Yeardley Smith and Tom Wood Bring Ruxton Murders to Life on Podcast

A thrilling account of the "first modern murder" by our co-host Tom Wood has premiered on a popular crime podcast produced by Emmy Award-winning actress Yeardley Smith.

The podcast delves into the horrific murder and dismemberment of two women by Dr. Buck Ruxton, based on the book Beyond Recognition: The Ruxton Murders by former Deputy Chief Constable of Lothian & Borders Police, Tom Wood.

The premiere episode aired today on the award-winning true crime podcast Small Town Dicks, co-hosted by Yeardley Smith, the actress known for her roles on television, film, and Broadway, and as the voice of Lisa Simpson on The Simpsons since 1987. Smith co-founded the media company Paperclip Ltd with Ben Cornwell in 2014, aiming to develop distinctive entertainment ideas across various mediums.

The series investigates the 1935 disappearance of a glamorous young mother, Isabella Buxton, and her dutiful maid, Mary Rogerson, whose deaths led to a landmark investigation. Ruxton used his medical expertise to dismember his victims and disposed of their body parts 100 miles away in a tranquil part of the Scottish Borders.

Scottish scientists and determined police officers brought Ruxton to trial, leading to his execution. The case established many groundbreaking forensic techniques still in use today.

Beyond Recognition: The Ruxton Murders will be released over six episodes, with new episodes available every Friday on the Small Town Dicks podcast feed and other podcast platforms.

Now retired, Tom Wood has written three true crime books, including Ruxton: The First Modern Murder, which utilises previously classified documents to tell a detailed and engaging story of criminal investigation and justice.