Bio

Daniel Raven was born in 1926. He grew up in a Jewish family in England. Little is known about his early life or his childhood, but he became an advertising agent as an adult. By the age of 23, he was known for dressing well and keeping an impressive appearance.

In 1949, Daniel's wife, Marie, gave birth to their son. Shortly after their baby was born, on October 10, 1949, Daniel took Marie’s parents, Leopold Goodman and Esther Goodman, to visit her and their newborn. Leopold was 49 years old, and Esther was 47. They were both from a Russian Jewish background and were described as wealthy.

After the visit, Daniel drove his in-laws back to their home. This was an important week for Daniel as he was a new father. The family was likely celebrating this new chapter in their lives. 

Murder Story

On October 10, 1949, Daniel Raven killed his in-laws, Leopold Goodman and Esther Goodman, in their home located in Edgware, Middlesex, England. After visiting his wife and their new baby at a maternity home, he drove his in-laws back to their residence. There, using the heavy base of a television aerial, he beat both Leopold and Esther to death.

After committing the murders, Raven returned to his home. Later that night, around 10:30 PM, police called him to ask him to come to his in-laws’ house. He was surprised because he thought the bodies would not be found until the next day. In a hurry, he changed into clean clothes and hid his bloodstained suit in the boiler.

Meanwhile, Frederick Fraiman, a business partner of Leopold's, visited the Goodman home around 9:55 PM. When he did not receive any response, he entered through an open window and discovered the bodies of Leopold and Esther in a blood-soaked dining room.

When the police arrived and began their investigation, they noticed that Daniel was dressed very smartly, which raised their suspicions. They found that he had not been wearing those clothes earlier in the day. A search of his home revealed his bloodstained suit in the boiler along with blood on his shoes and evidence that he had cleaned the driver's seat of his car.

Daniel Raven was arrested and charged with the murders of his in-laws. At his trial at the Old Bailey on November 22, he claimed he had found the bodies after entering the house like Mr. Fraiman did. He said he got blood on his suit while kneeling by his mother-in-law’s body and fled in panic. However, on November 24, he was found guilty and sentenced to death.

His appeal, which included claims of insanity, was denied. Daniel Raven was executed by hanging at Pentonville Prison on January 6, 1950.