The Mysterious Disappearance of Lord Lucan: A Tale of Gambling, Tragedy, and a Buddhist Monk

Born into the aristocratic Spencer family, Richard John Bingham stood apart from his relatives. Eschewing political or military pursuits, he was consumed by a passion for wealth. His reckless lifestyle and intense self-obsession transformed him into a compulsive gambler, gradually losing touch with humanity.

The current whereabouts of Lord Richard John Bingham, the 7th Earl of Lucan, who vanished without a trace in 1974, remain unknown. Following a series of horrifying events, initiated by Bingham himself, he seemingly disappeared into thin air. Despite ongoing efforts to uncover his fate, the chances of finding him are nearly nonexistent.

A Life Fueled by Gambling and Greed

Born on December 18, 1934, in the affluent Marylebone district of Westminster, London, Richard was the second child of Caitlin Elizabeth Anne Dawson and George Bingham, the 6th Earl of Lucan, an Anglo-Irish peer. His father was a cousin to Princess Diana’s grandmother, yet Richard bore little resemblance to his noble lineage. During his military service, he developed a deep addiction to gambling, a vice that would later plunge him into chaos.

In 1954, Lucan left the army and began working at London’s William Brandt’s bank. His love of money and risk quickly backfired—he lost £8,000, then the full £10,000, which accounted for two-thirds of his income from family investments. His uncle, stockbroker John Bevan, helped cover these debts, which took Lucan two years to repay. Yet, he also experienced moments of fortune, once winning £26,000 (approximately $750,000 today), an event that only fueled his obsession.

"Cars, yachts, lavish vacations, and financial security would bring me and many others immense pleasure," wrote the 22-year-old aristocrat in 1956.

He dreamed of a life of luxury, but to enjoy leisure, he needed to amass wealth. His goal was to accumulate £2 million (around $2.5 billion today). However, his gambling addiction overshadowed any prudent financial planning.

In the 1960s, Lucan left banking to try his luck in the United States, telling acquaintances, "Why work in a bank when I can win a year's salary in one night?" However, his time abroad was short-lived, and he soon returned to London, settling in St. John's Wood.

In 1963, Lucan's life changed forever when he met Veronica Duncan, a striking blonde who initially worked as a model and later as a secretary. Captivated at first sight, he promptly proposed marriage; their engagement was announced on October 14, 1963, in The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Their life seemed destined for fairy-tale happiness, but fate had other plans.

The couple had three children, yet their relationship grew strained. Lucan spent endless hours gambling, with luck rarely on his side, leading to massive losses. Blaming everyone but himself, he often took out his frustrations on his family. Veronica witnessed his transformation into a tyrant, suffering regular physical abuse, including an incident where he pushed her down the stairs.

In 1972, Veronica left Lucan and filed for divorce. Furious, he refused to relinquish custody of their children, accusing her of madness and squandering their savings. The court sided with Veronica, restricting Lucan’s visitation rights to once every two weeks after a grueling year-long legal battle.

Once affluent, Lucan became destitute, with even generous loans from friends unable to save him. He descended into alcoholism and ominously declared that his ex-wife would one day pay for what she had done to him. That day arrived sooner than expected.

The Night of November 7, 1974

On the evening of November 7, 1974, Veronica and her children's nanny, Sandra Rivett, planned to share tea in the kitchen. Their plans were shattered when an unknown assailant attacked Sandra first, striking her multiple times on the head with a lead pipe, causing her to collapse and die.

Veronica, alarmed by the nanny’s prolonged absence, went to check on her and was brutally attacked by the same assailant—her ex-husband. Despite his strength, Veronica miraculously fought back. Realizing her dire situation, she proposed to become his accomplice and hide the nanny’s body. The deranged Lucan agreed, leaving her in charge while he retreated to the bathroom. Seizing the moment, Veronica escaped to a nearby pub to seek help. Returning from the bathroom, Lucan found the body still in the kitchen and Veronica gone. Realizing he had been set up, he fled immediately.

Before disappearing, Lucan visited a friend, leaving two letters explaining that he had witnessed an unknown attacker assaulting his ex-wife and intervened, only to be falsely accused by Veronica. This was the last time he was seen alive. Later, his car was found in a neighboring county, containing Sandra Rivett’s blood on the seat and a segment of the lead pipe in the trunk.

Unraveling the Truth

This story might have faded into obscurity if not for Neil Berriman, whose life changed irrevocably after his 40th birthday. Adopted at age 10, Neil learned from his adoptive parents that Sandra Rivett was his biological mother, who had given him up due to marital difficulties.

After his adoptive father's death in 2004, Neil discovered a brown envelope containing information about his past, including a newspaper clipping about Sandra’s murder. Shocked that the alleged murderer, a lord, had evaded justice, Neil embarked on a relentless quest to find Lucan. Despite warnings from friends that Lucan was likely dead, Neil persisted in his investigation.

During his search, Neil encountered numerous claims placing Lucan in various locations worldwide—Melbourne, Cherbourg, Saint-Malo, San Francisco, rehabilitation centers, hotels in Madagascar, and even Paraguayan Nazi hideouts. None of these leads proved credible.

Recently, Neil claimed to have traced Lucan to Brisbane, Australia, living under the alias Christopher Bell. This theory was sparked by a tip about a Buddhist monk residing in Petra, Australia. Neil sent photos to Professor Hassan Ugail, an expert in comparative image analysis, who concluded there was a 75% chance the monk was indeed Lucan.

"Even now, nearly 90 years old, he remains arrogant, deceptive, and powerful, having fooled many in Australia. He is full of lies. Period. I am convinced this man is Lord Lucan," Neil declared in an interview.

In 2024, Neil traveled to Australia with BBC documentarians to resolve the mystery. They located Christopher Bell, who refused contact but eventually spoke under the condition that filming cease. He claimed to be born in the UK, related to the Windsors, educated at Eton College but expelled. When asked about his presence in Australia, he said he was searching for a place to live and friends. He admitted to changing his name four times and that his birth name was Derek Bell Crowter.

"I don’t know who Lord Lucan is, damn it. Neil, wherever you are, I assure you I’m not that man, never have been, and never will be," he concluded, asserting he never tried to hide.

Conclusion

Despite numerous efforts, the case of Sandra Rivett’s death remains officially unsolved. Neil Berriman’s investigation faced criticism, with some accusing him of obsession and speculation. Nevertheless, Neil remains steadfast, convinced he is on the right path.

In late 2024, following the BBC documentary’s release, several former Scotland Yard detectives involved in Sandra’s case contacted Neil with "exciting information." While he has not disclosed details, Neil promises that the mystery surrounding the missing lord and murderer will eventually be unveiled.

Photos: Getty Images, Legion-Media.ru, Rudy Balasko/Shutterstock/FOTODOM, social media

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