Swiss Murder Mysteries
This true crime podcast delves into some of Switzerland's most puzzling murder cases. Each episode investigates a different enigmatic crime, examining the evidence and unfolding the story. The show aims to uncover the truth behind these mysterious deaths. It offers a compelling narrative for fans of investigative journalism and true crime.
Folgen
The Verdict (6/6)
At five o’clock on the afternoon of 8 December 1980, the moment of truth had finally arrived. After days of intense courtroom drama, the jury was about to deliver its verdict. When it was finally delivered, there was a moment of stunned silence. For several seconds, those present seemed unable to fully comprehend what they had just heard. Cyril Belshaw himself sat motionless, his face bet
The Trial - Day 3 (5/6)
On the final day of the trial, the prosecution and defence present their final pleas. By then, the prosecution had woven together what seemed an almost inescapable account of Betty's fate. Yet one crucial element remained missing: Definitive proof. Every link in the chain was circumstantial, and the defence had spent the entire trial exploiting that single weakness, determined to plant th
The Trial - Day 1 & 2 (4/6)
Extradited to Switzerland, Belshaw was taken to Bois-Mermet Prison in Lausanne, where he remained in custody awaiting trial. His defence was entrusted to two of Switzerland's leading criminal lawyers, Paschoud and Stoudmann, while Swiss investigators assembled the case they believed would finally reveal the truth about Betty's disappearance. On December 3, 1980, Cyril Belshaw stood trial
Fight for Justice (3/6)
Confronted with the Swiss investigators' discovery, Belshaw admitted to forging his wife's dental records. His explanation, however, raised more questions than it answered. Convinced they had uncovered only a fraction of the truth, the Swiss investigators closed in, determined to stay on the suspects’ heels. Belshaw was arrested after making what would prove to be a fatal miscalculation:
The Alpine Corpse (2/6)
Three months after Betty vanished in Paris, road workers made a grim discovery: the decomposed body of a woman near a lay-by on a remote alpine pass in Switzerland, barely 100 kilometres from Crans-Montana. Aware of the French missing-person investigation, Swiss detectives asked Cyril to provide Betty's dental records. He complied—but only after secretly altering the charts. Soon afterwar
A Lady Vanishes (1/6)
While on sabbatical in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, renowned Canadian anthropology professor Cyril Belshaw and his wife Betty embarked on an impromptu trip to Paris. Two day later, Cyril reported his wife missing. Despite exhaustive efforts, she was nowhere to be found. With no leads and nothing more to be done, he returned alone to their holiday retreat in Switzerland. Months passed in de
The Belshaw Case - Trailer
On December 3, 1980, Canadian professor Cyril Belshaw, a world-renowned anthropologist from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, stood trial in the city of Aigle, Switzerland charged with the murder of his wife, Betty. Her body had been discovered 21 months earlier, along a remote Swiss mountain pass not far from where the couple spent a sabbatical. Odd: Just two months before
A new hot Lead (6/6)
A new theory suggests that an unknown individual may have been involved in the murders, proposing that they were carried out not by one person, but possibly two or even three. This theory is supported by testimony from two witnesses, whose statements were made public by the police only years later. Moreover, a recent discovery on the internet could potentially be a groundbreaking revelati
The Fugitive (5/6)
In episode five we take a close look at Carl Doser, the man that officially owned the murder weapon but fooled the police when questioned about his Winchester 20 years ago. How and where he grew up as well as his social and family background. And we’ll focus on a private investigator that wrote a book about the murder and for the first time ever came up with a motive and theory.RATING &am
Lead #9424 (4/6)
The sensational discovery of the murder weapon, found hidden behind a kitchen unit in an apartment in the town of Olten almost 30 years after the crime, not only renewed the investigators' hope but also raised a multitude of new questions. Once the registered owner was identified, the police initiated an international manhunt, but the results were less than promising.RATING & REVIEW (
Suspects and Motives (3/6)
Taking a close look at the arrest of Robert, the murdered couple's son, and his girlfriend Anita, whom the police considered the prime suspects. But them having ironclad alibis soon Roberts estranged cousin 'Johnny' entered the scene, not least because a few weeks prior to the murder he was seen at a Basel gun store buying ammunition.RATING & REVIEW (highly appreciated)FOLLOWING (to b
A Day in June (2/6)
Episode 2 takes a closer look at the victims, especially at Eugen Siegrist, the owner of the cabin and most likely the main target of the assassination and we will look at the Friday, the day prior to the murder when some rather odd events occurred at Eugen's work place. We then try to establish a detailed account of the events as they could have enfolded on the fatal day in June.RATING &
Out in the Green (1/6)
On June 6, 1976 a 28 year old daughter finds her parents and aunt along with her two sons murdered at her father's remote weekend cabin in the Swiss countryside. All five victims showing at least one bullet hole in the forehead, hence were shot at point blank range. Apparently none tried to escape or intervene. Thirteen shell casings were found at the scene of the crime and the murdered c
The Seewen Murder Mystery - Trailer
A gripping true crime podcast delving into Switzerland’s most talked-about and perplexing murder case. Five family members executed with chilling precision. Shot at point-blank range in the forehead. The crime bears a haunting resemblance to a Mafia contract killing, and its motive continues to elude the police, shrouded in mystery to this day.RATING & REVIEW (highly appreciated)FOLLO
Statute of Limitations (Bonus)
The episode explains the 30 year staute of limitations for capital crimes in Switzerland and describes the pro and cons of the abolition bill currently under discussion in the Swiss parliament.RATING & REVIEW (highly appreciated)FOLLOWING (to be informed about future episodes)FEEDBACK & COMMENT (written or audio recording)SWISS MURDRER MYSTERIES WEBSITEAuthor & HostRudolph Isl
The Conclusion (8/8)
The last episode is a summary of the events and presents the most common of possible scenarios as well as a new personal account by the author. However, it remains up to the listener to figure out what really happened on that day in July 1982 and what led to the tragic and mysterious deaths of the two teenagers, who’s murderer may still live near the Crystal Caves.RATING & REVIEW (hig
The New Leads (7/8)
Episode 7 is about startling new testimonials that surfaced 37 years after the double murder. Observations that once again put a familiar suspect right back into the spotlight, even though the case had reached its 30-year statute of limitation for murder in 2012. And we follow up on private investigators that still wanted to solve the mystery about the double murders.RATING & REVIEW (
The Main Suspect (6/8)
With the case being re-enacted as part of a television programme but not yielding new leads, the case went cold. That is until an altogether different investigation connected a new suspect to the Crystal Cave Murders in 1985. We take an in-depth look at the bizarre circumstances that gave the police new hope and we hear the account of the accused, who gave an interview for the first time
The Case File XY (5/8)
In Episode 5 we learn how the police approached the Television Programme ‘Case File XY unsolved’ which aired a detailed 10 minute reenactment of the murder case. The intention was to find new witnesses and spread the inquires across all German speaking countries. We look at the results and focus on the puzzling inconsistencies between facts and the reenacted details shown in the televisio
The Suspects (4/8)
Episode 4 focuses on the police investigation, their conclusions as to the nature and motive of the double murder and how the circumstances as well as additional testimonies by villagers lead them to four suspects. But as their continuous questioning lead to no confession and lacking convincing evidence, a murder weapon and even the site of the murders, they soon had to admit that they we
The Discovery (3/8)
Episode 3 concentrates on the discovery of the two bodies in extremely impassable terrain near the Crystal Caves. We hear of the strange explanations by the hiker that found them and his puzzling actions before and especially after discovering the bodies. And we hear of statements given by people involved in the events following the discovery and finally shed a light on the insights and c
The Search (2/8)
Episode 2 takes a close look at what happened during the days and weeks following the disappearance of the two girls, including the discovery of their abandoned bicycles. We hear about observations and testimonies from locals and how the police steadily increased their search efforts in the forest by the crossroads and the near Crystal Caves, yet remained clueless as to the whereabouts of
The Disappearance (1/8)
Introduction of the two victims and the account of the days leading up to their disappearance. Exploring the factors that motivated them to embark on their bicycle adventure and unravelling the events that transpired during those three crucial days. Furthermore, we explain the decision-making process behind choosing their final route home. Finally, we trace their journey to the crossroads
The Crystal Cave Murders - Trailer
An investigative deep dive true crime podcast about the disappearance of the two teenagers, Karin and Brigitte, while on a bicycle tour across Switzerland. But this was only the beginning. Finally having found the bodies, the police were almost daily confronted with stunning new evidence and puzzling testimonials. One of the most mysterious and horrific murder cases to ever occur in Switz
