Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?

Welcome back to this week's episode of Why It's Shifty and today we're travelling near to my own hometown of Birmingham, England to look at a rather strange case in which a woman's skeleton was found in the the most unexpected of places. This is a story I didn't know was actually true until about ten years' ago. I thought it was just one of those random ghost stories that people tell each other. But, here we go. This episode is entitled Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?

Plot

In Hagley Wood, near Birmingham, four boys were poaching birds when one, Bob Farmer, climbed a large wych elm and discovered a human skull nestled inside its hollow trunk. Initially believing it was animal remains, he realized it was human upon seeing hair and teeth. The boys, fearful of repercussions for trespassing, kept the discovery secret. However, the youngest, Tommy Willetts, eventually told his parents, prompting the police to investigate.

Authorities recovered a nearly complete skeleton, along with a shoe, a gold wedding ring, and scraps of clothing. A hand was found buried nearby, possibly removed after death. The case immediately raised suspicions of foul play, especially as the woman’s remains were crammed into a space too small for her to have entered herself. Pathologists determined the woman had been dead for 18 months to two years and likely died by asphyxiation. Thus began one of Britain’s most baffling unsolved crimes...

Dr. James Webster, the forensic pathologist assigned to the case, determined that the woman was likely in her mid-30s, around 5 feet tall, with irregular teeth and light brown hair. She had been dead for approximately 18 months, putting her death around October 1941. The presence of taffeta in her mouth led Dr. Webster to theorise she had been smothered, possibly gagged and asphyxiated. He noted the body must have been placed in the tree shortly after death, while it was still flexible, as rigor mortis would have prevented positioning later.

Early press speculations included theories of wartime espionage, occult sacrifice, or a lover’s quarrel. Police cross-checked missing persons reports, particularly those of women in the Birmingham area during the early 1940s, but no clear match was found. The lack of a firm identity or clear motive hampered early investigations significantly.

Months after the body’s discovery, strange graffiti began to appear across the West Midlands, first on a wall in Upper Dean Street, Birmingham. The now-infamous phrase, “Who put Bella down the Wych Elm, Hagley Wood,” soon began showing up on more public walls, train stations, and abandoned buildings. The wording varied slightly, sometimes reading “Who put Luebella in the wych elm?” or “Hagley Wood Bella.” The graffiti, written in white chalk, appeared periodically over years, and continued even into the 1970s.

Its persistence and eeriness captured the public imagination, giving the unknown woman the posthumous name “Bella.” The origin of the graffiti was never conclusively determined, though some believed it was the work of a local woman with knowledge of the crime.

Into the Theories

The German Cabaret Singer

Several theories emerged over the years regarding who “Bella” might have been. One suggestion was that she was a local prostitute or drifter. Another involved a Birmingham prostitute known as “Luebella,” possibly murdered by a U.S. serviceman. In 1953, police received a letter naming Bella as Clara Bauerle, a German cabaret singer and possible spy.

Bauerle was said to have been romantically involved with a known German agent and was believed to have parachuted into England in the early 1940s. This theory gained traction due to wartime espionage activities in the area and the proximity of sensitive installations. However, documents later revealed Bauerle had died in Berlin in 1942, complicating that theory.

Nazi Espionage

The wartime espionage theory gained serious traction in the 1950s and 60s. Declassified MI5 documents and independent research suggested that German agents had been operating in the area. In 1953, a woman named Anna of Claverley wrote to police claiming her ex-husband, a military officer, had confessed to being involved in Bella’s death. She alleged that Bella was part of a Nazi spy ring, and had been executed for knowing too much.

Though this account was largely anecdotal, it drew public attention and renewed interest. In subsequent years, amateur historians and journalists speculated that Bella might have been a spy parachuted into the country who failed to make contact with handlers and was killed. The possibility of counter-espionage coverups and secret service knowledge added intrigue but little proof.

Witchcraft

Another chilling theory involves witchcraft or occult ritual. In 1945, anthropologist Margaret Murray (known for her writings on witchcraft)suggested that Bella was the victim of a ritualistic murder. She cited the symbolic placement of the body inside a tree (linked to traditional “Witch Elm” lore), the hand found separately (possibly as part of a “Hand of Glory” ritual), and the area’s folklore history. Murray believed the killing might have been a sacrifice by a local coven. She connected this theory with other cases of alleged ritual killings, including the Charles Walton murder in nearby Lower Quinton. However, local police and other academics were skeptical, viewing Murray’s theory as speculative and sensational.

Why It's Shifty

From the first day, the investigation was hampered by several factors: a lack of personal identification on the body, wartime disruption, and minimal forensic tools by modern standards. Police interviewed local women’s shelters, hospitals, and factories but found no missing woman matching the profile. Items found with the body (a shoe and wedding ring) were not traceable to any specific manufacturer. Leads were sparse and many turned out to be hoaxes or irrelevant.

Even years later, when letters or claims surfaced, police could do little without corroborating evidence. Despite renewed efforts in the 1950s and again in the 1970s, investigators were no closer to identifying the victim or perpetrator. Without a name, motive, or witnesses, the case relied on speculation. The public’s growing obsession with theories outpaced official efforts. As decades passed, the investigation grew colder, becoming more of a myth than an active case. Over time, “Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?” transcended its origins as a crime to become a piece of British folklore.

Therefore, the shiftiness of the lack of anything to do with 'Bella' or her background makes it incredibly difficult for anyone to confirm anything.

Conclusion

I hope you've enjoyed Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm? and what do you think happened to her? Personally, I think she was just a random woman who was murdered, possibly by someone she knew, and they ended up hiding the body in a tree. It seems anti-sensational and probably a bit more upsetting than the theories given but the most probable solution is normally the one that is correct. I'm not saying I'm entirely right but there's possibly something somewhere in the ball-park. What do you believe?

Next Week: Lady Jane Grey