About This Episode
What Is the Episode About?
The Danish true crime podcast Danske Drabssager turns its attention to one of the most sensational criminal cases of the early 20th century: the robbery murder of taxi driver Christian Martinus Jensen on the night of 7–8 May 1922. The victim was found dead near Junosvej in the lake area close to Damhus in Copenhagen, and the case quickly drew public attention.
Among the prime suspects was a woman known by the street nickname Musse Gadedreng — her real name was Karen Marie Sjøgren, born Andersen. The involvement of a woman in a violent robbery murder was deeply unusual for the era and challenged the gender assumptions of the time.
Host Kristina Antivakis is joined in the studio by historian Frederik Strand from the Danish Police Museum (Politimuseet), who provides historical context and analysis of both the investigation and the broader social landscape of interwar Denmark.
The Case
The murder took place between 7 and 8 May 1922. Christian Martinus Jensen was found dead near Junosvej in the Damhus lake area of Copenhagen under circumstances that shocked the public.
The investigation was complicated from the start. Multiple suspects were identified, and conflicting witness statements made it difficult for police to build a clear picture. One of those charged, Orla Hjarne Hansen, was later acquitted after establishing an alibi. Musse Gadedreng — Karen Marie Sjøgren — faced intense scrutiny, but the case ultimately remained unresolved, with no definitive legal conclusion reached.
The episode explores how the involvement of a female perpetrator in a violent robbery murder was an extremely rare phenomenon at the time, and how the investigation exposed significant limitations in the policing methods of the 1920s.
Historical Significance
The 1922 case has since become a key reference point in Danish criminal history, illustrating both the investigative challenges of the interwar period and the way the justice system struggled to account for women as perpetrators of serious violent crime. Historian Frederik Strand helps situate the case within the social conditions of 1920s Denmark, offering insight into why such a case was so disorienting for authorities and the public alike.
About the Podcast
Danske Drabssager is one of Denmark's most popular true crime podcasts, produced by RadioPlay. The show is known for its documentary approach, combining interviews with investigators, witnesses and experts to retell real cases.
This episode is the first in a six-part miniseries focusing on women in criminal history. While female killers of the era were most commonly associated with child murder or poisoning, this series broadens the scope to include violent robbery — and examines how society and the legal system responded. The remaining episodes in the series cover additional cases involving women, including female poisoners and child killers.
Where to Listen
The episode — titled Criminal Women, Part 1 – The Woman Behind the 1922 Robbery Murder — runs approximately 45 minutes and is available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Listeners are recommended to follow the series in order for the full analytical context.
