The Gruesome Story of The Brighton Trunk Murders | Well, I Never

In this true crime episode we explore 3 murders that all have something in common but were not connected. The Brighton Trunk Murders were a series of bizarre cases, each involving the victim being placed inside a trunk or large suitcase.
We begin with the story of a woman whose remains were found in several suitcases across the southeast. Investigations would eventually lead to the discovery of an unconnected victim, Violette Kaye.
Murdered by her boyfriend 'Toni Mancini' though he would never face justice.
Then, there is the case of Celia Holloway, dating back to the 1800s.
00:00 - Intro
00:45 - The 'Pretty Feet' Mystery
06:30 - The Tragic Death of Violette Kaye
13:27 - A case from Brighton's past
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[@mrjones2721]

The notion that a dancer would have pretty feet is hilarious. The amount of abuse a dancer’s feet take is amazing, especially for ballerinas. Under the beautiful shoes, the feet are anything but pretty.

[@Artemesia_]

This case was covered in the series Murder Maps. During one of the re-enactment scenes, a police constable comments on how her pretty feet might be an indication of her being a dancer, to which his superior basically responds, you’ve never seen a dancer’s feet before. Really good series. You should check it out.

[@peggypasson8794]

Reminds me of the black swan

[@emilyduffy1410]

As a former dancer, I couldn’t agree more. My feet are gnarly!

[@JTA1961]

That's sad... reminds me of how Chinese bound their women's feet... THAT was beyond gnarley...

[@rileyboy66]

Not in the fantasies of men... I imagine the men investigating were describing more based on their female preferences than actual job description facts lol

[@gokuxsephiroth4505]

Man... it's so sickening just how much victim blaming was ascribed to this poor woman 😢

[@juliestrickland7754]

The few old Victorian train stations that are left are just stunning! They knew how to build them. Thank you for showing it to us.

[@nicolad8822]

There are all over the UK.

[@tango6nf477]

@@nicolad8822 Not all, whilst there are still many the majority have been "modernised", demolished to be replaced by nothing more than bus shelters, or sold into private occupancy.

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

My mother was on The Burglary Squad at John Street. When I was young, I remember mum pointing him out in the street, saying, "That man got away with murder." Not a lot you can say about that. She eventually told me the story, about Mancini.

[@ScarlettsWebb]

Wow small world . Bless you captain bart - that puts a different perspective on it for sure !

[@caittails]

Oh man, I hope your mum said it just loud enough that he could hear it. Absolutely savage. 😂

[@ursulaoreilly3013]

Just that he kept that trunk in his room shows he was a sick individual. I wonder if he had anything to do with the other victims?

[@clfr886]

I think you're just 'magic' the way you tell the stories and going to the locations. You're the most polite and well spoken Scottish man I've ever heard. Brilliant stuff 🙂👌

[@ScarlettsWebb]

So well said ! He is brilliant and so is the writing and research ! ❤

[@ann7882]

Amen

[@EricIrl]

@@ann7882 Echoes of Fyffe Robinson - for those of us old enough to remember that Scottish presenter.

[@LifePrincessxo]

Oh he’s the best!!!!! I’m from nyc and I can binge watch “well I never” all day!!!!

[@ScarlettsWebb]

@@LifePrincessxo me too - I listen to him doing everything 😂👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@dr.ryttmastarecctm6595]

Sadly, the prejudice of the police hampered their investigation of the first murder of this episode. My first thought was that the woman had been killed and dismembered by her "boyfriend" to avoid scandal. A second clue was the discovery of the legs and arms in London. Those trunks could have been dispatched from anywhere.

[@iammyself7885]

I just gotta say, my first impression of you as a little baby 20 year old was "damn, I wanna look that stunning when I'm older" Also super impressed with the quality of your videos! Such an underrated hidden gem on youtube

[@nicolad8822]

The remains of the unidentified woman, and presumably her baby, were buried in a pauper’s grave at Brighton Cemetery eight months after she was found. They gave up on her too quickly, she deserved a name. Though I guess she could have come from anywhere and family not associate her with Brighton. There were a lot of country girls in service in London, she could have found herself in trouble and been on her way to a mother and baby place of which there were many on the south coast. While looking that up it turns out that the body of a new born baby girl was also found by Mr Vinnicombe in a bag at Station just a few days after this event, presumably when checking unclaimed items. It had been there since the February of 1934.

[@surrealfarm]

I think it's time to exhume the remains of the unidentified woman and her fetus to do DNA anaylsis on them. Maybe some relatives can be traced to help figure out the identity of the woman and the father of the fetus. I bet HE's the killer. Too late for justice against him, but at least she can rest with a name and dignity, instead of being unknown and a blamed victim.

[@heathcliffheritage4515]

I suppose even in a pauper’s Grave it would be easy enough to exhume her remains as the skeleton could be easily identified by its missing appendages. So I agree, it would be simple and wouldn’t be particularly costly to perform.

[@LathropLdST]

​@@heathcliffheritage4515nonsense. It's harder whwn you have no next of kin to ask for permission. Graveyards do not grant permissions without a judiciary order. No cold case team would have a case like such still in file to cross check. Be disinformed. Keep dreaming.

[@Ristiluu]

It is not long since a suitcase murder happened. Little Gannon Stauch was killed by his stepmother, stuffed in a suitcase, droven across USA and unceremoniously tossed over a bridge in Florida. Suitcases and trunks have terrified me since I was a child and it terrifies me more that some people's final resting place is inside one.

[@lorraine2336]

@ZetesGANG only yesterday I listened to the judges summing up on Gannon’s case. I couldn’t believe what she did, she truly deserves her sentence of life without parole!

[@Ishbikes]

*Zips Up suitcase* “Well, I Never.” 🥂😉

[@jpendowski7503]

Thanks Paul for a well done presentation and beautiful location video. Well worth the effort. Sad these women were so undervalued as to be thought the cause of being murdered. It seems the men involved were the evil ones.

[@Icupapopo]

I’m sooo happy that someone has finally covered this! Having lived in Brighton my entire life, I’ve been trying my best to find more information about this topic but it’s been so difficult. Thank you!

[@ruthshelton-tp9ie]

Not loving criminals or murders by any means, but without them we wouldn't have this channel...Well I Never... Thank you Paul & crew.❤

[@sarafleming9893]

Thank you for covering this story so well. Even to the point of covering the ‘old ways’ of it always being assumed back then that, if an unwed woman found herself pregnant and unwed, it was always her idea to have the pregnancy terminated. Never that she might be willing to keep the child and work through the consequences. And, if she made that decision , the father would NEVER decide to kill her rather than him being shamed for not (at that time) ‘doing the right thing’ and marrying her. Oh, no. Heaven forbid think of the man doing something to ‘end the pregnancy scandal’. 😳🤣😳🤣

[@jasoncheriton1836]

Really enjoyed that episode Paul. I love the backdrops you chose and you dress, and look, like a true gentleman.

[@Natasha6090]

Can’t imagine how the police felt when opening those trunks 😥😬

[@TheTonialadd]

They knew what they were going to find from the smell. But still would be terrible.

[@addie_is_me]

@@TheTonialadd In my experience most people know the smell is a dead body even if it’s their first time smelling one. I did. The police must have experienced it enough. A torso would still haunt a lot of people.

[@TheTonialadd]

@@addie_is_me I’m a former police officer. I can tell you it’s a smell you never forget.

[@ScotChef]

Hungry probably.

[@Natasha6090]

@@TheTonialadd ikr ooof

[@bicivelo]

I love how you go onsite! It really makes a connection. Great work!!

[@gilliantague]

I'm loving these on-location videos! Great stories, great narration and great presentation Thank you! 😊

[@hurlockh0lmes]

Ahhhhh YES! When I lived in Brighton in 2015 this case was mentioned on a ghost tour I went on. It’s one of those cases I have always kept thinking about now and again 👀

[@KarinaMcKoy]

I’m from Trinidad and Tobago. I gasped to hear it mentioned, even briefly, in this video. Very interesting cases. Thanks for sharing.

[@juliahyatt5838]

I'm a Brightonian and know the areas in the video. My mum was 13 at the time. She told me when the body was discovered, it sent shock waves tbrough the community

[@joanneentwistle7653]

I had heard some of this story before, but you filled in some more of the details, which I greatly appreciate. Thank you for this upload!

[@NicholasMcClintock1]

There is a case of a child left in a suitcase ( dead ) on the side of a highway in Australia, it happened about 10 years ago and the child's mother was buried in a forest several hundred kilometres away. Absolutely tragic.

[@MsZoedog66]

Yes, eventually they were identified by DNA being on police databases ?I think.

[@kellydalstok8900]

Glib lawyers like Mancini’s are the reason why it’s better to leave court rulings to professionals instead of to juries. Trials in British and American tv series always make my blood boil because of all the lies and insinuations by the lawyers. Even when questions aren’t admitted by the judge, they may still have influenced the amateur jury members. I can’t imagine such dishonesty going on in our court system, because everyone is on equal footing.

[@surrealfarm]

I wonder how lawyers can live with themselves knowing they intentionally freed a murderer? Any crimes they commit afterwards would be their fault.

[@evamichelova8296]

I love on location videos, thank you!

[@angelaferkel7922]

The Best KZbin Channel has returned and uploaded again😊 Thank you for the never ending hard work and passion👍

[@fernandmathurin2720]

Thanks again Paul hope everyone is safe and doing well listening and watching from sweet sunny saint Lucia on another beautiful sunny day have yourselves a blessed day

[@Ms.HarmonyJ]

Hello paul and well i never crew so glad to see another amazing video from you guys sensational job as always

[@deniseleplatt1616]

Thank you so much Paul. Very sad for those women but now we know their stories

[@andrewemery4272]

Police today would declare it a suicide, and state she cut herself up before sending her body parts to the railway stations.

[@JamesWilliams-gp6ek]

It's a dark during the day with thunderstorms and rain where I live. Perfect atmosphere for a morbid story.

[@suebt8794]

It still goes on today. Bodies are often found in suitcases. Paul you are fantastic and should be on TV.

[@Getpojke]

Another great & informative video, thank you. I do find it odd that they assumed that the feet belonged to a dancer because they were pretty. Having known a few dancers their feet can be pretty battered. Maybe the press were being ironic?

[@Lauriej117]

Totally agree. Dancers, such as ballerinas, feet aren’t attractive due to the physical punishment the feet go through during the dancing.

[@Getpojke]

@@Lauriej117 Very much so. An ex girlfriend was a ballerina & her feet were pretty banged up. Also the daily punishment she put her body through would mean she like many others would have problems later in life. So saying, I think ballerinas especially are some of the fittest people on the planet, their strength & stamina are amazing. We were both rock climbers as a hobby. Though I was much stronger she would gracefully glide up a rock face much better than I ever could.

[@danestevens4858]

This was really interesting. Crazy how he got away with the one trunk murder.

[@gemmajordan2147]

Hell yeah, I was wondering when you were going to cover this, it’s right up your street. I’m from Brighton and I actually recently had to research this for a class

[@l.a.t.1810]

I just found your channel, and I'm SO glad I did!!! Excellent storytelling and very interesting history stories 🤗🇨🇦

[@rodeastell3615]

Well I never ... super interesting story and told so well. Thank you.

[@amyjones8114]

They clearly didn’t know how ugly dancers’ feet can be😂

[@larien_stormnymph9327]

What a beautiful shot of yourself with the West Pier in the background! I remember going on a school trip to Brighton Station and one of the porters who was showing us around told us this story in detail (Aah, school in the 90's 😂) and then he let us look inside the old left luggage room where the first trunk was found. From that moment I was absolutely hooked and my lifelong fascinating with true crime began. So glad to see you covering this case!

[@bicivelo]

After watching many of your videos rather than saying "well, I never" I say "I believe that!" 😮

[@Alonnah-78]

7:27 Ahh Mr Paul once again you're getting my weekend started off smashingly ❤❤🎉

[@rolfsinkgraven]

A good defender can even talk a murderer too his freedom eh, Well, I Never. Great story again thnx.

[@MouseofMischief]

I'm moving to Brighton soon, so I am so happy to see such an interesting episode on it!

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

Brighton, does a very good line in trunk murders! Ah, home... 🔥😈🔥

[@don_5283]

Love the presentation, the storytelling, and the fact that many of the cases you cover are ones not so popularly known today. Please keep it up! This is the kind and quality of content I wish could still be had on conventional TV, but since it's not, I even more appreciate the independent creators like you who take it upon yourselves to do the research and composition and presentation. Truly, an impressive achievement, and I always look forward to your productions.

[@thegreatselkie6009]

I could listen to Mr. Brodie all day long. ❤❤❤

[@TomiJamison]

I simply adore your channel. You offer the most compelling commentary and narrative.

[@donnariahi2975]

Well her legs may have looked like a dancer’s but ‘Pretty Feet’ is not something most ballerina has. I remember hearing about this in connection to a Christie story, ‘The ABC Murders’. I am so glad we have progressed in our thoughts that the only reason for a dead woman is by her own actions. Of course how they managed to lock themselves in a trunk after removing her head & limbs.

[@naturalroyalflush]

I lived in Brighton as a child and often visited Preston Park. My parents made reference to the trunk murder. I used to visit the West Pier too. Sad to see it now. Actually, Brighton was a rather sad experience overall, on our recent visits.

[@ljones2087]

diversity

[@lindahobbs5545]

I ❤ your storytelling. It's great to see the streets where things occurred. I love this channel!

[@wrghty]

I love how many British ones you do. They're so underrated online and need to be covered more. I thought I knew all cases here, but I don't know if I've heard this one so thanks

[@Dawn-qq3gv]

Sending Lots of Love from across the Pond! Proudly English! Living in America

[@Flamsterette]

Thank you for the upload, Paul. I love how you go to the locations for a more real feel.

[@shamarunger5908]

Again, all of you are the best. I get so excited when I see a new episode has been posted!! (Middle aged woman with wonderful kids & fabulous husband. Who loves watching your episodes in my kitchen with a glass of beer as I try to ignore my fabulous kids and husband. Mainly ignoring the kids... lol) Love the show. Your efforts are appreciated. ;)

[@ann7882]

So good to see a new story, it makes my day! Love to see you on location.🥰

[@shellypinkvlasova9084]

You’re my very favorite crime investigator! Thankyou for going onsite to tell this case!

[@KappaYokai-er7xp]

What a beautifully done video, always love your presentation, Paul ❤❤ thanks for the lovely video as always

[@nicolad8822]

Those little cottages on Kemp St go for well over £500k these days. Probably considered slums in the 1930s.

[@shamarunger5908]

Also, when you do the outtakes of laughter because the content/verbiage is too absurd you have to laugh, is the best and you should post more of that. (just my opinion)

[@Angel-xg4wc]

Thanks Paul Love ya show 🤗 I wish you were my History teacher when I was at school! I would have been so much more interested in the lesson, you are awesome at explaining the story and I love the way you dress, Very dapper! ❤👍🏻

[@cmtippens9209]

The fact that the investigators were bound and determined that she was killed during an illegal abortion when there was no evidence of an abortion being attempted just leaves me gobsmacked. "Never mind the evidence. She looks like the kind trying to obtain an abortion." That mentality was, and still is to some degree, why women are still 2nd class citizens in the law enforcement community.

[@user-cx6vl1tg4f]

Always a pleasure to hear your tales. Love getting to see some of beautiful England. As always, well researched and nicely told.

[@sg-to9wf]

I love how you narrate the stories you cover, always looking forward to your next post ❤

[@sharoncrawford4786]

I love listening to your voice , you tell these awful tales with such calmness

[@kevinhensley4643]

Another great video!!

[@patward5099]

I get excited when I see a new post from you. I ❤ your channel !

[@b8nnytez]

Ok, that's it now. Every time I see someone lugging a heavy suitcase, I'm calling the Rozzers!

[@m.f.richardson1602]

Always interesting Thank you

[@giovannimorrisone483]

BTW, love your channel, Paul. Your narration is clearly delivered at an easy pace; this is a very professional style. In addition, your material is first class.

[@stucook8622]

Thanks for another great video!🍺

[@thebooknitter]

I love this temátic video in Brighton ❤ I really love your high quality work John

[@hayesjulie]

Excellent!!!

[@Hiruma312]

My fave story teller. stya healthy Paul and thank you for this great story

[@juliestrickland7754]

This one is going to be good! They all are, but this sounds creepy and weird. Good job as always!!!!

[@heidiklipp693]

Love your show ❤

[@spicencens7725]

Another well done, gruesome account of malice, a forethought!

[@cindysmith6612]

Thank You

[@JacobafJelling]

Happy that I found your videos yesterday. I subscribed

[@gillgetter3004]

Heard or read this story before, many parts missing. Your rendition is the best as always👍

[@user-ll9ju7cx2e]

My home town and I've never heard the story behind the trunk murders (although I'd heard of them.) I'll never look at the train station in quite the same way again. These stories are more chilling when you acctually know the places involved

[@rohsek7298]

Of course they’d blame the woman for being murdered…

[@bisibisbi]

Danke!

[@WellINever]

Thank you! It's very much appreciated 🙏😊

[@rebeccajames7487]

Amazing video! Honestly Brighton train station has always creeped me out! People love it but it’s always seemed a very depressing place to me

[@bettyfeliciano7322]

Well done Paul! Such horrific murders and the poor women being disposed of like trash. Blessings always! ❤️✝️

[@JJW77]

Well, I never thought I would have heard about 3 murders that were connected to trunks...

[@microdot4374]

Subbed Paul, I would say actually going to the very place of the crimes would give you the real sense and feel! Awesome story thanks!!!.........🌎🌎📓📓📕📕📙📙......✍🏼

[@nicholathomas4168]

Great vlog

[@qrufus]

Has anyone tried to have the Double Jeopardy rule modified? If new evidence appears, or if perpetrators are stupid enough to confess their crimes to interviewers/reporters, something should/needs to be done.

[@b8nnytez]

yep. spot on.

[@susanlampshire639]

As I understand it, in England and Wales certainly, double jeopardy no longer applies, if more evidence is discovered after the first acquittal. Happy to be corrected if I am wrong.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

It comes down to the term EVIDENCE, though... Technically, a confession, even to a reporter, is (at least in the U.S.) "hear-say"... and not the concrete or tangible evidence as required by the court to reopen a case or limit "double jeopardy". JUST TOO MUCH has been construed from everything from tormenting interviewing reporters, jokes between friends, and as far as song lyrics to let spoken words stand as worthy of reopening the case in court... Investigate based on it, perhaps, BUT at some point it still needs to pass muster by a grand jury (or the UK equivalent) to see that the law isn't just being warped and twisted either for scapegoating or as some kind of weaponization by police and prosecutors, considering the perp' in this case (Mancini) had at least some history and "bad blood" with them. Next you'll want a bounty on Snoop Dogg's head for murdering cops... in accordance to his song "187". ;o)

[@Ater_Draco]

The Criminal Justice Acts 2003 in England, Wales & Northern Ireland, and the Double Jeopardy Act 2011 in Scotland, modified the UK laws around Double Jeopardy. However, there are very strict guidelines.

[@elizabethsohler6516]

"Her own misadventure." Interesting turn of phrase on the officials part. It does take TWO to make a baby doesn't it?

[@sandybruce9092]

It seemed and still does seem as it’s the female’s fault for a pregnancy! Same goes for rose - always say it’s the background, activities, etc. that entice men - I remember years ago when even what a woman was wearing was the cause!

[@michellebonner6145]

I love your show😊

[@mamamichellegist]

*love love LOVE YOUR CHANNEL!!!!!* you are a perfect narrarator and wonderful storyteller-your voice is *chef’s kiss* paul. excellent work team!! i literally listen to your videos every night as i’m winding down for bed; your voice is such a delight to listen and fall asleep to!! would *really* enjoy if you started a channel for bedtime stories!!! pleeeeease!!!

[@ScarlettsWebb]

I do the same ! Every night ! I’m starting to get a crush 😂! Well done to all involved in this production. All are always very well done. Paul’s expressive and yet soothing voice tops it off ! ❤️❤️👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@MsZoedog66]

Wow. What a beautiful station! Irrespective of the story 😮

[@caittails]

Hopefully they can put Pretty Feet’s DNA into an Ancestry database and find some family that might be able to look through family trees to identify her.

[@joatkins6741]

Oh my goodness!!! I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY LOVE YOUR SCO-ISH BROGUE!!! Your stories are so very interesting!!! 😘😘😘😘😘

[@ZgBenko]

Love Your channel. Regards from Croatian in Nyc

[@jdsteppenzyde]

Do they know where the remains are buried and if so, it would be interesting to do a dna test on them.

[@epicFrogman]

You’re a legend

[@PumaLyn]

11 p.m. Perfect timing! Thank you. 😊

[@juliestrickland7754]

Lol. It's 10 am here. But I agree with the perfect timing.

[@jstone247]

11 pm where I am too . Where are you?

[@PumaLyn]

@@jstone247 Penang Island, Malaysia. 🇲🇾😊

[@PumaLyn]

@@juliestrickland7754 Good morning to you and goodnight from this side of the world. Have a happy and peaceful day. 😊

[@juliestrickland7754]

@@PumaLyn hope you have a peaceful night and good sleep.

[@bryanevans350]

Brilliant thank you. Do you happen to have any stories about swansea

[@peggypasson8794]

Armchair traveling ! Love your accent an voice .what a great story teller

[@monicaballentine3470]

Ty ty for your stories....🎉😂❤