''The Red Inn Murders''

By Crusader1307

Perhaps no less terrifying a Story – because it was real, The ‘’Red Inn Murders’’ came to Public light in France, around 1831. The ‘’Red Inn’’ (named for it’s Red Roof’’ and not for the following tale) – is located in Ardeche, France. Owned by Pierre and Marie Martin (along with Their Servant), the Couple gruesome killing spree came to an end in 1833, when The Martins and Their Servant were executed by Guillotine (before a crowd estimated at 30,000). But what were The Martins and Their Man Servant accused and convicted of? Well, here IT goes……….

In 1831, Local Police found the badly mutilated body of a Man, near a river which ran close to The Red Inn. His head had been bashed in so badly, that it was thankful that He had identification papers on Him. Checking The Inn, The Police found the Man’s belongings. Despite the fact that The Owners (Martins) stated the Man had NOT strayed there, Police arrested the Couple and their Servant. A search of The Inn would reveal gruesome findings. Blood stained clothing, cutting instruments and what would best be described as a ‘’Kitchen from Hell’’, gave Police a slowly evolving picture. A check of Register Records revealed that perhaps 50 such Travelers at The Inn NEVER made it to their intended destinations.

Although no physical remains were found of the ‘’others’’, testimony from The Servant revealed that The Martins not only killed the Man and the 50 others (which His help), but chopped them up and served Them as food in The Inn. The grisly facts were of course denied by The Martins, but The Judge did not believe them. All three were executed. The Red Inn itself changed hands in Ownership MANY times – and served more as a ‘’Horror Attraction’’ that ever again being a Restaurant or Inn. It is still ‘’visited’’ today by Tourists – as such. Some Scholars liken the Tale as a motivator for the later Play ‘’Sweeney Todd’’ – who with the help of His insane Land Lady Mr. Lovet, chopped up their Victims and served them as ‘’Meat Pies’’.