Buck Ruxton

Buck Ruxton

Buck Ruxton (born Buktyar Rustomji Ratanji Hakim; 21 March 1899 – 12 May 1936) was an Indian-born British physician who was convicted and hanged for the murders of his wife, Isabella Ruxton, and their housemaid, Mary Jane Rogerson, in September 1935. The case is notable for its significant contribution to forensic science, particularly in the development of forensic entomology and the use of the Bertillon system for identifying victims.

Background

Buck Ruxton was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, and later moved to England to pursue his medical career. He settled in Lancaster, where he established a successful practice. Ruxton was known to be possessive and jealous, particularly towards his wife, Isabella, which led to frequent domestic disputes.

The Murders

On 15 September 1935, Isabella Ruxton and Mary Jane Rogerson went missing. Ruxton had become increasingly suspicious of his wife's fidelity and, in a fit of jealousy, murdered both women in his home. He then dismembered their bodies in an attempt to prevent identification and disposed of the remains in a ravine over the Scottish border.

Investigation and Forensic Breakthroughs

The discovery of the bodies led to a groundbreaking forensic investigation. The remains were badly mutilated and dismembered, making identification challenging. However, forensic experts, including Professor John Glaister and Dr. James Brash, employed innovative techniques to solve the case. They used the study of maggots found on the remains to estimate the time of death and applied the Bertillon system, an early form of anthropometry, to identify the bodies. Additionally, forensic pathologists reconstructed the victims' faces from their skulls, allowing them to be identified by relatives.

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence was a magazine found with one of the bodies, which had a distinctive thumbprint of Isabella Ruxton on one of the pages, further linking the bodies to Ruxton.

Trial and Execution

Buck Ruxton was arrested and charged with the murders. During his trial, the forensic evidence presented was overwhelming, and despite his claims of innocence, he was found guilty. Ruxton was hanged at HM Prison Manchester, also known as Strangeways, on 12 May 1936.

Legacy

The Ruxton murders are considered a landmark case in the history of forensic science. The innovative techniques used in the investigation demonstrated the potential of forensic methods in solving crimes, leading to their wider adoption. The case also highlighted the importance of forensic entomology in determining the time of death, which has since become a crucial tool in criminal investigations.

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