Ronald Frederick: A Tale of Deception and Fatal Marriages
Ronald Frederick: A Tale of Deception
Ronald Frederick is a wary man, meticulously planning his murders. He understands the risks of carelessness, yet he has a peculiar way of making a living, exploiting his wives’ fortunes after their deaths. He considers himself superior to others, having persuaded three women to marry him and then to bequeath him their modest possessions. Each of his former wives had been shy, and he was careful in his selection, believing his success depended on it.
The First Victim: Mary
Mary was the first. She died in a fatal accident during their honeymoon. A local newspaper reported the tragedy, but the neighbors showed little curiosity.
The Second Victim: Dorothy
Dorothy was the second. She proved to be a bit more troublesome. During their first meeting, she revealed she was alone, but after her funeral, her brother appeared, asking awkward questions. This occurred four years ago. Now, he operates under a new name in a new area, feeling remarkably safe.
The Current Wife: Edyth
His current wife, Edyth, is forty-three years old. After her father’s death, she was alone and wealthy, appearing like a ship without a rudder. They married five weeks after their first meeting at the town registry office, where they were both strangers. He felt sorry for her, but above all, he began planning for “her future.”
Edyth’s Suspicion
Edyth was stubbornly reticent about her financial affairs, keeping her business papers locked in an old writing case. She also showed an unsettling interest in his job, constantly asking to visit his factory. This angered Ronald, prompting him to act.
The Fatal Bath
After a hard day, he prepared a bath for her, planning to go out with another woman. Edyth was surprised but went upstairs, writing a note and making a phone call before entering the bathroom. He had hidden a socket under the foam. The steam and roses on the ground made it impossible to see anything. When she was ready, she invited him to join her, but he refused. She locked the bathroom door. He waited a few minutes before turning on the fuse box in another room.
The Discovery
He returned and called out to Edyth, receiving no answer. He went to the bedroom and opened her leather box, finding certificates, banknotes, and envelopes. He hoped to find a large sum of money, but Edyth had withdrawn all her funds a week earlier. He tore through the papers hastily, forgetting all caution. Suddenly, he found a note written shortly before:
Dear Ronald, if you ever get this, I am afraid it can cause you a dreadful shock. Your behaviour forced me to face some unpleasant possibilities. I didn’t want to suspect you but your predecessor, James Joseph and his brides are not entirely forgotten. For a long time I though I was in love with you but when you persuaded me to make my will on our wedding day I could not help wondering. As soon as you started fussing about the bathroom I considered I had to do something quickly so I went to the police. Have you notice that many people have moved in to the house next door and they have never tried to speak to you? They talked me about the fatal accidents in bathrooms and the inspector suggested me not to leave the house. If you should ever chase me, you will find that I have gone out over the roof and I’m sitting in my dressing gown in the kitchen next door.
As he looked up, he heard heavy footsteps racing through the hall and up the stairs towards him.