Podcast Summary: The Prosecutors – "The Isdal Woman Part 2"

Date: February 3, 2026
Hosts: Alice and Brett
Episode 347

Overview

In this deep-dive episode, Alice and Brett revisit the mysterious case of the Isdal Woman, a famous unsolved cold case from 1970s Norway. Building upon Part 1, they break down new findings from the investigation following her enigmatic death and the subsequent discovery of her belongings. The hosts comb through autopsy results, detail the contents of her suitcases, and consider the implications of her international travels and efforts to conceal her identity—all with their signature blend of sharp legal analysis and banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Mystery Deepens

• Alice and Brett quickly recap the basics: the Isdal Woman was found partially burned in Norway’s Isdalen Valley in 1970. Her mysterious death, unclaimed identity, and odd circumstances around the scene captured international fascination.
• They note the growing number of "spontaneous combustion" theories from listeners, only to clarify that evidence points elsewhere.
  ‣ Brett [07:40]: "I can sort of imagine why people would say spontaneous combustion, because it does just seem like suddenly something happened to her and she died and then all of a sudden she was on fire. So that's where we were at. But we're about to learn some more information that is going to make this case even more mysterious."

2. Autopsy Findings: Profile of the Isdal Woman [08:28–12:48]

• Physical Description: 5’5”, around 30 years old, slim build with broad hips, olive skin, brownish black hair (partially burned), distinctive extensive dental work (multiple root canals, gold caps, gaps between teeth).

• Unique Features: Never given birth (relatively unusual detail for identification), Mediterranean features uncommon in 1970s Norway.

• Cause of Death: Overdose of 40–50 phenobarbital sleeping pills (known as phename), and carbon monoxide poisoning from the fire, suggesting she was alive when the fire began. ‣ Alice [12:48]: "It sedates you. See that it sedates you." ‣ Brett [12:51]: "…when people are trying to kill themselves, that's exactly what they do. They take it with alcohol… the fact that it's part of it is also interesting. What she died from was phenomel and carbon monoxide poisoning."

• Attempted Concealment: All clothing labels were removed; a silver spoon’s monogram had been filed off.

3. Psychological and Forensic Analysis [13:13–16:25]

• Concealed Identity: Removal of labels and monograms points to deliberate efforts to obstruct identification.
• Speculation on Silver Spoon: Could be a personal heirloom or family artifact, possibly traceable through region-specific monogram engravers. ‣ Alice [17:27]: “It's interesting… usually you would get a monogram spoon when you get married. Not that she could be 30 and not have had children and not been married. But it puts into question if it was a family heirloom. If it was hers, was she married? Then why keep the one spoon versus a set..."

4. International Investigations and Suitcase Discovery [19:08–22:06]

• With no matching missing persons and dead ends across Interpol and European police agencies, hope arises when two unclaimed suitcases linked to the victim are found at a railway station in Bergen. ‣ Alice [20:37]: "Three days after the discovery of their body, on December 2, 1970, the police found two unclaimed suitcases at the Bergen Railway station that belonged to their victim."

• The suitcases were dropped off six days before her death—an uncommon practice, but a factual aspect of European railway travel.

5. Detailed Itemization of the Suitcases [23:14–43:43]

• General Impression: The suitcases were packed with travel goods with all identifiers removed, furthering the theory of concealment.

• Contents of Black Suitcase:

  • Shoes and boots from Rome, Norway, Germany, Paris; a turquoise dressing gown with cut-off markings; a set of gold-embossed spoons with monogram filed off (she had one with her at death); sunglasses (one pair with a match to her fingerprint); non-prescription glasses; purse and ballpoint pen; substantial amounts of German marks and Norwegian kroner; various bags with tags cut off; a plastic bag with pottery clay; a laboratory scalpel with extra blades.

  ‣ Brett [35:09]: "Why would you have pottery clay in a bag with the markings cut off?"

  • Theory: The knife and clay could be used to help alter or forge identities (cutting labels, creating impressions for keys, making disguises).
    ‣ Alice [35:21]: "Maybe she's molding a key. You take the key, press it into the mold, and then you have the key and you can get the key made somewhere."

  • Other Peculiarities: Brown crystallized sugar, multiple maps—some with cryptic notations (“16/6”), annotated railway timetables, a potential coded notepad, a Catholic religious photo, Norwegian postcards (including by a photographer possibly in proximity to the woman that week).

• Contents of Tan Suitcase:

  • Small amounts of coins from six European countries, a partially consumed bottle of white Curacao liqueur (purchased from a Norwegian state store), assorted spoons and plastic drinking glasses, a candle “stomp”, a Swiss hotel sewing kit, matchbox from a German sex shop, more clothing with removed tags, a compass, more broken sunglasses, cosmetics, Revlon makeup, two toothbrushes (one yellow, one blue), wig (French-made), more jewelry (appearing costume or for disguise).

  ‣ Alice [43:43]: "Costume jewelry is usually very idiosyncratic to an outfit… Is there a specific persona she undertakes where it's this set of makeup, this wig and this jewelry?"

• Patterns & Theories:

  • The multiplicity, variety, and lack of identifiers suggest she traveled widely, possibly professionally, and was meticulously obscuring her origins and purposes.
  • Several items (toiletries, makeup, clothing for all seasons, multiple forms of currency, and disguises) could fit someone moving around Europe for extended periods.

6. Two Key Clues from the Suitcases [66:07–67:06]

• A writing pad with what looked like a coded message (to be analyzed later).
• A shopping bag from Oskar Rottwitz Footwear in Stavanger—which leads to a witness:

7. Eyewitness: The Shoe Store Owner’s Son [67:06–68:31]

• Police locate the store. The owner’s son, Rolf (still running the store), remembers the woman distinctly decades later:
  • She spoke English with an indeterminate accent, was "elegant" but "had an unfamiliar and unpleasant odor." Years later, he identifies it as garlic (not common in Norway at the time). ‣ Brett [68:31]: “Lastly, he recalled that she was beautiful. She was elegant. She seemed put together, but there was an unfamiliar and unpleasant odor coming off the woman... And it was garlic. At least that's what he thought it was.”

8. Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On the Untraceable Identity:
  ‣ Alice [15:58]: "...the removal of the labels from the clothes, but filed off the monogram from this spoon."
• On Her Impact:
  ‣ Brett [69:03]: "What's interesting about this woman...is how striking she was. And he is not the last person who had an interaction with her...for some reason, she made an impression on them."
• On Garlic as a Clue:
  ‣ Alice [68:55]: "As soon as you say that those of us who've smelled garlic before...boy and nodded. Like, yeah, that is very distinctive. And even if I only smelled it once, I could probably place it again later because it is so distinctive."

9. Meta-Analysis and Theories [70:15–71:00]

• Brett and Alice reflect on the enduring mystery, the uniqueness of 1970s European travel, and how her actions and belongings hint at either espionage, international crime, or an extraordinary life of secrecy. ‣ Brett [71:00]: “Now you guys know a lot more about this lady, though, maybe not still very much… things that maybe don't even jump out to us now because they wouldn't be unusual for us now are things that you're like, whoa, whoa, whoa. You would never have X in 1970.”

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the cause of death:
  “What she died from was phenomel and carbon monoxide poisoning.” – Brett [12:51]

• On efforts to erase identity:
  “There was also a silver spoon found near her body that had the monogram on it filed off.” – Brett [15:58]

• On being memorable:
  “For some reason, she made an impression on them such that when the police went and talked to them, they're like, oh, yeah, I remember that woman.” – Brett [69:03]

• Garlic as a clue:
  “Unfamiliar and unpleasant odor coming off the woman...and it was garlic.” – Brett [68:31]

• Host banter on international clues:
  “She's got German marks, Norwegian kroner, Belgian centimes... Remember, this is before the euro.” – Brett [43:19]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [08:28] – Breakdown of autopsy report and unique identification details
• [15:58] – Forensics on labels & spoon monogram removal
• [19:08] – Attempts to ID via Interpol; discovery of unclaimed suitcases
• [23:14-43:19] – Comprehensive inventory of suitcase contents and implications
• [66:07] – The Rottwitz shoe store clue and the witness account
• [68:31] – The “garlic” odor anecdote and her memorability
• [70:15-71:00] – Concluding reflections and calls for listener theories

Tone & Host Dynamic

Throughout, Brett and Alice mix detailed legal insight with their trademark conversational humor. Their interactions—especially small tangents about doors and handyman woes—add levity to the episode while reinforcing their sharp focus on the core mystery. They invite listener participation, especially from European listeners who may catch era-specific details.

Conclusion

This episode of "The Prosecutors" edges the Isdal Woman case further into the realm of international intrigue, focusing on the exhaustive but ultimately enigmatic evidence left behind. With every effort made to hide her identity—and clues pointing to deliberate obfuscation, wide-ranging travel, and an unforgettable persona—the mystery seems only to deepen, teasing revelations yet to come in Part 3.

To be continued: Next episode promises an analysis of the code found in her notepad and an even closer look at the Isdal Woman’s trail across Europe.