53. Elizabeth Cook - Body Snatcher

About this episode

Lucy Worsley investigates the case of Elizabeth Cook, an Irish woman accused of murder in 1831 London.

Lucy Worsley is back with a new series of Lady Killers, where true crime meets history - with a twist. In this episode, Lucy travels back to 1831 to Aldgate, then a poor part of East London, to investigate Elizabeth Cook, an Irish woman with a dark criminal background. When Elizabeth’s new lodger, an elderly peddler called Caroline Walsh, goes missing with no sign of her body, suspicions are high. When Elizabeth is discovered selling Caroline’s clothes, she is accused of her murder by her own son in court. With Lucy to find out more about the case of Elizabeth Cook is Jaswant Narwal, the Chief Crown Prosecutor for London North, and the person who would prosecute this case if it came to court today. Jaswant shares her 35 years of experience prosecuting homicides, including ‘no body’ cases. Lucy is also joined by historian Professor Rosalind Crone and they visit Aldgate to find out more about Elizabeth Cook and Caroline Walsh. They also go to the site of the Royal London Hospital to discuss the grisly fate of many of London’s missing persons in the early 19th century. Lucy wants to know what this case tells us about the lives of poor women in London in the 1830s. Can someone today…

People in this episode

Host: Lucy Worsley

Guests: Jaswant Narwal, Professor Rosalind Crone

Topics covered

• true crime
• history
• murder case
• 19th century
• women's lives
• prosecution

Keywords

• Elizabeth Cook
• Caroline Walsh
• murder
• Aldgate
• 19th century
• prosecution
• true crime
• women's history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Royal London Hospital

Places: Aldgate, East London

More episodes of Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley

• Introducing Lady on Trial · June 9, 2026 · 5 min
• 60. True Crime on Trial · February 24, 2026 · 28 min
• 59. Kitty Newton - Killer Daughter · February 17, 2026 · 28 min
• 58. Mary Pearcey - Murderous Lover · February 10, 2026 · 29 min
• 57. Jessie McLachlan - Silenced Servant · February 3, 2026 · 29 min
• 56. Elvira Barney - Accidental Killer · January 27, 2026 · 28 min