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Corpus Delicti
No body. No witness. No confession. In May 1955, wealthy Pasadena socialite Evelyn Scott vanished without a trace from her Bel Air home. Her charming husband, L. Ewing Scott, claimed she simply walked away to buy tooth powder—yet he quietly liquidated her fortunes and fled.
In a landmark legal battle that captivated the nation, Los Angeles prosecutor J. Miller Leavy accomplished what many deemed securing a first-degree murder conviction based entirely on circumstantial evidence. Ewing Scott was sentenced to life in prison, steadfastly maintaining his innocence for three decades.
Decades later, journalist Diane Wagner revisited the cold case, gaining unprecedented access to the aging killer. What began as an investigation into a legendary trial culminated in an extraordinary journalistic Scott’s stunning late-life confession.
This expanded reissue of Corpus Delicti recreates the gripping courtroom drama that reshaped American legal precedent. Updated with a new foreword and epilogue, this definitive true-crime chronicle includes exclusive access for readers to stream the actual recorded audio confession of L. Ewing Scott.
Step inside a quintessential 1950s mystery where greed, deception, and justice collide.
In a landmark legal battle that captivated the nation, Los Angeles prosecutor J. Miller Leavy accomplished what many deemed securing a first-degree murder conviction based entirely on circumstantial evidence. Ewing Scott was sentenced to life in prison, steadfastly maintaining his innocence for three decades.
Decades later, journalist Diane Wagner revisited the cold case, gaining unprecedented access to the aging killer. What began as an investigation into a legendary trial culminated in an extraordinary journalistic Scott’s stunning late-life confession.
This expanded reissue of Corpus Delicti recreates the gripping courtroom drama that reshaped American legal precedent. Updated with a new foreword and epilogue, this definitive true-crime chronicle includes exclusive access for readers to stream the actual recorded audio confession of L. Ewing Scott.
Step inside a quintessential 1950s mystery where greed, deception, and justice collide.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 6, 2026
There's no such thing as a perfect crime
The book is dramatic and realistic; it tells the story of Scott, a man whose financial situation improved after he met Evelyn. Once his life was filled with stability and luxury, he ended up murdering her out of greed, plundering her bank accounts, and was eventually caught. He always maintained his innocence because Evelyn’s body was never found, yet he was arrested twice and sentenced to life in prison. Eventually, through a journalist interested in his case, he was released and confessed to his guilt; he died at the age of 90. It’s a harrowing story because, despite being greedy and hostile, life ultimately left him with nothing—not even the freedom to enjoy his money.
The book is dramatic and realistic; it tells the story of Scott, a man whose financial situation improved after he met Evelyn. Once his life was filled with stability and luxury, he ended up murdering her out of greed, plundering her bank accounts, and was eventually caught. He always maintained his innocence because Evelyn’s body was never found, yet he was arrested twice and sentenced to life in prison. Eventually, through a journalist interested in his case, he was released and confessed to his guilt; he died at the age of 90. It’s a harrowing story because, despite being greedy and hostile, life ultimately left him with nothing—not even the freedom to enjoy his money.
October 6, 2026
I find this true story very chilling. The murder of the wife and her husband's denial of his criminal actions left me feeling very shocked. I did find myself getting more involved in this case once the author writes about the aged husband's confession.
Corpus Delicti is a unique book that brings the murderer's eventual disclosure to light. The volume impresses me with the retelling of the real events in the court after the 1955 murder. What fascinates me the most, however, is the way the author got L. Ewing Scott to finally open up and reveal the truth.
If you enjoy true crime cases with an unusual amount of depth, then this book is definitely worth reading. For myself, it is a bit uncomfortable to read, even if I did get invested.
Corpus Delicti is a unique book that brings the murderer's eventual disclosure to light. The volume impresses me with the retelling of the real events in the court after the 1955 murder. What fascinates me the most, however, is the way the author got L. Ewing Scott to finally open up and reveal the truth.
If you enjoy true crime cases with an unusual amount of depth, then this book is definitely worth reading. For myself, it is a bit uncomfortable to read, even if I did get invested.
October 1, 2026
This is a true crime thriller. It focuses on socialite Evelyn Scott, who disappeared from her opulent home in Bel Air in 1955. Her husband quickly made off with her money, which led many to think he was responsible. He was brought back and faced murder charges, and he was found guilty. The problem? He was convicted with only circumstantial evidence against him, an extraordinarily rare occurrence in the legal system.
Many years later, a dedicated investigative journalist, Diane Wagner, started to look into the case. This book details what she found. It's audacious, fascinating, and engrossing, truly a classic in the true crime genre. Anyone who loves true crime podcasts or books should find this to be a real treat.
Many years later, a dedicated investigative journalist, Diane Wagner, started to look into the case. This book details what she found. It's audacious, fascinating, and engrossing, truly a classic in the true crime genre. Anyone who loves true crime podcasts or books should find this to be a real treat.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews