Child of Darkness: Mary Bell

Once Upon A Crime | True Crime

Esther Ludlow

True Crime, Crime, Truecrime, Criminology, History, Criminals

4.6 • 5K Ratings

🗓️ 12 May 2025

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1968, the quiet streets of Scotswood, England, were shattered by a chilling discovery: two young boys, just three and four years old, had been murdered—and the killer was an eleven-year-old girl. Mary Flora Bell's name would soon become synonymous with one of Britain’s most disturbing criminal cases. In this episode, we explore the harrowing details of her crimes, the trial that stunned the nation, and the deeply troubled upbringing that may have shaped a child into a killer.

Sources:

Once Upon a Crime Podcast, Season 1, Episode 7, Killer Kids: Mary Bell - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s1-ep7-killer-kids-chapter-2-mary-bell/

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1968/dec/18/ukcrime.childprotection

https://allthatsinteresting.com/mary-bell

https://www.crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/famous/bell/bell_11.html

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This podcast details true crime cases. It contains adult themes and may contain descriptions of violence.
0:07.2	It is not intended for children. Listener discretion is advised.
0:14.7	Thank you for joining me for today's episode of Once Upon a Crime.
0:22.6	In this week's episode, we're revisiting a case I covered in season one of the podcast titled,
0:28.2	Killer Kids, Mary Bell.
0:30.7	11-year-old Mary Flora Bell shocked the world by killing two preschool-age boys in the quiet
0:36.3	suburb of Scottswood, England in 1968.
0:39.3	She'd committed an unimaginable crime, strangling 3-year-old Brian Howe and 4-year-old Martin Brown within months of each other.
0:47.3	Convicted of manslaughter before her 12th birthday, Mary Bell remains one of the most unsettling figures in British criminal history.
0:55.9	Stay tuned as I detail her crimes, take you inside the trial that captivated a nation,
1:01.2	and dive into the troubled childhood behind Britain's youngest female killer.
1:05.9	This is Child of Darkness, Mary Bell.
1:24.6	Thank you. Child of Darkness, Mary Bell. Hey, True Crime fans, guess what? In less than a month, I'll be in London for CrimeCon UK, and I want you to join me.
1:32.6	CrimeCon UK is the immersive true crime weekend of the year, happening June 7th and 8th,
1:38.2	and it's packed with over 70 hours of programming designed for true crime lovers just like
1:42.5	you.
1:43.5	Whether you're a curious newcomer or a
1:45.2	season sleuth, there's something for everyone. You'll meet forensic experts, criminal justice
1:50.4	professionals, true crime creators, and fellow fanatics for two incredible days of hands-on learning,
1:56.3	fascinating discussions, and unforgettable experiences. I'll be there representing my podcast Once Upon a Crime,
2:02.9	hanging out on creators' row,
2:04.7	chatting with you listeners, snapping selfies,
	...

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