced after just ten years of marriage
Susan maintained that Lucan was innocent until she diedNews Group Newspapers Ltd
Missing man
Some people have suggested that Lucan drowned himself in the English Channel, shortly after his crime.
Another theory stated that John Aspinall, a friend of Lucan’s, helped him escape to Africa where he lived out the rest of his days.
Over the years, there have been numerous alleged sightings of the aristocrat in various countries, including India and Mozambique.
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Sandra’s son, Neil Berriman, claimed that Lucan is still alive and is living in secret as a Buddhist in Australia.
One of the most bizarre theories was that Lucan was living as an aging hippy in India, but this was revealed to actually be Barry Halpin, a well-known folk musician.
Lucan’s son, George 8th Earl Lucan, requested his father’s death certificate in 2016 which officially declared the aristocrat as deceased.
A BBC documentary
The shocking murder of Sandra Rivett will be explored in a BBC documentary series named Lucan, which will air on November 6, 2024.
The series will air in three parts and will focus on Neil Berriman, who was unaware of his mother’s identity for much of his life.
He had been put up for adoption as a baby and only learned who his mother was at the age of 40.
Neil hopes to uncover the truth of what really happened to his mother’s alleged murderer.
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