Ronald Kray was only 61 when he died of a heart attack in Broadmoor Hospital on 17 March 1995 (Biography), but his life already felt like a century of legend, violence, and untreated illness. Born in Haggerston, London, on 24 October 1933 (Biography), he and his twin brother Reggie became the faces of organized crime in the 1960s, yet behind the tailored suits and club-owner glamour was a mind diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia — a condition that would shape his criminal legacy and the controversy that followed him even after death.
Born: 24 October 1933, Haggerston, London ·
Died: 17 March 1995, Broadmoor Hospital, Berkshire ·
Cause of death: Heart attack ·
Conviction: Murder of George Cornell (1969)
Quick snapshot
- Ronald Kray was born 24 October 1933 in East London (Biography)
- Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia (Biography)
- Convicted of murder in 1969 (Biography)
- Died in Broadmoor Hospital (Biography)
- Exact year of paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis — possibly 1967 or 1979 (Biography)
- Whether brain removal after death was authorized by family (Biography)
- Current whereabouts of living relatives (Biography)
- Exact details of the brain removal procedure (Biography)
- Whether the schizophrenia diagnosis was officially recorded at Broadmoor (Biography)
- 1933: Born in East London (Biography)
- 1969: Convicted for murder of George Cornell (Biography)
- 1995: Dies of heart attack in Broadmoor (Biography)
- 2000: Reggie Kray and Charlie Kray die (The Kray Twins Wiki)
- The Kray name lives on in films, books, and documentaries
- No direct descendants from the twins
- Ongoing interest in the brain removal controversy
Eight key facts, one pattern: Ronald Kray’s life moved from East End gangster to Broadmoor patient in a straight line of violence and mental illness.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ronald James Kray |
| Place of birth | Haggerston, London, England |
| Date of death | 17 March 1995 |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Diagnosis | Paranoid schizophrenia (reported 1967) |
| Criminal conviction | Murder of George Cornell (1969) |
| Spouse(s) | Elaine Mildener (m. 1968, annulled); Roberta Jones (m. 1985, divorced) |
| Burial site | Chingford Mount Cemetery, London |
What Was Ronnie Kray Diagnosed With?
Ronnie Kray was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, a condition that would define his legal defense and his final decades. The exact year of diagnosis is not uniformly recorded — some secondary sources suggest the 1950s, while others point to 1967 or 1979. What is clear is that by the time of his 1969 trial for murder, his legal team successfully argued that he was criminally insane, leading to his placement in Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric facility.
Ronnie Kray’s paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis was both a legal shield and a medical reality. Without it, he likely would have faced hanging rather than life in Broadmoor.
Diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia
- The diagnosis meant Kray was considered criminally insane under British law.
- Some accounts claim he showed symptoms from an early age (Phil’s Phil (blog)).
The implication: the diagnosis shaped not only his criminal defense but also the public’s perception of him as a “mad gangster,” a label that stuck for decades.
Hospitalization in Broadmoor
- Kray was transferred to Broadmoor in 1968, before his trial, and remained there until his death.
- One secondary source places the transfer in 1979 (YouTube).
- He spent 27 years in the high-security psychiatric hospital.
The trade-off: Broadmoor provided medical care but also kept a dangerous man off the streets for life.
What Happened to Ronald Kray?
In 1968, Ronnie Kray and his brother Reggie were arrested for the murder of George Cornell, a rival gang member. Ronnie was convicted in 1969 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Because of his schizophrenia diagnosis, he was transferred to Broadmoor Hospital rather than a standard prison. He spent the remainder of his life there, dying of a heart attack on 17 March 1995.
Kray’s 26-year confinement in Broadmoor made him one of the most famous psychiatric patients in British history, fueling debates about the intersection of criminality and mental illness.
Arrest and trial
- Arrested in May 1968 for the murder of George Cornell.
- Trial began in January 1969; both twins were convicted.
- Ronnie received a life sentence with a 30-year tariff.
The pattern: the trial was a media spectacle, cementing the Krays as celebrity gangsters while Ronnie’s mental state became a key argument.
Life in Broadmoor
- Kray was held in Broadmoor Hospital in Crowthorne, Berkshire.
- He was visited by family and celebrities, including the TV presenter Fred Dinenage.
- He reportedly showed signs of paranoia and violent ideation throughout his stay (Phil’s Phil (blog)).
The catch: Broadmoor gave Kray a platform to maintain his notoriety, as interviews and visits kept him in the public eye.
Death in 1995
- Died of a heart attack on 17 March 1995 at Broadmoor.
- His body was buried at Chingford Mount Cemetery, London.
- No criminal charges were filed regarding the brain removal controversy.
The consequence: Kray’s death did not end the fascination — the brain removal story and his legacy continue to generate headlines.
Did Ronald Kray Have Children?
Ronald Kray married twice — to Elaine Mildener in 1968 (annulled) and to Roberta Jones in 1985 (divorced) — but had no children.
- First marriage: Elaine Mildener, married in 1968, annulled the same year.
- Second marriage: Roberta Jones, married while in prison, later divorced.
- No children from either relationship.
The pattern: Unlike his brother Reggie, Ronnie left no direct descendants, ending his genetic line.
What Happened to the Krays Family Today?
Reggie Kray died on 1 October 2000 after his release from prison. Charlie Kray, the older brother, died the same year. Neither twin had children, so the direct Kray line ended with them.
- Reggie died of cancer at age 66.
- Charlie died of a heart attack at age 73.
- Other relatives include cousins and distant family, but the twins have no direct descendants.
The implication: the Kray name now exists only in pop culture and criminal history, not in living family lines.
How Many Wives Did Reggie Kray Have?
Reggie Kray married twice. His first wife was Frances Shea, whom he married in 1965; she died by suicide in 1967. His second wife was Roberta Jones, who married him in prison in 1997.
- Frances Shea (1965–1967) — the marriage was troubled and ended in her death.
- Roberta Jones (1997–2000) — they remained married until Reggie’s death.
- Reggie had no children with either wife.
The pattern: both Kray twins’ marriages were marked by tragedy and confinement, none producing heirs.
Why Was Ronnie Kray Buried Without a Brain?
According to reports, Ronnie Kray’s brain was removed after his death at Broadmoor for research into schizophrenia, without his family’s knowledge. The brain was later cremated and placed in his coffin. The hospital never faced criminal charges, and the exact protocols remain disputed.
- Removal was reportedly for medical research on paranoid schizophrenia.
- Family was not informed at the time (The Kray Twins Wiki).
- No official hospital records have been released confirming the removal.
The trade-off: the brain removal controversy continues to raise ethical questions about post-mortem organ retention in psychiatric hospitals.
Which Kray Was Schizophrenic?
Ronnie Kray was the twin diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Reggie Kray was not diagnosed with schizophrenia.
- Ronnie’s diagnosis was central to his legal defense and his confinement in Broadmoor.
- Reggie was considered sane and served his sentence in standard prisons.
- The distinction highlights the different paths the twins took within the criminal justice system.
The implication: Ronnie’s mental illness set him apart from his brother, both in public perception and in the legal system’s treatment.
Timeline signal
- – Ronald Kray born in Haggerston, London (Biography)
- – Leads the Kray Firm with Reggie; celebrity gangster status (Biography)
- – Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia (Biography)
- – Arrested and tried for murder of George Cornell (Biography)
- – Convicted and sentenced to life; transferred to Broadmoor (Biography)
- – Dies of heart attack in Broadmoor (Biography)
- – Buried at Chingford Mount Cemetery; brain reportedly removed for research (The Kray Twins Wiki)
- – Reggie Kray and Charlie Kray die (The Kray Twins Wiki)
Confirmed facts
- Ronald Kray had paranoid schizophrenia (Biography)
- He died in Broadmoor Hospital in 1995 (Biography)
- His brain was removed after death for research (The Kray Twins Wiki)
- He had no children (Biography)
- Reggie Kray had two wives (The Kray Twins Wiki)
What’s unclear
- Whether the brain removal violated hospital protocols (The Kray Twins Wiki)
- Exact nature of Ronnie Kray’s sexual orientation relationships
- Details of the Kray family’s present-day activities
- Exact year of schizophrenia diagnosis (1967 vs 1979)
Key quotes
“I was paranoiac. I thought everyone was against me.”
— Ronald Kray, as quoted in Phil’s Phil (blog)
“Ronald Kray was one of identical twin brothers whose criminal careers became publicly notorious in London.”
— Biography
For the public and the legal system, the distinction between Ronnie’s psychiatric condition and Reggie’s criminal intent remains a defining feature of the Kray story. The controversy over his brain removal ensures that even in death, Ronald Kray continues to provoke questions about ethics, mental health, and the long reach of organized crime.
The detailed profile of Ronald Kray at The detailed profile of Ronald Kray covers his schizophrenia and death.
Frequently asked questions
What was Ronnie Kray’s cause of death?
He died of a heart attack on 17 March 1995 while still confined in Broadmoor Hospital (Biography).
Did Ronald Kray have a wife?
Yes, he married twice: Elaine Mildener (1968, annulled) and Roberta Jones (1985, divorced). Neither marriage produced children.
Where is Ronnie Kray buried?
He is buried at Chingford Mount Cemetery in London (Biography).
Was Ronnie Kray really schizophrenic?
Yes, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, a diagnosis that was used in his legal defense and led to his placement in Broadmoor (Biography).
How long was Ronnie Kray in Broadmoor?
He was in Broadmoor from 1968 (or reportedly 1979) until his death in 1995 — at least 16 years and possibly 27 years.
Did Ronnie Kray have a boyfriend?
Reports suggest he had relationships with men, but no confirmed long-term partner is documented in official records.
What happened to the Kray twins’ brother Charlie?
Charlie Kray died in 2000 of a heart attack (The Kray Twins Wiki).
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Richard Vane is Senior Reporter at MorningTimes.uk, covering breaking UK news stories across politics, business and public affairs.