Intrigued by stories that sound straight out of a movie? You’re in for a shocking tale from the past! Meet Elizabeth Jones, a Welsh teenager whose real life took a dramatic turn that would inspire a film. At just 18, living in London during wartime, she linked up with Karl Hulten, an American deserter posing as a gangster. Together, they embarked on a crime spree that escalated from robberies to the chilling murder of a taxi driver. This case was sensational, grabbing headlines across Britain and even catching the attention of George Orwell.
Born Elizabeth Maud Baker in Neath in 1926, her early life was troubled. After living in Canada, her family returned to Wales where she struggled to fit in, leading to her being sent to an approved school at 13. By 16, she had married but soon left her husband and relocated to London. There, she reinvented herself as “Georgie Grayson,” embracing a more glamorous and rebellious lifestyle in the bustling Piccadilly scene.
Elizabeth’s relationship with Hulten, a man who shared her thrill-seeking spirit, led to a series of attacks and robberies, culminating in the tragic murder of George Heath, a taxi driver, who became known in the press as “The Cleft Chin Murder.” The duo’s arrest and trial made for dramatic headlines, with Hulten eventually hanged in 1945. Elizabeth’s death sentence was commuted, and she served nine years in prison.
Their story, later turned into the movie “Chicago Joe and the Showgirl” featuring Kiefer Sutherland and Emily Lloyd, remains a haunting reminder of how a desire for excitement can spiral into darkness. Elizabeth’s tale is a striking account of rebellion, crime, and its dire consequences.
If you’re a fan of true crime tales that are stranger than fiction, this is one story you don’t want to miss!