The Disappearance of Lord Lucan

Lord and Lady Lucan pictured in 1963

50 years ago on 8th November 1974, British aristocrat Lord Lucan disappeared from his London home after his children’s nanny was found bludgeoned to death and his wife was attacked.

Throughout the following years, hundreds of claims of his sightings worldwide were made, but none were ever substantiated. 

Richard George Bingham, the 7th Earl of Lucan, known as “Lucky” was a prominent member of London high society, known for his love of gambling.

On the previous evening Sandra Rivett, the family’s nanny was found bludgeoned to death in the basement of Lucan’s estranged wife’s London home. Soon after Lady Lucan was also attacked but she managed to run to a nearby pub to raise the alarm, alleging Lucan was the attacker. 

Sandra Rivett

Afterwards, Lucan visited friends and was described as being in a distressed state before disappearing entirely. Later his car was found abandoned and blood-stained in Newhaven on the English south coast. 

It is assumed that Lucan fled the country. He was never found and is presumed dead. Finally, in 1999, he was officially declared dead in absentia.