I Investigated England's Most Viral Murder in 1827

A secret burial. A suspiciously useful dream. And an entire country desperate for the details. If you think our obsession with true crime started with podcasts, I’m afraid the Georgians got there first. I’m Alex, and welcome to The Dark Past. I have a weakness for old documents, uncomfortable questions, and men whose stories don’t quite add up. For my first investigation, I’m heading back to Suffolk, England in 1827. Maria Marten is expecting a wedding. William Corder has other plans. And when her body is finally discovered beneath the floor of the Red Barn, the public turns her death into entertainment. The newspapers sell. The crowds arrive. The killer becomes a celebrity. Sound familiar? We’ll follow the evidence, pick apart Corder’s excuses, and consider those dreams of Ann Marten’s. Remarkable coincidence? Possibly. Convenient timing? Also worth discussing. There’s even a book bound in the killer’s skin. Apparently, a portrait wasn’t enough. But amid all the deliciously grim details, there’s someone this story keeps losing sight of: Maria. I’d like to do something about that. 🕯️ Tell me what you think Ann knew and when she knew it. I welcome a good theory. I’ll be asking for your evidence. Subscribe if you like your history dark and your questions awkward. And leave me a case to investigate next. Preferably one that will ruin my sleep. For now… rest easy, friends. Alex Historical settings and dramatised scenes are digitally reconstructed; they are illustrative, not original footage. #TheRedBarnMurder #MariaMarten #HistoricalTrueCrime