Acid Bath Murderer
How did Haigh erase every trace of his crimes?
4.7 (38)
68 mins
Discover the crimes of John George Haigh, who murdered multiple victims across the UK during the 1940s. Explore how Haigh dissolved bodies in acid in an attempt to eliminate evidence, and how his eventual capture revealed a calculated and deeply disturbing method of killing.
Ep 1:
The Gentleman Who Never Was
Meet John George Haigh: the charming con man whose walled-off Plymouth Brethren childhood and gift for deception masked a mind quietly rehearsing murder.
Ep 2:
A Killer Prepares His Chemistry
In prison, Haigh studies a French killer's acid disposal, misreads a Latin legal term, and tests his theory on mice with chilling enthusiasm.
Ep 3:
Blood, Acid, and an Old Friend
Reunited with old friend William McSwan, Haigh crosses from fraud into murder, then eliminates the entire family to seize their fortune.
Ep 4:
The Fingernail Widow's Fatal Meeting
Wealthy couple the Hendersons vanish into Haigh's acid drums, and reckless spending leads him straight to his final, fatal target—Olive Durand-Deacon.
Ep 5:
Sludge, Gallstones, and a Confession
A dry cleaner's ticket and stubborn gallstones unravel Haigh's 'perfect' crime, forcing a startling confession laced with talk of blood and vampirism.
Ep 6:
The Vampire on Trial
Haigh gambles everything on an insanity defense, but courtroom cross-examination exposes the calculating mind behind his elaborate performance of madness.
Ep 7:
Sludge Cannot Lie: Haigh's Legacy
As the hangman's rope falls, we weigh Haigh's true nature—monster, con artist, or both—and the arrogance that finally undid him.
Discussions (4)
Roby
Level 8 · 4 mo agoHaigh wasn't insane he was just a sociopath. He knew exactly what he was doing with those acid baths.
Cassidy
Level 6 · 4 mo agoThe strict religious upbringing reminds me of a family I nannied for. They built a fence to isolate their kids from neighbors and it caused severe behavioral issues. Kids need social interaction!
Benedict
Level 8 · 4 mo agoI think the detail about him giving his teenage girlfriend the clothes of a murdered woman shows his actual mindset. He genuinely believed everyone around him was too stupid to ever notice a thing.
