Morbid Podcast

Episode: "The Mysterious Case of Sunny von Bülow"

Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Date: January 8, 2026

Overview

This episode dives deep into the infamous high society scandal and attempted murder case involving Sunny von Bülow, a wealthy American heiress, and her enigmatic husband, Klaus von Bülow. With their signature blend of heavy research, humor, and commentary, Ash and Alaina unpack the wild twists of the case—from Sunny’s privileged upbringing, to her mysterious comas, to the high-profile trials and bitter family saga that followed for decades. The discussion explores issues of wealth, family loyalty, medical forensics, the legal system, and the lasting impact on one of America’s notable families.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sunny von Bülow's High Society Upbringing

• Sunny’s Origins

  • Born Martha “Sunny” Crawford in 1931—in her father’s private train car en route to New York. [07:58]
  • Daughter of George Crawford (oil, gas, electric magnate) and Annie Laurie Crawford.
  • Inherited ~$100 million at age 4 after father's death—a sum that would be about $2.4 billion today. [09:10] Alaina: “Today, that would be about 2.4 billion dollars!”
  • Raised at elite boarding schools and debuted in New York’s high society. [09:40]

• First Marriage

  • Married Austrian prince & tennis pro, Alfred von Auersperg.
  • Had two children, Annie-Laurie (“Ala”) and Alexander.
  • Marriage soured over Alfred’s big-game hunting and flirtatiousness. Divorced in 1965.

2. Second Act: The Enigma of Klaus von Bülow

• Enter Klaus

  • Born Klaus Borberg in Denmark. After WWII, family scandal (father accused of being a Nazi collaborator).
  • Changed his surname and added “von” to sound “fancier.” [12:50] Ash: “He added the ‘von’ later to make himself rich and fancy.”
  • Law school grad; worked for oil tycoon J. Paul Getty.
  • Ash and Alaina riff on how certain names work with “von” and joke about high society (“It’s hard to Von. That’s why it’s exclusive.” - Ash, [13:22]).

• Marriage to Sunny

  • Married in 1966; settled between Manhattan’s 5th Ave & Newport’s Clarendon Court mansion.
  • Became a fixture in American aristocracy circles (Vanderbilts, Astors, etc.).
  • Had a daughter, Cosima, in 1967.
  • The marriage faltered: Klaus’s public affairs, especially with actress Alexandra Isles. The couple moved into separate bedrooms, maintaining appearances. [20:17]

3. Seeds of Suspicion: The Mystery of the Comas

• First Incident (1979)

  • Maid hears Sunny distressed; Klaus blocks medical intervention. Sunny eventually hospitalized, found with abnormally high insulin. Recovers, episode ruled as hypoglycemia. [25:10]

• Second Incident (1980)

  • Sunny found by her son, Alex, struggling, then face-down and unresponsive in the bathroom.
  • Paramedics and doctors again baffled; extremely high insulin level: 216 (normal is 5–15). [30:41] Ash: “Her insulin was at 216. That’s wild...”
  • Sunny slips into a permanent coma.

• Klaus’s Behavior Raises Eyebrows

  • Ash: “Paul Ripa... said Klaus looked at his wife with ice cold blue eyes and there was absolutely no feeling.” [29:54]
  • Shortly after, Klaus takes a vacation with Alexandra Isles, further upsetting Sunny’s adult children. [32:03]

4. Family Investigation & The Black Bag

• Suspicion Grows

  • Alex and Ala, suspecting foul play, consult family lawyer Richard Q.
  • Search Klaus’s locked closet (with a locksmith and private investigator): find the infamous black bag—pills, a used syringe, insulin. [35:10]
  • Tests confirm insulin in the syringe; neither Klaus nor Sunny had prescriptions.
  • Doctor threatens to contact authorities unless the family does so.

• Police Inquiry

  • Detective Jack Reese leads investigation, reconstructs how Sunny’s body was found, using his own wife to test the scenario. [37:52]
  • Interrogates Klaus, who gives inconsistent statements and is caught making suspicious moves during a search. [40:26]
  • Klaus is indicted for two counts of attempted murder.

5. The First Trial (1982): Greed, Gossip, and High Society

• Prosecution’s Case

  • Motive: money. Divorce would disinherit Klaus; if Sunny died, he got millions.
  • Medical experts testify overdose could only be from surreptitious injection.
  • Key testimony from maid Maria and son Alex about the black bag.
  • Alexandra Isles testifies about the ultimatum, admits her doubts about Klaus (memorable moment: “I thought it was a pack of nonsense. But then… I don’t know.” [50:20]).

• Defense’s Counter

  • Blames Sunny: Self-administered insulin, possibly to lose weight; paints her as psychologically troubled.
  • Suggests Alex planted the evidence to frame Klaus.
  • Questionable tactics in closing: defense lawyer whispers “suicide” to the jury, shocking Alaina:
    • Alaina: “Did he tiptoe over there… twiddling his mustache like a villain?” [52:52]

• Outcome:

  • Klaus found guilty on both counts; sentenced to 30 years. [53:35]

6. The Dershowitz Appeal and Retrial

• Enter Alan Dershowitz

  • Renowned/controversial defense attorney: “After speaking with Klaus and reviewing the evidence used to convict him, Dershowitz actually agreed to take on the case. Shocked later, he said, ‘Sounded to me like the evidence was convincing.’” [54:44]

• Problems with Prosecution's Evidence

  • Lab tests on insulin: wildly inconsistent (some tests showed 0, others 350+). [56:01]
  • Chain of custody: black bag seized without a warrant and not properly documented.
    • Alaina: “No one called that out... this is your biggest piece of evidence, you don’t want to risk that being thrown out.” [58:11]
  • Lawyer’s notes (Richard Q): original inventory did not mention insulin, contradicting earlier testimony.

• Result:

  • Supreme Court of Rhode Island grants a retrial. Black bag evidence is (mostly) suppressed.

7. Second Trial & Aftermath

• Changed Testimony and Circumstances

  • New trial proceeds without the crucial black bag; prosecution relies on witness recollections.
  • Alexandra Isles, no longer with Klaus, heavily implies he confessed to delaying calling for help, but inconsistency with prior testimony damages credibility.

• Outcome:

  • Klaus acquitted on all charges. [63:44]
  • Sunny’s older children file civil suit against Klaus; unsuccessful.
  • Inheritance wars: Cosima (daughter by Klaus) is nearly disinherited, then restored after Klaus relinquishes claims to Sunny’s fortune.

8. Legacy and Reflection

• Sunny’s Fate:
  • Remained in a coma for 28 years, until her death in 2008 at age 77. [65:55]
  • Family rift: siblings divided for decades.
  • Klaus moved quietly back to London, lived until 2019.
• Hosts’ Reflections:
  • Alaina: “That’s a gnarly—gnarly—story... a tragic family tale. Right?” [67:24]
  • Both express empathy for all three children and note that ultimate truth may never be known.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On High Society Trappings and Names
  • “[The] name alone… Any ‘von’ name in this case has ‘von’ names up the wazoo.” – Ash [07:41]
  • “It’s hard to von. That’s why it’s exclusive.” – Ash [13:22]
• On Medical Evidence
  • “Her insulin was at 216. That’s wild.” – Alaina [30:41]
  • “None insulin and all insulin.” – Alaina cracking up at the test result range ([56:01])
• On Defense Tactics
  • “Did he tiptoe over there, probably, and like, twiddling his mustache like a villain?” – Alaina, reacting to the lawyer’s conduct [52:52]
• On the Inheritance Struggle
  • “He gave up his claim so his daughter could get hers.” – Ash [65:07]
• Reflecting on the Tragedy
  • “Can you imagine how utterly horrific that was for her family?” – Alaina [66:10]
  • “It’s a really, really tragic story.” – Ash [66:28]

Important Timestamps

• 07:58 – Sunny’s birth and early life
• 10:54 – Marriages and children
• 20:17 – Sunny & Klaus's relationship breakdown
• 25:10 – First coma incident
• 30:41 – Discovery of second incident, Sunny’s insulin level
• 35:10 – Discovery of black bag
• 53:35 – Klaus found guilty in first trial
• 56:01 – Inconsistent forensic results, start of defense appeals
• 63:44 – Klaus acquitted at retrial
• 65:55 – Sunny’s prolonged coma and eventual death

Fun Fact Finale

• Cosmopolitan claims Kim Kardashian has a “glam clause” in her will: Her hair, nails, and makeup must be kept perfect if she’s ever unconscious.
  • Ash: “And when I do my will, I will be adding that to mine. And that’s a fact.” [69:18]

Tone & Style

True to Morbid’s signature vibe, Ash and Alaina approach the content with deep research, conversational banter, and irreverent humor. Their empathy for victims and surviving family members is always present, especially in their closing reflections. They poke fun at high society, the “von” name trope, and legal drama, while remaining respectful and thoughtful about the tragedy and its impact.

For Listeners:

This episode is a comprehensive, engaging dive into the Sunny von Bülow case that captures the excess, intrigue, and heartbreak of one of America’s most mysterious society scandals. Highly recommended for fans of true crime, legal drama, and “old money” secrets—with enough witty commentary to keep the mood from getting too dark.