On 9 March 1956, Amanda Christina Elizabeth Aldridge, also known as Amanda Ira Aldridge, was found dead in her London apartment. The murder of the British opera singer and composer remains unsolved and has been the subject of much speculation and intrigue. Here is a guide to the Amanda Aldridge murder, including the key facts, possible suspects, and the ongoing efforts to solve the case.
Who was Amanda Aldridge
Amanda Aldridge Murder was born on 10 March 1866, the daughter of the famous African-American actor Ira Aldridge and his Swedish wife. Amanda followed in her father’s footsteps and became an accomplished opera singer, performing in some of the world’s most prestigious venues. In addition to her singing career, Amanda was also a composer, writing under the pseudonym of Montague Ring.
What happened on the night of the murder
On the evening of 8 March 1956, Amanda Aldridge attended a concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London. She returned to her apartment around 10 pm, accompanied by her friend and fellow musician, the cellist Felix Schmidt. Amanda’s maid discovered her body in the apartment’s bathroom the following morning. Amanda had been strangled with a ligature, possibly a silk scarf.
Possible suspects
The murder of Amanda Aldridge remains unsolved, and no one has ever been charged with the crime. However, there have been several possible suspects identified over the years:
- Felix Schmidt: Amanda’s friend and companion on the night of the murder. Schmidt had a turbulent relationship with Amanda and was reportedly jealous of her other male friends. However, there is no concrete evidence linking him to the crime.
- Amanda’s ex-husband: Amanda had been married twice. And her second husband, a German businessman named Gustav Lewy, was reportedly abusive toward her. There is speculation that Lewy may have been involved in her murder, although again, there is no firm evidence to support this theory.
- A burglar: There were signs of a forced entry to Amanda’s apartment, leading some to speculate that the murder may have been the work of a burglar. However, this theory has never been proven, and there is no evidence of any stolen property from the apartment.
Ongoing investigations
Despite extensive investigations by the police at the time, the Amanda Aldridge murder remains unsolved. However, there have been ongoing efforts to solve the case, including:
- DNA testing: In 2014, the Metropolitan Police announced that they would test DNA on evidence from the crime scene to identify the killer. However, the results of this testing have not been made public.
- Cold case reviews: In 2019, it was reported that the Amanda Aldridge murder was one of several cold cases. Being reviewed by the London Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Major Crime Command. However, there have been no significant updates on this review since then.
Conclusion
The murder of Amanda Aldridge remains a fascinating and perplexing mystery. The killer has never been identified or brought to justice despite numerous investigations and theories. However, with ongoing efforts to solve the case, including advances in forensic science. There remains hope that the truth about Amanda Aldridge’s murder will finally be revealed.
