WANTED FOR MURDER — FBI JOIN HUNT FOR MISSING EARL
Police fears for Lord Lucan as net widens
November 11, 1974
a WORLd-WidE murder hunt was under way last night for the Earl of Lucan, 39, missing since his children’s nanny was battered to death in London last Thursday. Two warrants for his arrest have been issued.
One warrant is for the murder of the nanny, 29-year-old Mrs Sandra Rivett, and the other is for the attempted murder of Lady Lucan. detective chief Superintendent Roy Ranson, of the Murder Squad, said: ‘i am satisfied that i have sufficient evidence to take this action.’
Meanwhile, fears are being expressed for Lord Lucan’s wellbeing. a close friend said: ‘he has a 12-bore shotgun with him. We feel he may try to take his own life.
it is believed that Lord Lucan may have gone to the continent — a car he borrowed was found near the docks at Newhaven on Friday.
apartments in Paris are being checked, but the search is now centred in the South of France. Six luxury villas and apartments on the Riviera, owned by friends of Lord Lucan, were visited by police.
detectives were also checking every major casino from Monte carlo to cannes, for the earl has played in most casinos in the South and police believe his gambling instincts are so strong he could pay a visit. Lord Lucan speaks French poorly, but he has an extensive knowledge of the Riviera. Lord Lucan could easily be staying at a vacated holiday home.
in the United States, the FBi were interviewing relatives and several business associates of Lord Lucan.
The move followed the discovery of a diary which he also used as an address book. details were sent to the French police hQ in Paris and to Washington via interpol.
a major point in yesterday’s decision to make public the arrest warrants was that Scotland Yard wanted all of Lord Lucan’s friends to know that they risk facing criminal charges for either harbouring him or aiding him while on the run. Police accept that he has dedicated friends who would take the chance.
Mrs Susan Maxwell-Scott, the last person to see Lord Lucan, said she was ‘amazed and aghast’ that arrest warrants had been issued. Visited by Lord Lucan at her home at Uckfield, Sussex, just two hours after Mrs Rivett was found dead, she said: ‘he has to be innocent.’