Killed Strangely: Uncover the Mysterious Death of Rebecca Cornell

In the year 1673, a shocking incident took place that would forever haunt the small town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The mysterious death of Rebecca Cornell became the centerpiece of heated debates, inspiring stories of horror and speculation that still echo through history.

Rebecca Cornell, a respectable woman known for her kindness and generosity, was discovered dead in her own house, her life brutally cut short. The circumstances surrounding her death were nothing short of perplexing, shrouded in secrets and hidden agendas.

As the investigation unfolded, a web of dark secrets began to unravel. Rebecca, a mother of five and the widow of Thomas Cornell, was found with strange markings on her neck, leading authorities to suspect foul play.

Killed Strangely: The Death of Rebecca Cornell

by Elaine Forman Crane (1st Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2354 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	266 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

The Initial Suspects

The finger of suspicion quickly pointed towards her own son, Thomas Cornell Jr., whose behavior had raised eyebrows long before the tragedy took place. Rumors of a strained relationship and financial disputes abounded, making him a prime suspect.

However, the case soon took a twist when another key figure emerged into the spotlight. Christian Cornell, the younger brother of Rebecca's deceased husband, was known to have expressed significant animosity towards his late brother's family. Could he have been driven to commit such a gruesome act?

An Intricate Tapestry of Motives

As investigators delved deeper into the case, they began to unearth a tangled web of motives and secrets. Property disputes, inheritance battles, and family rivalries all laid bare the dark underbelly of the seemingly picturesque community.

It became evident that many had a stake in Rebecca Cornell's demise. The brewing tensions within the Cornell family, combined with the dissatisfaction of those who desired the family fortune, painted a bleak picture of greed, jealousy, and betrayal.

The Haunting Mystery Continues

Centuries have passed, but the death of Rebecca Cornell remains a baffling enigma. Despite multiple investigations and countless hours of research, the truth behind her demise has remained obscured by time.

Was Rebecca the victim of a sinister plot orchestrated by her own flesh and blood? Or did an outsider with ulterior motives seize the opportunity to extinguish her life?

Efforts to shed light on this tragedy have persisted throughout the years. From bestselling novels to documentaries and podcasts, countless individuals have endeavored to explore the dark corners of Rebecca Cornell's story.

The Legacy Lives On

The story of Rebecca Cornell and the circumstances surrounding her death serves as a chilling reminder of the capacity for evil lurking even in the most unexpected places. It is a tale that transcends time, continuing to captivate and intrigue those seeking answers to this day.

The death of Rebecca Cornell has become part of local folklore, its tendrils reaching far beyond the borders of Portsmouth. Each generation passes down the tale, amplifying the mystery even as the truth remains elusive.

However, the pursuit of justice persists. Modern technology and forensic advancements have revived interest in the case, giving hope that one day, the secrets hidden within the darkness will finally come to light.

Until then, the story of Rebecca Cornell's untimely demise will continue to capture the imagination of those drawn to the enticing world of unsolved mysteries.

Unravel the Enigma Behind Rebecca Cornell's Strange Death

Explore the twisted story that plagued 17th-century Rhode Island. Join us in uncovering the truth, deciphering the clues, and weaving through the tangled web of betrayal and deceit. Dive into the chilling account of Rebecca Cornell's tragic fate and unveil the secrets that have remained hidden for centuries.

It's time to delve into the darkness, and discover what really killed Rebecca Cornell.

Killed Strangely: The Death of Rebecca Cornell

by Elaine Forman Crane (1st Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2354 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	266 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

"It was Rebecca's son, Thomas, who first realized the victim's identity. His eyes were drawn to the victim's head, and aided by the flickering light of a candle, he 'clapt his hands and cryed out, Oh Lord, it is my mother.' James Moills, a servant of Cornell . . . described Rebecca 'lying on the floore, with fire about Her, from her Lower parts neare to the Armepits.' He recognized her only 'by her shoes.'"—from Killed Strangely

On a winter's evening in 1673, tragedy descended on the respectable Rhode Island household of Thomas Cornell. His 73-year-old mother, Rebecca, was found close to her bedroom's large fireplace, dead and badly burned. The legal owner of the Cornells' hundred acres along Narragansett Bay, Rebecca shared her home with Thomas and his family, a servant, and a lodger. A coroner's panel initially declared her death "an Unhappie Accident," but before summer arrived, a dark web of events—rumors of domestic abuse, allusions to witchcraft, even the testimony of Rebecca's ghost through her brother—resulted in Thomas's trial for matricide.

Such were the ambiguities of the case that others would be tried for the murder as well. Rebecca is a direct ancestor of Cornell University's founder, Ezra Cornell. Elaine Forman Crane tells the compelling story of Rebecca's death and its aftermath, vividly depicting the world in which she lived. That world included a legal system where jurors were expected to be familiar with the defendant and case before the trial even began. Rebecca's strange death was an event of cataclysmic proportions, affecting not only her own community, but neighboring towns as well.

The documents from Thomas's trial provide a rare glimpse into seventeenth-century life. Crane writes, "Instead of the harmony and respect that sermon literature, laws, and a hierarchical/patriarchal society attempted to impose, evidence illustrates filial insolence, generational conflict, disrespect toward the elderly, power plays between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, [and] adult dependence on (and resentment of) aging parents who clung to purse strings." Yet even at a distance of more than three hundred years, Rebecca Cornell's story is poignantly familiar. Her complaints of domestic abuse, Crane says, went largely unheeded by friends and neighbors until, at last, their complacency was shattered by her terrible death.