Tragic 'Ring of Death' Rumours Emerge After Multiple Suicides in Wealthy Circle
The death of a property tycoon in London has ignited disturbing rumours of a so-called "ring of death" among a group of affluent associates, following a cluster of suicides over several years. Scot Young, a 52-year-old businessman, died in 2014 after falling approximately 60 feet from a fourth-floor window onto railings outside a luxury apartment block in Marylebone, central London. Witnesses described the scene as "grisly" and "brutal," but police at the time stated the death was not being treated as suspicious.
Chilling Pattern of Deaths Among Associates
Young was part of a circle of wealthy businessmen with connections to Russian oligarchs and high-stakes property deals. Four other men he reportedly knew—Johnny Elichaoff, Boris Berezovsky, Robert Curtis, and Paul Castle—also died in apparent suicides after facing financial setbacks. This series of tragedies led some friends to raise concerns, with one source describing it to the Daily Telegraph as a potential "ring of death."
Among the most prominent cases was Johnny Elichaoff, the former husband of TV personality Trinny Woodall, 62. Elichaoff, a 55-year-old financial consultant and antiques dealer, died in November 2014 after falling from the roof of the former Whiteleys department store in Bayswater, west London. He had reportedly been friends with Young. Police confirmed his death was not suspicious, but those close to him expressed shock, insisting it seemed out of character.
An inquest revealed that a witness saw Elichaoff alone on the roof and watched him deliberately "roll" himself off. It was also found that he had been addicted to prescription drugs and had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act two weeks prior to his death. PC Jonathan Fenton stated that during a drive to a mental health unit, Elichaoff had said, "I'm depressed because I've lost a lot of money through some terrible investments in oil."
Impact on Family and Public Figures
Trinny Woodall, star of What Not To Wear, was married to Elichaoff from 1999 until 2009, and they share a daughter, Lyla, now 23. Woodall has spoken openly about the impact of his death, noting it made her stronger and coincided with the founding of her company, Trinny London. On Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast, she said, "I think going back to earlier, it's that would've, should've, could've—so do I regret that I didn't do more for my ex-husband to stop him killing himself? No, because it was nothing I could have done." She also discussed guiding her daughter through the tragedy.
Another figure linked to the circle was Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky, a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin. Berezovsky was found dead at his home in Berkshire in March 2013, with a ligature around his neck. An inquest returned an open verdict, unable to determine if it was suicide or something else. Once worth billions, his wealth had shrunk after the financial crisis and a costly legal battle with Roman Abramovich. His death raised suspicions due to his Kremlin opposition and association with murdered spy Alexander Litvinenko.
Further Tragedies and Financial Struggles
Two more property developers connected to Young died in tragic circumstances. Robert Curtis reportedly died after falling under a Tube train in north-west London in 2012. Two years earlier, businessman Paul Castle, who is said to have played polo with King Charles when he was Prince of Wales, also died after being struck by a Tube train. All three men were involved in property deals with wealthy Russian investors and had reportedly experienced financial difficulties.
Young himself faced mounting financial pressure before his death. He was locked in a bitter six-year divorce battle with his estranged wife, Michelle Young, which saw him jailed at one point. In 2013, a judge ruled he was worth £40 million and ordered him to pay £20 million to his wife, though Michelle claimed his fortune was larger and called the settlement "disgraceful." At the time of his death, Young had been declared bankrupt and had significant debts. His girlfriend, American model Noelle Reno, said she was "distraught by the sudden loss of my best friend."
Speculation and Official Stance
The cluster of deaths prompted speculation about deeper connections beyond friendship and business. One anonymous source claimed the group had been "bullied" by the Russian mafia, though no evidence has been publicly produced to support this allegation. Authorities maintained that none of the deaths were officially treated as suspicious, and no police investigation has ever established a link between them.
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