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- [00:07]
Vanessa Richardson
This is Crime House. During the week of April 28, 1536, Anne Boleyn was arrested and charged with adultery against her husband, the King of England. After a swift trial, Anne was beheaded for her alleged crimes. Almost 500 years later, another imperial crime was solved when the remains of Russia's last ruling family were finally discovered, making this week's theme Royal Murders. Welcome to Crime House the show a Crime House original. I'm Vanessa Richardson. Every Monday we uncover crimes from this weekend in history, serial killers, disappearances and murders all linked by a common theme. One case from the past, one closer to the present. Crime House is made possible by you, our community. Please rate, review and follow Crime House the show for early ad, free access and exclusive bonus content. Subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. This week's theme is Royal Murders. First. We go back to 1536, when the Queen of England, 35, Anne Boleyn, was charged with treason against her husband, the King. Then we'll jump to 2008, when a decades long mystery finally came to an end. After years of debate, the missing Romanov children were finally discovered. While these royal murders took place centuries apart, they both left behind a mountain of questions in their wake. Even today, historians and true crime buffs alike are still wondering, was Anne Boleyn really guilty? And were the Romanov children actually murdered? Or just in hiding? All that and more coming up. Hey, it's Vanessa. And if you love Crime House the show, the ultimate destination for true crime fans, then you have to check out Clues with Morgan Absher and Kaylin Moore. Every Wednesday, Kaelin and Morgan take you deep into the world of the most notorious crimes ever, clue by clue. And what I really love about Clues is how they break down the ways that even the smallest pieces of evidence can crack a case wide open. From serial killers to shocking murders, Clues dives into all the forensic details and brilliant sleuthing of the world's most infamous cases. Clues is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Just search Clues Wherever you listen to podcasts.
- [03:11]
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- [04:13]
Vanessa Richardson
May 2, 1536 was a lovely spring day in the English countryside. King Henry VIII and his court were at Greenwich Palace. The riverside manor on the outskirts of London was one of the 44 year old King's favorite spots to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. That morning, King Henry was busy at a jousting tournament. Meanwhile, his queen, 35 year old Anne Boleyn, was sitting outside the palace with her ladies in waiting. They were watching a game of tennis, politely clapping with each passing point. But Anne had felt the King's men watching her that day. She wasn't entirely sure why, but she sensed that trouble lurked around the corner. She could practically feel it breathing down her neck. She just didn't know it would find her so fast. Mid game, the King's men showed up with a message. Henry's council had summoned Anne. Her heart sank. Anne didn't know what the council wanted her for, but she guessed the King had something to do with it. She figured it had to do with the state of their marriage and her inability to give the King the male heir he'd desired. After all, their once passionate marriage had been struggling for years now and Anne knew King Henry's eye was wandering. But no matter what Henry thought of her, Anne was still the Queen. So she held her head high and followed his men to the palace where Henry's council was waiting in one of the many rooms. Inside, she found a barrage of high ranking officials, including her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk. Before Anne could ask why they were all gathered, another man stepped forward. The King's advisor, Thomas Cromwell. Once upon a time he'd been Anne's ally, but after she became Queen and her power outranked his, he'd turned on her. Anne listened in shock as he cleared his throat and read off a list of charges against her. She was being accused of committing adultery with three men. The first was Henry Norris, one of the King's oldest friends. The second was a court musician named Mark Smeaton. And the third was Anne's own brother, George Boleyn. Anne couldn't believe her ears. She certainly hadn't slept with any of them, especially not her brother. She swore to Cromwell that she was innocent, but the council had already made up their minds. Moments later, Anne was arrested and escorted onto a boat on the Thames River. A little while later, the Tower of London came into view. At the time, the Tower was used as both a prison and a royal residence. Normally, prisoners entered through the Traitor's Gate, but Anne was taken up the Queen's stairs and into the royal apartments. The last time Anne had been there, she was awaiting her coronation. It felt like a cruel twist of fate. In just three years, Anne Boleyn had gone from being a queen to being a prisoner. And now her life depended on the mercy of the King. From the moment Anne arrived in Henry VIII's court, she made a lot of enemies. Because of that, there are very few impartial historical records about her time there, so the truth is up for debate. Some say she arrived with a mission to seduce the King. Others say she was just in the right place at the right time. Whatever Anne's real motives were, there are a few basic facts that everyone can agree on. Anne was born around 1501 and grew up at Hever Castle in Kent, England, about 30 miles outside of London. Her parents were both aristocrats from prominent families and they had high hopes for Anne and her older sister, Mary. When Anne was about 12 years old, she was invited to spend time in the entourage of the French King and Queen. Her parents were thrilled. It was the perfect opportunity for Anne to learn all the ins and outs of royal life, including how to charm future suitors. Anne didn't get a marriage proposal in France, but she did learn how to sing, dance and play instruments. She also got a taste for French fashion and culture and an attitude to match. After nearly seven years, around 1522, Anne's father summoned the 21 year old back home. She was ready to make her mark on the English court. Before long, Anne was called to King Henry VIII's Hampton palace to join the other ladies in his court. Eventually, she crossed paths with the King himself when she performed in a play. Sources say that was probably the first time Henry laid eyes on Anne and he was immediately taken with her. She was nothing like Henry's current wife at the time, 40 year old Catherine of Aragon. Where Catherine was older and submissive. Anne was young, beautiful and had a mind to challenge his own. Henry expressed his interest in Anne, but she held back. Although there was nothing Unusual about the King taking a mistress. Anne was playing the long game. Her parents were whispering in her ear, encouraging her to be patient. They told her that one day Henry would fall so madly in love with her, he'd have to make her his wife. By 1526, four years after Anne first met the king, Henry was growing increasingly desperate for a male heir. And while Catherine had given him one healthy daughter, Princess Mary was their only child. Henry needed a son to continue the royal line, and he was beginning to believe it would never happen with Catherine. He confided in 25 year old Anne about his fears, although she still wasn't willing to become his mistress. The two had grown increasingly close since she joined the court. And after listening to Henry's worries, she proposed a solution. If he divorced Catherine and made her queen instead, Anne was certain she could give him a son. There were just a few complicating factors at the time. The King answered to the Catholic Church and the Pope was staunchly opposed to the idea of divorce. Henry couldn't simply leave Catherine just because he wanted to. But Henry was determined. For the next few years, he tried to find any loophole he could. And finally, he thought he found one. He argued that his marriage to Catherine wasn't legitimate because she was his brother's widow. Henry pointed to the Bible, which said it was forbidden to take your brother's wife. In Henry's eyes, that meant their union was invalid. The Pope didn't see it that way. He denied Henry's request for a divorce. At that point, Anne stepped in. She gave Henry a copy of a book called Obedience of a Christian man by William Tindall. According to the book, the Bible was the word of God. And since the King's power was seen as divine, given to him directly from God, well, that meant he didn't need the Pope to interpret the Bible for him. The King didn't need to listen to anyone but himself. Henry liked that line of thinking. It confirmed what he already he was the most powerful person in the world. So in 1531, he defied the Pope and sent his wife, Queen Catherine, hacking. He and Anne were buzzing with excitement, but it would take some time before the divorce was finalized. Even as King, Henry had to get his plan approved by Parliament. After two years, the paperwork still wasn't squared away and the two of them were getting antsy. Henry was eager to marry Anne so they could finally sleep together. Anne wanted to make it official so that she could become the queen. So they threw caution to the wind. In January 1533, Henry went ahead and married 32 year old Anne Boleyn, but at the time he was still technically wed to Catherine, which meant Anne couldn't be queen just yet. Luckily for Anne, Henry's divorce became final five months later. The matter was settled just in time because Anne was five months pregnant by then. Now she wouldn't just be Henry's wife, she would officially be crowned as Queen and her child would be Henry's legitimate heir. At the end of May 1533, Anne stepped onto a barge and took the boat down the Thames river to the Tower of London. When she disembarked, she walked up the Queen's stairs and into the royal apartments, her entourage of ladies in waiting trailing behind her. It was time to prepare for her coronation. Little did she know, the next time she arrived at those apartments, it would be for a very different reason. Nordstrom brings you the season's most wanted brands, Skims, Mango Free People and Princess polly. All under $100. From trending sneakers to beauty must haves, we've curated the sty your wear on repeat this spring. Free shipping, free returns and in store pickup make it easier than ever. Shop now in stores and@nordstrom.com hey, it's Vanessa. And if you love Crime House, the show the ultimate destination for true crime fans, then you have to check out Clues with Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore. Just like we explore notorious cases each week, every Wednesday, Kaylin and Morgan take you deep into the world of the most notorious crimes ever, clue by clue. And what I really love about Clues is how they break down the ways that even the smallest pieces of evidence can crack a case wide open. From serial killers to shocking murders, Clues dives into all the forensic details and brilliant sleuthing of the world's most infamous cases. If you're looking looking for compelling storytelling, crime scene analysis, and a new perspective through some of the world's most puzzling true crime cases, Then you have to check out Clues. Clues is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Just search Clues wherever you listen to podcasts. On June 1, 1533, Anne Boleyn stood before the throne in Westminster Abbey for all to she bowed her head as a crown was placed atop it. She was 32 years old and six months pregnant when she officially became Henry VIII's second wife and the Queen of England. Three months later, on September 7, Anne gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Elizabeth. Despite Anne's promises, she'd failed to deliver the son she and Henry had hoped for. But Anne told him she was certain her next would be a boy. For a while, it seemed like Henry believed in that. Over the next few months, Henry doted on his new wife and leaned on her for advice. In one of his letters to Anne, he wrote that he'd been struck by the dart of love. Unfortunately, the happy times didn't last forever. The following year, in 1534, Anne had a miscarriage. Then another one after that. By January 1536, she had lost her third pregnancy. It was too much for Henry to bear. According to reports, he screamed and shouted at Anne while she was still in bed recovering. While 35 year old Anne grieved the loss of yet another child, she also grew increasingly concerned for her own life. She knew her power as queen hinged on her giving Henry a son. Every day that passed without a male heir only made Henry more frustrated and more dangerous. Behind closed doors, Henry wondered if he'd made a mistake marrying Anne. Just like he'd done with Catherine. Henry began looking for a way out and his advisors were happy to help. In the three years since Anne became Queen, she'd made a lot of enemies at court, mostly because she'd helped Henry break away from the Roman Catholic Church. Now she was encouraging him to create a new religious order, one that would eventually become the Church of England. This didn't sit well with many of Henry's advisors, who worried Anne had too much influence over the King. And one man in particular was eager to see Anne go. When Anne had first arrived at the court, Thomas Cromwell was one of her earliest friends. He was the son of a blacksmith who'd risen in the ranks to become the King's right hand man. He'd even helped Anne and Henry figure out how to marry. But over the years, he'd turned on Anne. He didn't like how powerful she'd become and he especially didn't like the influence she had over the King. So Crawford Cromwell made a move against Anne. Anne's flirty personality was well known around the court and Cromwell used that to his advantage. It's not clear if he or Henry came up with the plan, but soon the pieces were in motion and Anne was in trouble. That spring, Cromwell identified five men, including Anne's brother, he could accuse her of sleeping with. By May 1536, Cromwell had chosen three of those men to focus on. And on the second day of the month, he had Anne arrested and charged with adultery. Anne was taken to the royal apartments in the Tower of London to await trial while Cromwell gathered evidence against her Two weeks later, Anne was called down to the Great hall to face a judge and jury. But it wasn't just any judge presiding over the hearing. It was her own uncle, the Duke of Norfolk. If Anne thought her family would protect her, she was sorely mistaken. Since her arrest, the list of charges against Anne had grown and there was little hope she'd be acquitted. In addition to adultery with several more men, Cromwell was now accusing her of plotting to kill the King. The crime was punishable by death. By the time Anne stood in the Great hall, the men she'd been accused of sleeping with had already faced their own trials. Only one had admitted to anything, and sources say he was probably tortured into giving a false confession. The rest had proclaimed their innocence, but it didn't matter. All of them were found guilty and sentenced to death. It seemed like Anne would soon face the same fate. Her only hope was mercy from the King himself. But he hadn't even bothered to show up at her trial. Probably because he'd moved on to one of Anne's ladies in waiting, A young woman named Jane Seymour. Before the judge, Anne swore she was innocent of all charges. But the jury didn't take long to deliberate. After just a few few minutes, they returned with their verdict. On charges of adultery and plotting against the King, they found Anne Boleyn guilty. Anne was escorted back to the Tower of London to await her death. In any other situation, she might have hoped the King would overturn the verdict. After all, a Queen had never been executed during Henry's family dynasty. Maybe they could just, just banish her instead. But Anne knew better. Because even though Cromwell was the mastermind behind the plot to bring her down, Henry had approved it. The King did grant her one small act of kindness, if you could call it that. Instead of being executed with an axe, a soldier would cut off her head with a sword instead. On the morning of May 19, 1536, 35 year old Anne left the apartments that had been her prison for the last two weeks. The King had decided her execution would take place right there at the Tower of London, rather than a more public site. There would still be plenty of people from the court, but Henry didn't want to risk any commoners disrupting the proceedings. As Anne Anne made her way to the stage, she tried to keep her composure, but when she stepped onto the platform, she couldn't hold it in anymore. She turned to the crowd and swore she was innocent. By then it didn't matter. The decision was made. But in Anne's last moments, she probably realized, while her Life was ending. Her daughter's was just beginning. If she didn't admit defeat and pledge loyalty to Henry, he might retaliate against their only child. So when she was asked for her final words, Anne seemed to change her tune. Now she said she accepted the charges and praised the King for his mercy. Then Anne took off her headdress and placed her head onto the chopping block. The executioner stepped forward, raised his arm and swung his sword down onto Anne's neck. And there were more executions to come. Two days after Anne was killed, her brother and the other men implicated in her crimes also lost their heads. About a week after that, King Henry VIII married Jane Seymour. She finally gave him the male heir he so desperately wanted. Tragically, it cost Jane her life. She died 12 days after childbirth. After her death, Henry took another wife. In total, Henry was married six times. In a cruel twist of fate, it was Anne Boleyn who paved the way for his many unions and divorces. And despite his desire to erase Anne from his court, he failed miserably. Because many years later, her daughter Elizabeth would become queen and arguably England's most famous monarch ever. Up next, another royal murder that changed the course of history.
- [24:04]
Amanda Knox
On Christmas Eve 1991, Dana Ireland was riding her bike on Hawaii's Big Island. Hours later, she was discovered brutally attacked. Her murder sent shockwaves through the community, and under intense pressure, police accused not one, but three men. None of them committed the crime. I'm Amanda Knox. In season two of Three, we uncover the truth and explore how three families were forever changed by injustice. Listen to Three now, wherever you get your podcasts.
- [24:37]
Vanessa Richardson
In the 1500s, Anne Boleyn was ultimately killed because she couldn't produce a male heir. Four centuries later, another set of royals faced the gallows. But unlike Anne, they wouldn't be given the courtesy of a trial. On April 30, 2008, Eduard Rossel, the governor of a Russian city called Yakaterinburg, was sitting in his office on the phone with reporters. It had been ringing. None stop. Ever since that morning when he made a major announcement. After a year of extensive testing, some bone shards that had been found on the outskirts of the city had been identified. They belonged to two children who'd been missing for almost a century, thought to be the final members of the Romanov dynasty. The mystery of the Romanovs had transfixed Russia and the world for decades. Ever since the monarchy was overthrown and the royal family was executed in 1918, there'd been rumors that some of the children had survived imposters had come out of the woodwork claiming to be a long lost Romanov. But now the debate was over. That morning, Rossell told reporters the remains belonged to Alexei, the Tsar's only son, and the final missing daughter, Maria. It was a momentous day, especially for the living Romanov descendants who'd been searching for their missing family members over the decades. But it also opened the door to more questions, because now the truth about one of Russia's bloodiest conflicts was called into question. The story of the Romanovation stretched all the way back to 1914, when Russia entered World War I. By then, the country had seen its fair share of internal conflict and its people weren't thrilled to be entering another one. It didn't help that the war took a massive toll on their country. During the fighting, Russia experienced the most casualties by far. And the economy was hit hard too. Across the nation, citizens struggled, struggled to find basic necessities like food and fuel. Russia's ruler, Tsar Nicholas ii, who was the patriarch of the Romanov family, turned a blind eye to his people's pain and suffering. And before long, it became too much for his people to bear. After three years of turmoil, thousands took to the streets of St. Petersburg, the capital at the time. The day sparked what became known as the the February Revolution of 1917. They demanded the Tsar step down. He held out for a week, but eventually he agreed to abdicate the throne. A provisional government was set up, but only for a few months. In October of that year, Vladimir Lenin and his political party, called the Bolsheviks, took over. They were determined to rule the country how they saw fit, and they were willing to do whatever it took to make sure no one stopped them, including the disgraced royal family. After Lenin and the Bolsheviks came into power, they imprisoned the Tsar, his wife Alexandra and their five children, Alexei, Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. For the next eight months, the Bolsheviks moved the Romanov family to various safe houses around the country. They never stayed in one place for long, keeping the family's location a secret. Not everyone in Russia was happy about the revolution, and there were other factions also vying for control. The last thing the Bolsheviks needed was for the Romanovs to get rescued and rally their enemies against them. Them. And killing them would only turn the royals into martyrs. Eventually, the Bolsheviks took the family to the city of Yekaterinburg, about 900 miles away from Moscow. There, they kept them hidden away in a basement. It was a long way from their palace in St. Petersburg. But soon news came that anti Bolshevik forces were advancing on Yekaterinburg. There Wasn't time for Lenin's officers to whisk the royal family away to another location. After thinking it over, Lenin told his officers they couldn't risk losing their hostages. It was time to put an end to the family for good. In the early hours of July 17, 1918, a firing squad descended into the basement where the Romanovs were being held captive. Then, most sources claim they executed all seven family members. But then came the hard part. Covering it up. Lenin knew if word got out about the assassination, it might lead their enemies to retaliate. So he ordered his officers to get rid of the evidence. The timeline is unclear, but soon after the Romanovs were murdered, the bodies were taken to a nearby forest. There, they were stripped of any identifying items, like their royal clothes and jewelry. Then Lenin's men tossed acid over the bodies and threw them down a mine shaft. To be extra safe, they tried to collapse the mine using grenades, but the mine was too shallow. Even with all the rubble inside, the bodies were still visible. And so the officers were forced to drag the bodies out and try another site entirely. This time, the men took a simpler approach. Instead of burying the bodies deep in the earth, they dug a shallow grave near the mine and tossed them inside. Despite Lenin's best efforts, news of the family's assassination spread like wildfire throughout Russia. The Bolsheviks acknowledged that the Tsar was dead, although they claimed his wife and children were just being held at an undisclosed location. Even so, it didn't take much detective work to learn what really happened, because soon after killing the family, Lenin's forces rounded up any remaining Romanov relatives, no matter how distant, and shot them, too. By the fall of 1918, another 27 Romanovs were dead, burned beyond recognition and dumped in mass graves. It was clear to the public the Bolsheviks didn't want anyone who might be sympathetic to the disgraced royals to remain alive. However, no one wanted the gun turned on them. So those who supported the Romanovs kept their opinions to themselves. It would remain that way for years, as the Bolsheviks won the Civil Civil War and Russia became the Soviet Union in 1922. But while the government wanted the Romanovs to stay dead and buried, they didn't account for one very important thing. People love a good mystery, and sometimes they'll do anything to try and solve it. Toward the end of their rule, the Romanovs were extremely unpopular. But after their deaths, public perception seemed to change. All of a sudden, people were romanticizing the monarchy, even calling for its return. With all the hype around the royal family, it wasn't long until The Romanovs became the stuff of legends, because no matter how much time had passed, there was still one question on everyone's mind. Had Tsar Nicholas's entire family really been killed? In the absence of any answers from the Soviet Union, the public filled in the blanks on their own. Some people thought the Romanov children had escaped from the Bolsheviks and were still out there in hiding. And in 1928, a German woman named Anna Anderson claimed she was actually the youngest Romanov daughter, Anastasia, and had run away to Germany. She didn't offer any proof, and no one seemed to take her claims seriously. But after that, the floodgates opened. From there, more theories emerged, with most of them focusing on Anastasia. Soon, the world was enamored with the young girl and the enduring mystery around her identity. The entertainment industry took notice, making multiple movies about Anastasia. But as much as people, people loved a story about a lost princess, it was all still fiction. And there was someone out there who wanted proof. In the 1970s, a Russian geologist named Alexander Avdonin decided to find out if there were any Romanov children still alive out there once and for all. And he knew the only way to put the mystery to bed was to dig. Literally. For years, he'd heard rumors about a gravesite where the Romanov family was buried. So Alexander began searching for its location. Eventually, someone pointed him to Yekaterinburg, not far from where the Romanovs were last seen alive. Alexander made his way to the region, and somehow he found the site. There was no security, nothing. Just an unmarked grave. And yet Alexander was certain this was it. He started digging right away, and it didn't take long for him to turn up a whole lot of bones. In the 1970s, Russian geologist Alexander Avdonin discovered a mass grave outside the city of Yekaterinburg. He believed the lost Romanov family was buried inside. It should have been a thrilling moment for Alexander. After all, this would be one of the most important geological discoveries of the century. Instead, it was terrifying. Ever since Lenin had taken power and given rise to the Soviet Union, the government had carefully guarded any information on the Romanovs. Now Alexander worried he might be punished for unearthing the truth. So, despite how much work he'd put in, Alexander decided to rebury the bones. He would keep his breakthrough a secret for nearly a decade. Luckily, by 1988, the Soviet Union had become less restrictive when it came to discussing the Romanovs. Alexander saw this as an opportunity. That year, he approached the government and asked to conduct an official investigation. It took three years, and the collapse of the Soviet Union to get it approved. But finally, in 1991, Alexander returned to the gravesite in Yekaterinburg. This time he was armed with a team of investigators. Alexander and the team started digging and soon they unearthed thousands of bone fragments. Alexander was confident these were the remains of the Romanovs, but the authorities weren't so sure. There were so many fragments, they didn't even know how many skeletons were in the grave. To get a better idea, they sent the bones to a lab for DNA testing. Scientists found there were four unrelated skeletons, likely servants of the Romanovs who'd been killed along with the family. But there were five other skeletons as well whose DNA showed they were related. Scientists were sure these were the remains of the Romanovs, they just weren't sure which ones at first. Even so, there were seven family members altogether. So what happened to the other two? But that, that was a question for later. For now, they just wanted to confirm for sure that these were the remains of the Romanovs. Which was easier said than done. Not only had the bones decomposed quite a bit, but the fragments were all mixed with one another. It was nearly impossible to tell which bones belonged to which skeleton. Luckily, by then, DNA testing had evolved and scientists were able to examine examine the bone's mitochondrial DNA, or mtdna. That was important because mothers exclusively pass on MTDNA to their offspring and any descendants. All that to say, if scientists could find direct descendants through Alexandra's side, they could match the MTDNA and prove the relation. Fortunately, there was one very famous relative out there. Prince Philip. The Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth, was Alexandra's grandnephew. In 1993, researchers sent him a plea for help and he agreed to give a DNA sample. Prince Philip's MTDNA was a near perfect match, which meant scientists were able to confirm that four of the skeletons were in fact Alexandra and three of her daughters. They couldn't determine which of the daughters for sure, but based on the sizes, they believed they included 17 year old Anastasia. It was a huge win. But researchers still needed to confirm the Tsar was one of those larger skeletons. That would prove more difficult. Scientists eventually found a Duke in Scotland who shared Tsar Nicholas II's bloodline. Through him, researchers were able to confirm Nicholas's identity as well. The discoveries put an end to all of the people out there claiming to be Anastasia. But there were still lingering questions, namely, where were the other two Romanov children? It would take another few years before more evidence came to light. In 2007, a hobby archaeologist named Sergey Plotnikov was searching for the two remaining Romanov children. He often spent his weekends scouring the outskirts of Yekaterinburg for clues. One day that year, he found a grave site. Inside were several bone fragments. He was certain they belonged to the missing children. Sergei brought his discovery to the authorities and attempted team of researchers descended on Yekaterinburg. If Sergey was right, it would come as a huge shock. The site he'd found was just 230ft from the mass grave that had been excavated in the 90s. Investigators knew there was no room for error, so they sent samples to both Russian and American labs just to be sure they got the same results. Lo and behold, both sets of scientists found the same thing. The remains were exact matches for the missing Romanov children. One molecular geneticist said there was only a one in a septillion chance that the remains weren't the Romanovs. On April 30, 2008, the news finally broke to the public. It was official. All seven members of the Romanov family had been murdered and all of their remains had finally been recovered. There would be no more pretenders, no more questions. One of the 20th century's greatest mysteries had finally been solved. When we look back on these two two remarkable moments in history, it's easy to see why their legacies are so enduring. Ask anyone with an interest in British history and they'll tell you about Anne Boleyn. The same can be said for the Romanovs, whose story became so pervasive it was turned into an animated children's musical. But for all the fanfare around Anne Boleyn and the Romanovs, it can be difficult to remember these weren't movies. These were real people who found themselves in life and death situations. And unfortunately for the subjects of today's two cases, no one made it out alive. Thanks so much for listening. I'm Vanessa Richardson and this is Crime House the Show. The show is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios. At Crime House, we want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, reviewing and following Crime House the Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, your feedback truly matters. And for ad free and early access to Crime House the Show, plus exciting bonus content. Subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. We'll be back next Monday. The show is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson, and is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios. This episode of Crime House the Show was brought to life by the Crime House team. Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon, Natalie Pertzovsky, Lori Marinelli, Sarah Camp, Alex Burns, and Michael Langsner. Thank you for listening. How can one tiny clue change everything? Kaylin Moore and Morgan Absher break it all down on their new show, Clues. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Just search Clues wherever you listen to podcasts.