Over the past three centuries, the Rothschilds have been the most important dynasty shaping the world. Their endogamous relationships to concentrate power in a few hands have allowed their influence to spread across most countries through banking, asset management, the financial sector, and fine wines.
As a rule, the Rothschild family washes their dirty laundry at home, creating their own myths while being the subject of conspiracy theories. The English, French, Neapolitan, and Austrian branches remain allied to preserve their secrets.
Among them is the case of Jeanette Bishop May, former Lady Rothschild after her marriage to Sir Evelyn Rothschild, the private banker of Queen Elizabeth II, who mysteriously disappeared in a snowstorm in Italy in 1980. The millionaire had bought a house she was renovating to spend summers with her close friends. However, the dream was shattered on November 29, 1980, when she and her secretary vanished after going for a drive. Despite several searches, only the car was found three weeks later.
On January 27, 1981, wild boar hunters found their bodies in an advanced state of decomposition. After the autopsy, it was concluded that both had died from freezing, putting an end to the rumors. Various theories circulated to explain the deaths: poisoning out of jealousy, kidnapping, crime of passion, links to the mafia, or involvement in the theft of an artwork in Rome. Among the English high society, it was known that Jeanette and her second husband, Stephen May - an executive at a department store-, had a stable relationship.
The two women went for a walk in a forest near Lake di Fiastra in the Sibillini Mountains when they were caught in a sudden snowstorm. Alone, they decided to seek shelter under some bushes where they met their demise. Domenico Panunti, the gamekeeper who found them, claimed the 100,000 lire reward (equivalent to 2.5 million pesetas at the time) offered by Stephen May. However, he refused the payment, considering that the mystery remained unsolved, as there were lingering questions suggesting they may have been murdered.
Experts stated that the nine-kilometer distance between where they disappeared and where they were found was impossible to cover due to wind and snow, making the murder hypothesis plausible. Angelos Jacobini, the investigating judge from Camerino, reopened the inconclusive investigation, ultimately attributing their deaths to cold exposure.
Forty years later, the Italian police have reopened the case to unravel the mystery that shook the British establishment. Chief prosecutor of Maserta, Giovanni Fabrizio Narbone, has refused to disclose why the case was reopened but admitted to ANSA that a turning point would be reached in a few months, allowing a fresh perspective on the case. "We have reviewed all records to identify any indications of inconsistencies, and we believe there is a chance to get to the bottom of this," Narbone stated.
Raffaelle Ruocco, provincial commander of the Carabinieri in Macerata, commented: "We have reviewed the files, as we do with all unsolved cases, and found aspects worth investigating." Additionally, he confirmed that interrogations of individuals who had contact with the victims or were somehow involved in the events would take place soon.
Among the survivors of that tragedy is surveyor Nazzareno Venanzi, who was one of the last people to see Jeanette alive in Sarnano. "In the morning, she showed me a door she liked for the cabin she was renovating," he said. He added, "She was charming, a former model with refined manners." Later, he would learn that she was a notable figure in the Windsor family's domains.