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- [00:03]
Vanessa Richardson
Hi, Crime House community, It's Vanessa Richardson. Exciting news. Conspiracy theories, cults and crimes is leveling up. Starting the week of January 12th, you'll be getting two episodes every week. Wednesdays, we unravel the conspiracy or the cult, and on Fridays, we look at a corresponding crime. Every week has a theme. Tech, bioterror, power, paranoia, you name it. Follow conspiracy theories, cults and crimes now on your podcast app because you're about to dive deeper, get weirder, and go darker than ever before.
- [00:47]
Carter Roy
This is crime house.
- [00:53]
Vanessa Richardson
Most crimes have a motive, driven by someone's greed, fury or desire for control. And they're often personal, affecting the victims, their loved ones and their community. But sometimes a crime is so big, it transcends borders and even time itself. That's the case of the murder of the Romanov royal family. In the summer of 1918, the former leaders of Russia were executed by a group of revolutionaries who wanted to fix everything they thought was wrong with their country. Instead, the fall of an empire led to the rise of one of the world's most haunting and deadly mysteries. The human mind is powerful. It shapes how we think, feel, love and hate. But sometimes it drives people to commit the unthinkable. This is serial. Serial killers and murderous minds. A Crime House original. I'm Vanessa Richardson.
- [02:03]
Dr. Tristan Engels
And I'm forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels. Every Monday and Thursday, we uncover the darkest minds in history, analyzing what makes a killer.
- [02:13]
Vanessa Richardson
Crime House is made possible by you. Follow serial killers and murderous minds and subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple podcasts for ad free early access to each two part series. Before we get started, be advised. This episode contains descriptions of violence and murder. Today we begin our deep dive into the 1918 murder of the Romanov family. Amidst the violence of the Russian Revolution, the former royals were held hostage and brutally killed, sparking one of the most infamous murder mysteries in history. While the truth has finally been revealed about what happened to the Romanovs, the answers force us to look within and ask ourselves what we're all, all really capable of.
- [02:59]
Dr. Tristan Engels
And as Vanessa goes through the story, I'll be talking about things like how groupthink influences people's notions of power and justice. How a need for vengeance can cause someone to commit the unthinkable and the cognitive dissonance involved when someone becomes attached to a person they've promised to kill.
- [03:18]
Vanessa Richardson
And as always, we'll be asking the question, what makes a killer? Mornings in my house are total chaos. Between getting my son ready for school, breakfast made and myself looking halfway presentable, who even has time to think about their wardrobe. That's why I love Daily Look. Daily look is the number one highest rated premium personal styling service for women. And it makes getting dressed stress free and actually fun. Here's how it works. You get your own personal stylist, not an algorithm who curates up to 12 premium pieces based on your body, style and lifestyle. They're delivered right to your door. You try them on in the comfort of your home, keep what you love and send back the rest free shipping both ways. Boxes come every 30, 60 or 90 days, so it fits your schedule perfectly. I love how their stylists really get to know you. They know what works for your work days, weekend errands, and even last minute nights out. It saves time, effort and energy. Basically, it's your morning chaos solution. Take your style quiz@dailylook.com and use code Cereal S E R I A L to get 50% off your first styling fee. Why have I asked my H Vac guy I found on Angie.com to change my grandpa's trachea tube? I was so amazed at how he replaced our air ducts. I knew I could trust him to change Pop Pop's tube. I think we should call a Dr. Angie, the one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find pros for all your home projects@angie.com Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov, known as Nicholas II, was born. Knowing exactly what was expected of him, the entire world knew that Nicholas would one day sit on the Russian throne. He came from a long line of Russian leaders. On his father's side and on his mother's side, Nicholas was related to Danish and English royalty as well. By the turn of the 20th century, the Romanov dynasty had ruled Russia for almost 300 years. At the time, most people in the country were members of the Russian Orthodox Church. A big part of this belief system was the idea of divine rule, which essentially meant that God had chosen the Romanovs to lord over Russia. The ruling Tsar and Tsarina were viewed like demigods. Commoners believed wholeheartedly in their divine status.
- [05:41]
Dr. Tristan Engels
When a child is raised in a system where power isn't earned but inherited, it starts shaping their identity long before they understand what power actually is. And for Nicholas, being the future czar wasn't a choice. It was presented as a certainty, almost like a biological fact. And psychologically, that can send a message that this role isn't a job for him. It's who he is and it's his identity. And when your family, your tutors, clergy and the public treats you that way, it reinforces that identity even more. But there's another side to that. When the entire nation believes your authority comes from God, they're also primed to believe that you're born capable of leading and judging and protecting them simply because you exist. They could easily crumble under the pressure of that. Or conversely, they could lean into the role in rigid and harmful ways, relying on authority instead of reflection and power instead of self correction. And there are a lot of ways this can influence someone in positive and negative ways.
- [06:44]
Vanessa Richardson
What kind of effect does it have on someone when they believe that God has chosen them for something?
- [06:50]
Dr. Tristan Engels
That kind of upbringing absolutely shapes their personality. When admiration is the norm and not the exception, a person can grow to expect it and struggle with anything less. Their brain can start filtering experiences through the belief that their role is divinely ordained. So every interaction becomes confirmation that they're exactly where they're meant to be. Over time, that can create moral rigidity. If you believe your authority comes from a higher power, right and wrong can feel predetermined rather than something you learn through. That's a very different developmental path than someone who's allowed to try and fail, adjust and grow. And maybe the most important piece is identity formation. Most people develop a sense of self by exploring who they are without a set of predetermined expectations. But when your entire childhood revolves around preparing for a sacred role like this, a divine one, your personality gets built around duty rather than self discovery. So for someone like Nicholas, it could shape how he interpreted feedback, or how he understood authority and ultimately how he would lead his people.
- [08:01]
Vanessa Richardson
On May 26, 1896, 28 year old Nicholas officially ascended to the throne. Bells rang out through Moscow and he and his German born wife Alexandra were crowned. At the time, the people of Russia saw it as a cause for celebration. The Romanov family's godly rule gave people a sense of stability. But pretty soon, Nicholas was fighting to hold on to power. For Nicholas, the downfall began two years before Coronation Day when his father passed away. Immediately after his father's death, he wrote in his diary, quote, I know nothing of the business of ruling. Nicholas was quiet and shy. He didn't have the charisma or confidence his father had. And he knew it, even though this was his birthright. When the crown was placed on his head, he felt the weight of the entire country bearing down on him. But he still didn't want to let his people down. Nicholas and Alexandra adored the Russian peasants whose faith in God was stronger than anyone's at the same time, though, the Romanovs didn't realize that public perception of the crown had started to wane as the world rapidly modernized. Peasants were starving, workers were striking, and resentment was building toward the royal family. The people of Russia demanded change, and in their eyes, the palace refused to let it happen. Just days after the coronation ceremony in 1896, people became even angrier when Nicholas showed the people of Russia just how chaotic things would be under his rule. As part of the celebrations, about half a million people had gathered in a field to receive commemorative gifts and food. As people pushed forward, panic broke out and the crowd descended into total chaos. An estimated 1,300 people were crushed to death, with even more people injured. It was a horrifying tragedy, and it happened in the name of Nicholas ii. To make matters worse, Nicholas went forward with a planned gala that evening. When people heard about this, they were livid. It was like their new czar was completely indifferent. Nicholas sought refuge from the backlash at home, where he and Alexandra enjoyed a loving marriage and happy, playful moments with their five children, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and Alexei. This would become a regular routine for Nicholas. He'd attend to his royal duties, then retreat to his family as soon as possible. Within the walls of Alexander palace in St. Petersburg, he could still feel in control. However, he still had to try and regain respect from his subjects. To do that, Nicholas made grandiose promises of reform. But as the country modernized and more cities and factories popped up, he realized he couldn't keep up. So Nicholas started issuing royal decrees instead of allowing the government to make constitutional changes. And the more this happened, the more his subjects resented him. By 1905, tensions reached a breaking point. Around 100,000 workers, peasants and their families gathered for a protest in St. Petersburg. They wanted to petition the Tsar for better wages and working hours. They were sure Nicholas would hear them out once and for all. But instead, imperial guards opened fire on the crowd, killing hundreds. The tragedy would come to be known as Bloody Sunday. Nicholas wasn't in St Petersburg at the time, and he wasn't the one who ordered the guards to fire. But he was the Czar, so the blame still fell on him.
- [11:47]
Dr. Tristan Engels
The public believed the Tsar was a protector of the people, chosen by God. And in a short amount of time since Nicholas took power, 1,300 people were crushed to death. And he, according to their perspective, seemed calloused about it. And then the next minute, the divine Tsar's imperial guards opened fire on his people. And even Nicholas wasn't there at the time. The initial injury to his reputation compounded with this incident. So there's a moral injury and likely class consciousness happening on a large scale with his people, which can magnify quickly with the phenomenon of group think and group polarization. But now there is also likely a degree of spiritual disillusionment as well. The people had been taught to see the Tsar as a protective, almost paternal figure, and that illusion has now shattered. And once that sacred trust was broken, especially at such a large scale with group think occurring, it was likely nearly impossible to repair.
- [12:48]
Vanessa Richardson
If Nicholas had any shred of popularity left, it unraveled on Bloody Sunday. Soon, internal conflict was rampant within the palace. The new parliament, known as the Duma, challenged Nicholas's authority, and he responded by dissolving it entirely. More than once, he also encouraged the secret police to target anyone who dissented his rule. But these actions only created more resentment against him. By 1914, those tensions collided with global chaos as World War I broke out.
- [13:20]
Dr. Tristan Engels
This response is what we would expect to see in someone who is used to being admired and is not able to tolerate dissent well.
- [13:28]
Vanessa Richardson
At first, it looked like Russia would stand strong and united. But that didn't last long. Only a few months into the war, food shortages broke out throughout the country, and soldiers lacked crucial supplies. In September 1915, Nicholas decided he would take command of the army in order to restore faith in his leadership. So he ventured to the front line, leaving his wife Alexandra in charge of the government. The people of Russia had always been skeptical of Alexandra since she was born in Germany. Some even accused her of collaborating with her home country in the war. Alexandra was aware of her bad reputation and started to become more paranoid. She only trusted a few people. The person she turned to most was a man named Grigori Rasputin, A healer from a remote Siberian village. Rasputin's tangled beard and piercing blue eyes made him stand out in a room. He and Alexandra had met through religious leaders and formed an instant connection. Both Alexandra and Nicholas grew to rely on Rasputin because they thought he had saved their only son's life. Alexei suffered from hemophilia, a rare disorder that prevents blood from clotting, as it should. Even a small bump or scrape could put Alexei in grave danger. And since he was the only male heir to the throne, his illness was especially frightening. On one occasion, doctors thought Alexei was on the brink of death. Alexandra asked Rasputin to pray for her little boy. Soon after, Alexei recovered. After that, Alexandra wholeheartedly believed that Rasputin was the answer to her problems. She seemed to trust him more than she trusted government advisors, which was an issue. Rumors started to swirl that Alexandra and Rasputin were romantically involved, and that while Nicholas was away at war, Rasputin was pulling the strings, making all the crucial wartime decisions. The newspapers painted him as a power hungry sorcerer who who controlled Russia behind the scenes. The idea that a Siberian peasant had this level of power was explosive. Government ministers and military leaders blamed Rasputin for disastrous decisions. And the public became convinced that the monarchy was not only incompetent, but corrupt.
- [15:47]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Let's talk about the cause and effect of rumors, especially when it comes to high profile or powerful people like this. People tend to look for explanations when something feels out of balance, because that's natural. But when leaders seem distant or secretive, the public tends to fill in the gaps. And rumors become a way to make sense of things that feel uncertain. And people are naturally inclined to question or challenge people in power. And rumors can serve as a way to allow the public to regain a sense of control over them. But the effects can be extreme, because once a rumor enters the collective consciousness, it spreads quickly because it taps into emotion rather than fact. And emotional stories are far more contagious. Sensationalism always wins. And over time, these rumors can reshape how people interpret events, how they view people, and even how they understand their own role within society. So when rumors begin around high profile figures, whether they're true or exaggerated or completely fabricated, they can influence public perception long before the truth is ever even realized. So in Alexandra's case, the affair rumor likely wasn't really about her at all. And it was more likely a reflection of the public's growing fear and distrust in Nicholas and the monarchy in general.
- [17:05]
Vanessa Richardson
When is gossip healthy, or at least normal? And when does it actually cross a line?
- [17:11]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Gossip isn't inherently unhealthy. In fact, at low levels, it's a normal social behavior. Because people use gossip to share information, they use it to make sense of confusing situations and establish social norms. Especially when something feels uncertain or even threatening, it can even serve a protective function, like warning others about potential risks or uncertainty about others. But gossip crosses a line when it starts being about harm. So, for example, when stories are repeated without concern for accuracy, or when they target someone's character rather than the behavior, or when they're fueled by fear or resentment or the desire to undermine, that's when they can become psychologically damaging. The key difference here is intent and impact. Healthy gossip tends to be situational or temporary and grounded in concern, whereas harmful gossip is persistent it's dehumanizing and it spreads in ways that reinforces prejudice or causes reputational harm or justifies mistreatment of people. And once gossip moves into that kind of territory or space, it can shape collective attitudes in ways that are very hard to undo.
- [18:27]
Vanessa Richardson
People's feelings about Rasputin would soon feed into the ongoing cycle of violence in Russia. By December 1916, the Russian aristocracy plotted to kill Rasputin. And Prince Felix Yusupov finished the job. Rasputin's death was celebrated among the upper echelons of society who believed they had saved the monarchy. But all they really did was reveal how fragile the Romanovs had become. The people of Russia began to wonder if one man could shake the empire this deeply. How strong was it really? Weeks later, at the start of 1917, it became more clear than ever that the Russian people thought the monarchy should be stopped for good. An uprising known as the February Revolution erupted across the country. Protests over food and fuel turned into full scale rebellion. Workers went on strike, and this time soldiers joined the crowds. The Romanovs had lost their last source of power. Their dynasty was beginning to collapse. When Nicholas got word of what was happening, he realized that on top of the Great War, his country was on the brink of civil war. At the same time, the Bolsheviks, a radical faction of revolutionary communists led by Vladimir Lenin, started gaining traction and called for Nicholas to step down. Nicholas was cornered, and that's when he made a crucial decision to abdicate the throne. His wife Alexandra didn't agree. She felt that in the wake of Rasputin's death, they should hold on to their power more than ever. But Nicholas simply couldn't do it anymore. And once the crown was lifted from his head, the entire Romanov family had targets on their backs.
- [20:21]
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- [20:52]
Vanessa Richardson
Hablas espanol? Parle italiano.
- [20:54]
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- [21:23]
Vanessa Richardson
In the spring of 1917, Nicholas II stepped down as tsar of Russia. Under his rule, the country had known nothing but starvation, suffering, and violence. No one saw it more clearly than Nicholas himself. He named his brother Michael as his successor, But Michael rejected the crown. He said that he would only accept if the people of Russia made it clear they wanted a monarchy. Since that was unlikely to happen, that meant three centuries of Romanov rule had ended. This would end up being more than a political act. For Nicholas, it was the death of his whole identity.
- [22:03]
Dr. Tristan Engels
From the moment Nicholas was born, every structure around him reinforced that his life had meaning because of his role. Authority gave him identity, certainty, and safety. So when he abdicated the throne, he abdicated his authority. He stepped away from leadership. But also he experienced just what you described, which is an identity death. Suddenly, the rules that had governed his entire existence disappeared. The rituals, the hierarchy, all of it was no longer there. It was gone. So his purpose is no longer. His wife is also in disagreement with the direction he wants to take. His brother envisions a different future. And everything just feels uncertain to him, I'm sure. And there's another layer that makes this especially difficult. Power had always functioned as Nicholas's shield because it protected him both psychologically and physically. And once it vanished, he was vulnerable. So overnight, he went from this divinely protected ruler to a man with a target on his back. And that kind of shift can create shock, disbelief, fear, and some kind of disorientation, like waking up in a life that no longer belongs to you. And when identity, safety, and meaning collapse all at once like that, it can be very debilitating.
- [23:18]
Vanessa Richardson
How is someone able to recognize their mistakes when their entire ecosystem's been built to shield them from reality?
- [23:26]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Yeah. If everyone around you is filtering bad news or reframes failures or attributes problems to external sources, the individual that's being protected from that never gets the feedback that they need to course correct. That creates a closed system. So over time, the person inside that system doesn't learn from consequences because they never experienced them directly. Mistakes don't feel like mistakes. They feel like misunderstandings or betrayals even. Or even attacks on them. And reality is breaking through simply because that system, for Nicholas, is fractured. Now that he's abdicated the throne and broken free of that closed system. Instead of insight, though, the response is often shock or denial. And recognition of mistakes after freeing from a closed system like that usually requires exposure to those mistakes, accountability, and then challenge overall.
- [24:21]
Vanessa Richardson
Without the pressure of ruling, Nicholas and his family tried to adapt to their new reality. The former czar would go on daily daily walks and pray, while Alexandra stuck closely to their five children, all in their teens and early 20s. They were under house arrest, but they were still inside Alexander Palace. However, the world outside their gates was growing increasingly hostile by the day. Loyalists wanted to restore the monarchy's power, while revolutionaries wanted Nicholas exiled or even worse, killed. And these revolutionary groups were gaining strength, especially the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks saw the monarchy as a symbol of all the oppression and inequalities in Russia. They made promises to the Russian people of, quote, peace, land and bread. And By November of 1917, they had overthrown the government. That wasn't enough for them, though. In the Bolsheviks eyes, as long as the Romanovs were alive, the revolution would never fully succeed. But assassination was no small matter and they knew they needed to tread carefully. So under the guise of protection, officials made a decision. The Romanov family would be moved far away into the frozen heart of Siberia. There they would be in total isolation while the new Communist government bought time to figure out their next move. Between April and May of 1918, every member of the Romanov family was taken from the palace they called home and brought to the Bolshevik controlled city of Yekaterinburg, located in the Ural Mountains. They were brought to a property known as the Ipatiev House, where they were kept under house arrest by armed guards. A tall fence was built around the home to keep the Romanovs separate from the townspeople. The only people they could socialize with were a few loyal staff members they'd been allowed to bring with them, including Alexei's doctor, Eugene Botkin, the family physician, Aloi's troup, their footman Ivan Karitonov, and a maid named Anna Demidova. Since they were so isolated, the Romanovs had no idea that the Bolsheviks were fighting to hold on to power in Yekaterinburg. Their opponents were a faction known as the Whites, a loose alliance of former officers and supporters of the monarchy who were trying to take Russia back. At the same time, a third faction was rising too. The Czech Legion, which was fighting its way west westward, making the Bolsheviks fear they might lose their grip on Yekaterinburg. While not formally aligned, the Whites and the Czechs were de facto allies. Since The Bolsheviks were their shared enemy. However, even though no one told the Romanov family the details of the fighting going on, they could sometimes hear gunshots ringing out. None of the guards watching over them had to say anything for the family to know their lives were in danger. Inside the Ipatiev house, the Romanovs focused on their faith. They spent most of their time studying the Bible and praying for answers about their fate. On July 12, the revolutionaries in charge of them convened to discuss just that. They met at the Americanskaya Hotel, which had been converted to a Bolshevik operations center. The meeting started in the morning, and by 10pm they were still debating what to do with the Romanovsky. It was clear the former Royals were a liability, and if the Czech Legion made it to Yekaterinburg and freed them, Nicholas would become the symbol of the counter revolution. Exile wasn't an option, because even from abroad, Nicholas could still stoke rallying cries. He might even get foreign governments to support him. The Bolsheviks couldn't risk any of this happening, so they made a decision to kill the Romanovs.
- [28:15]
Dr. Tristan Engels
People justify violence in many ways, but especially when they believe it's serving the greater good. In those moments, harm gets reframed as necessity, and this is moral disengagement. When that happens, people stop thinking in terms of individuals and start thinking in terms of symbols and outcomes. The Romanovs were no longer a family in captivity. They were seen as a political liability and a threat to their entire movement. And once someone is reduced to a a symbol, it becomes much easier to justify extreme actions against them. There's also restricted cognitive processing that occurs under perceived threat. When groups like this feel cornered, which is what's happening here, their thinking can become rigid and urgent. And when there's extremism involved or a sense of survival, that's when violence starts to feel like the only way to prevent a worse future. And finally, responsibility becomes diffused. These decisions aren't made by one person acting alone. They're debated, shared and agreed upon collectively. In rooms like that hotel meeting, that shared responsibility lowers personal guilt and internal resistance. So justified violence like this, especially when collectively done, is usually driven by fear, ideology, and the belief that preventing catastrophe excuses almost anything.
- [29:39]
Vanessa Richardson
Did the Bolsheviks code word make them feel more distanced from the reality of their actions?
- [29:44]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Yes, I believe so. Because using a code word could have created psychological distance for them. Language matters more than people often realize. When we replace a violent act with neutral or abstract language, it can reduce the emotional impact of what they're actually doing or they're actually planning on doing it's. A classic way the mind protects itself. Using a code word can turn something into a procedural act, and it can ultimately shift empathy, suppress guilt, and make actions feel cleaner or more controlled and less personal. It's another form of moral disengagement. So the code word likely helped the Bolsheviks psychologically distance themselves, like I mentioned, from the reality of what they were planning to do, making this unthinkable act feel more manageable, more justified, and easier for them to carry out.
- [30:33]
Vanessa Richardson
When it was officially decided that the Romanovs had to die, Bolshevik leaders appointed one man to head up the operation. Yakov Urovsky was one of the commanders in charge of the Romanov's captivity. His higher ups, including Vladimir Lenin, knew how loyal and disciplined he was. Growing up, Yurovsky was one of 10 children. His family was poor, and he blamed the monarchy for the country's never ending poverty and upheaval. Before the revolution, Yurovsky had been a watchmaker and then a photographer, posing families for portraits. But when the February Revolution broke out, he volunteered immediately and began to make a name for himself in the movement. His reputation soon reached Moscow, and that's when he was appointed with this monumental task. Yurovsky recruited around 10 men to help him, all of whom, like him, sought vengeance against the royal family. He believed they were not only the toughest, but the angriest. He was right. For the most part, however, a few of the men needed some convincing. Some of the guards had gotten to know the family and felt protective over the girls, who they found charming and innocent. But Yurovsky said no one was to be spared. And in the end, the guards didn't want to be punished for failing to follow his orders. So they agreed, and the group of assassins got down to planning. Meanwhile, the Romanovs tried to keep up a normal routine. Inside Ipatiev house, Nicholas chopped wood and wrote in his diary. And Alexandra wrote letters she couldn't send. Their five children. Olga, 22, Tatiana, 21, Maria, 19, Anastasia, 17, and Alexi, 13, would pray and read to each other. The family could sense that things had taken a dark turn. The guards wouldn't even let them open any windows, let alone go for strolls around the property.
- [32:27]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Strict captivity changes people from the inside out. When every movement is controlled and every privilege is removed, the nervous system is put into a constant state of vigilance, even hypervigilance. Even when nothing is happening, the body can't help but brace for threat in an environment like that, and as a result, we often see some level of disorientation in captivity, because over time, days blur together and time loses its normal structure. That's why routines become so important. Nicholas chopping wood. Alexandra writing letters. The children reading and praying. These small acts of normalcy help preserve identity and stability. There's also learned helplessness and adaptive coping under captivity. That often occurs when people realize they have no control over their environment. They stop trying to change it and they focus instead on endurance. That doesn't mean they've given up. It means their energy shifts to survival. And also faith often intensifies. Under these conditions. Belief, prayer and meaning making become ways to reclaim agency, which I think we are seeing here as well.
- [33:36]
Vanessa Richardson
Meanwhile, Alexei's health was slipping again. His hemophilia could turn any bruise into a life threatening internal bleed. He would go through bouts of swollen joints, fevers and weeks of not being able to walk. His sisters tried to make him feel better, but everyone in the house knew that that one wrong move could be deadly. As the mood became more bleak, Nicholas clung to any piece of news he received from the outside world. The newspapers in London reported that Lenin was losing grip and peasants were rioting. They also reported that the British Crown hadn't spoken on the matter of the Romanovs, which was particularly painful for Nicholas since King George V of England was his cousin. George had once offered Nicholas and his family asylum in London if the situation in Russia worsened. It was a hope that Nicholas clung onto. But now he wasn't sure if he'd be able to secure this safe passage because he'd stopped hearing from George entirely. While Nicholas never received the full explanation, he knew in his gut what had happened. The British didn't want to look bad by helping the Romanovs. And it would look bad, especially since Alexandra was German born. The King of England simply couldn't help them. As this harsh realization sank in, Nicholas feared no one was ever going to come to their aid. However, things suddenly changed on the night of July 16th. When the guards approached the family with new orders. They told the Romanovs to pack their bags because they were leaving.
- [35:20]
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- [36:08]
Carter Roy
Hey Crime House Community. I'm Carter Roy, the host of True Crime Stories. If you listen to True Crime because you want more than just what happened, this show is for you. On Murder True Crime Stories we take deep dives into history's most notorious murders, but we don't stop at the crime scene. We look beyond the headlines to understand the real story and the people who are impacted the most. Because these cases aren't just mysteries, they're lives, families, communities that were changed forever. Whether a case is solved or unsolved, my goal is for you to walk away understanding why these stories still matter and why they deserve to be told with care. Each episode explores the darkest corners of true crime while keeping the focus where it belongs on the human cost. If you're already part of the the Crime House community, True Crime Stories is a natural Next listen New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday beginning January 16th. New episodes will also drop every Friday. Follow Murder True Crime Stories on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen.
- [37:28]
Vanessa Richardson
On the night of July 16, 1918, after 15 months of captivity, the guards at Ipatiev House told the Romanov family to pack up their belongings because they were being moved somewhere else. The family was stunned, but they did as they were told. They nervously retreated to their rooms and started packing. The Romanovs knew that if they were moved somewhere else, that meant the Bolsheviks were losing ground and if opposition forces took over Yekaterinburg, the family could be be freed. However, there had been times before when the guards told them they were moving, but then changed their minds at the last minute. So while the family was apprehensive, they stuck to the plan Alexandra had prepared since they'd first arrived. She and the girls had sewn their remaining jewels and other precious heirlooms into some of their dresses, as well as all their pillows, including a belt buckle with the imperial coat of arms, a double headed eagle. Alexandra and the girls wore those dresses and carried the pillows in hopes that even if their bags were lost or stolen, they'd keep what was most valuable. These were the only physical remnants of their old life and their only form of security in the face of an uncertain future.
- [38:44]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Let's talk about Alexandra's behavior here. In general, people place emotional importance on material possessions, because objects often carry meaning far beyond their practical or material value. Psychologically, possessions can represent safety, continuity and identity, especially in times of upheaval like this, when everything feels unstable, tangible items become proof of who you are, where you came from, and what you might still carry into the future. In situations of extreme uncertainty or captivity in exile, for example, valuables take on an even deeper role. They're not just assets, they're symbols of survival and hope. Sewing jewels and heirlooms into clothing was, I think, more about preparation. For them, it was a way for Alexandra and her daughters to feel a small sense of control over their circumstances. Those jewels represented contingency and identity, if we're thinking about the coat of arms as well, and maybe even hope and feeling less powerless. And it likely gave her the belief that there might still be a future worth planning for, even when everything else suggested otherwise.
- [39:56]
Vanessa Richardson
At around 2am on July 17, they walked down the stairs, Alexandra and the girls carrying their bags and pillows and Nicholas carrying Alexei. What the Romanov family didn't know then was that their instinct had been right. As guards ushered them along, the Czech Legion was closing in. City by city, they'd battled the Bolsheviks and pushed through. It was only a matter of time until they made it to Yekaterinburg to rescue the Romanovsky. But Vladimir Lenin had other plans. His instructions were clear. Under no circumstances were the Romanovs to fall into enemy hands. And as the risk of that happening became greater, Lenin finally gave the order to eliminate them. At around 2:15am, Yakov Yurovsky emerged from the guards quarters and ordered the family down one of the corridors. As the family walked single file, flanked by Yurovsky and about 10 other guards, they instinctively lined up in their order of precedence, as they had their whole lives. The only difference was that Nicholas held Alexi in his arms, because the young boy was in a lot of pain from his illness. Behind the royal family were the staff members who had been allowed to accompany them to Yekaterinburg. The family's three dogs tried to follow them, but the guards shoed them away. When they reached the end of the hallway, they walked past a piece of decor, a stuffed mother bear and her cubs. Since they thought they were leaving the house for the last time, they all did the sign of the cross in front of the mother bear as a sign of respect, or perhaps as a way to beg God for mercy. Because soon the family realized that Yourofsky wasn't leading them out of the house. He was taking them to the basement. He brought them into a dark and mostly bare storage room and told them they had to wait there for a while while the guards stood outside. Nicholas tried to stay positive and keep his family's spirits up, but Alexandra was exhausted and needed to sit down. She was also worried about Alexei's safety in the dark room and wanted him to have somewhere to sit, too. She asked for chairs to be brought in, and Yurovsky said no. But then one of the guards muttered under his breath that if the heir to the throne wanted to die seated in a chair, then he had the right to. So Yurovsky sent someone to fetch chairs.
- [42:22]
Dr. Tristan Engels
That moment with the guards is striking, especially given how staunchly anti monarchy they were. For them, the Romanovs had long existed as symbols of tyranny and oppression, or embodiments of a system that they hated. But when you're forced into close, sustained contact, beliefs shaped by rumor or propaganda can start to change. Over time. They realize that they were watching parents protect their children. A sick boy being carried by his father, and a family leaning on faith to cope with fear. And like you outlined earlier, Vanessa, even some of the guards grew protective of the girls. And that kind of exposure humanizes people, and it creates cognitive dissonance. They had been led to believe the Romanovs were monsters. And while they were flawed leaders who did cause real harm, what the guards actually observed were ordinary human beings enduring captivity. Seeing the children suffer and recognizing the harm they themselves were about to cause likely took a psychological toll. And to resolve that dissonance, some guards softened emotionally rather than ideologically. They didn't suddenly reject the revolution, but they began to care about the people in front of them. And that's probably why there was so much urgency, too. Not just because, you know, the opposite forces were closing in on them. But the longer the guards stayed close to the Romanovs like this, the harder it became to see them as en. And that's why they were so limited to who they could be around. Compassion became a liability and a compromise to the mission.
- [43:55]
Vanessa Richardson
Do you think the guards saw their actions as maybe less evil if they showed some level of respect beforehand?
- [44:03]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Yeah, I think that's very likely. It allowed them to distance themselves from the cruelty of what they are doing and what they're about to do and give themselves moral standing. It softens that internal conflict that they're having without changing the outcome. And I think it allowed them to live with themselves after the fact, at least to some degree.
- [44:23]
Vanessa Richardson
Well, the guards knew what was coming, and it seemed like Nicholas did, too. However, he tried to hide his suspicions from his family. Once someone finally returned with chairs, Nicholas carefully lowered Alexei into one. Then he stepped in front of his son as if to shield him with his own body. Alexandra took the other chair, and the girls sat on their pillows behind their mouth. Mother with the staff standing off to the side. The whole time, Nicholas remained calm, which seemed to help his daughters feel better, too. Once everyone was settled in, Yovski left the room. A few moments later, the sound of a truck engine in the courtyard rattled the basement window. To the captives, it seemed like maybe they really were getting out of there. But in reality, Yovski only wanted the sound of the engine to mask the impending ending gunfire. Yourofsky returned to the basement, and this time he had the guards follow him into the room. Nicholas felt the tension in the air. He asked Yourovsky what was about to happen. In response, Yourofsky pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket. Then he began reading from it loudly. Yurovsky recited a script informing the Romanovs of their ordered executions. He said it was was the will of the Revolution. Once he was done, the room was silent for a few moments. No one could seem to process what was happening. Then Yurovsky drew his revolver, aimed it at Nicholas, and shot him in the chest. The tsar's face showed absolute shock as he collapsed before dying. Then the room exploded into chaos. Panicked screams filled the room as Alexandra tried tried to reach Nicholas and her children tried to reach her. Several other guards started firing aimlessly in the dark, filling the room with thick smoke. Bullets ricocheted off the walls as the family and their staff ducked for cover. For all the thought he'd put into recruiting his team of assassins, Yourofsky had failed to actually train them. As pandemonium played out around them, they had no idea how to subdue and kill their targets.
- [46:33]
Dr. Tristan Engels
By the sounds of it, the initial goal was containment, to keep the Romanovs alive, but in exile and out of enemy hands. Killing them sounded like it became a necessity once that control was at risk. And that matters psychologically, because people prepare differently for a contingency plan than they do for a primary plan. Yurovsky and his men had mentally rehearsed guarding and had actively been doing that for some time now. But they had clearly not rehearsed murdering the Romanovs, so they lacked the emotional or behavioral readiness to carry out this execution, which appeared to have been done under immense pressure. The Czech Legion was advancing, and hesitation felt dangerous. And that kind of urgency forces people into action before they've processed the moral weight of what they're about to do. And also, under stressful situations like this, coordination deteriorates, communication is affected, and people revert to instinct. These guards were abruptly ordered to commit mass murder of a family with innocent children in a confined space. The disorganization of this can be due partly to poor planning, but partly psychological factors as well.
- [47:47]
Vanessa Richardson
None of the guards seemed ready to carry out this duty. They just kept firing and soon Alexandra was hit. She collapsed to the floor and died just moments after her husband. The guards kept firing and bouncing off the walls as the smoke thickened. Soon no one could see anything but the family's screams and cries had stopped. The guards believed that was the end of it. One of them opened the door and they all tumbled out into the hallway, coughing and gasping for air. Once they all caught their breath, they noticed something a sound from inside the room. People were still alive. Their pained moans revealed a harsh reality. This night was far from over. In the hours that followed, the Bolsheviks made desperate attempts to clean up the mess they made. In the process, they gave rise to one of the greatest mysteries the world has ever known. Thanks so much for listening. Join us next time for the conclusion of our deep dive into the murders of the Romanov family.
- [49:02]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Serial Killers and Murderous Minds is a Crime House Original Powered by Pave Studios Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today, reach out on all social media Crime House. And don't forget forget to rate, review and follow Serial Killers and Murderous Minds wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference and.
- [49:24]
Vanessa Richardson
To enhance your listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode of Serial Killers and Murderous Minds ad free along with early access to each thrilling two part series. Serial Killers and Murderous Minds is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels and is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Serial Killers and Murderous Minds team. Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon, Lori Marinelli, Natalie Pertzovsky, Sarah Camp, Inez Renike, Sarah Tardif and Carrie Murphy. Thank you for listening.
- [50:07]
Dr. Tristan Engels
Listening.
- [50:14]
Vanessa Richardson
Looking for your next listen. Hi, it's Vanessa Richardson and I have exciting news. Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes is leveling up starting the week of January 12th. You'll be getting two episodes every week. Wednesdays we unravel the conspiracy or the cult and on Fridays we look at a correspondence crime follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes now on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you listen.