Amastaa Rubio de Pascadera, Mexican Bandit & Avowed Serial Killer - 1887

FULL TEXT (Article 1 of 3): St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 18. – Senora Amastaa Rubio de Pascadera, a female bandit of renown, was buried by the side of her lover at San Antonio, Zacatecas, Mexico, yesterday. In her early womanhood her intended husband was killed by federal troops, and on his grave she swore vengeance. The oath was to kill five men every year of her life. She more than kept it. Her first exploit was to rob the Aguas Calientes stage near Zacatecas, and single handed she drove the postilions to flight, hailed the stage, and ordered a supposed band of assassins concealed in the chapparel not to shoot unless resistance was offered. The eight passengers gave a good booty. She continued a career of robbery for many years, which terrorized the citizens of Sinola, Jalisco, and Sonora, and enriched herself. The authorities and troops were powerless to suppress her. She bequeathed her fortune to charities, dying a natural death in obscurity.

[“The End Of A Female Bandit. – She Swore to Kill Five Men a Year and More Than Kept It.” The Paterson Daily Press (N. J.), Dec. 19, 1887, p. 1]

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FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 3): The death is announced of one of the most remarkable women that Mexico has ever produced. Notwithstanding her strange and perilous career, she attained a ripe old age, and became one of the wealthiest women in the Republic. This woman was Senora Amastio Rubio de Pascadero. In her early womanhood she devoted her time to robbery, and if half the reports regarding her career are true, it is no wonder that she left a large fortune at her death. One of her notable exploits was a stage robbery in the State of Zacatecas. One night she dressed herself in men’s clothing, and mounting a horse, rode from San Antonio to the Zacatecas and Agnes Calientes stage road, where she waited in a grove for the south-bound stage to pass. As the postillions came up she commanded them with revolver in hand to stop, put out their torches and fall to the rear of the coach, which was a few yards behind them. She then advanced upon the driver and keeper, who were made to dismount expecting every moment to be shot from ambush, as she kept saying: “Don’t shoot unless they resist.”

The passengers, eight in number, who were inside the stage, were led to believe from the road agent’s talk that an armed party was in the brush, and when she came up and demanded their money, watches and jewelry they lost no time in obeying her. She then bade the passengers good night, and, after admonishing them not to move within half an hour, disappeared within the grove.

During her career she killed a great many men, and for many years was a terror to the people of Sinaloa, Salisco and Sonora. Government troops and State troops chased her, but could never entrap her. It was said that the reason she gave for adopting such a mode of  life was the murder by Federal troops of her intended husband years ago, when she was in her teens. She then made a vow that she would kill or ruin five men for every year she lived. She was one of the most noted bandits Mexico ever produced, although she was a woman. Before her death she related her strange history and bequeathed her immense fortune to charities. At her request she was buried beside her dead lover in her native town.

[“A Female Bandit.” (from New York Sun.), The Abbeville Press and Banner (S. C.), Jan. 4, 1888, p. 7]

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EXCERPT (Article 3 of 3): The New World, however, particularly that portion settted and inhabited by the Spanish, has not been without bandits who were “ornaments to their profession.” Five years ago Senora Amastia Rubio de Pascadero died on her ranch in the State of Sonora, Mexico. She had attained a ripe old age and was very rich. When young she devoted her time to robbery, and if half the reports regarding her career are true, it is no wonder that she left a large fortune at her death.

Among her notable exploits was a stage robbery in. the State, of Zacatecas. One night she dressed herself in men's clothing, and, mounting a horse, rode from San Antonio to the Zacatecas and Aguas Calientes stage road, where she waited in a grove for the southbound stage to pass. As the postilions came up she commanded them, with revolver in hand, to halt, put out their torches and fall to the rear of the coach, which, was a few yards behind them. She then advanced upon the driver and keeper, who were made to dismount, expecting every moment to be shot from ambush, as she kept saying, '”Don't shoot, unless they resist.”

The passengers, eight- in number, who were inside the stage, were led to believe from the female road agent's talk that an armed party was in the brush; and, whan she came up and demanded their money, watches, and jewellery, they lost no time in obeying her. She then bade the passengers good night; and, after admonishing them not to move for half an hour, disappeared in the grove.

During her career she killed several men, and for years was a terror to the people of Siualoa, Jalsico, and Sonora. Government troops and state troops chased her, but could not entrap her. It was said that the reason she gave for adopting such a mode of life was the murder by soldiers of her intended husband when she was in her teens. She then made a vow that she would kill or ruin five men for every year she lived. She was one of the most noted bandits Mexico ever produced. Before her death she related her strange history and bequeathed her fortune to charities. At her request she was buried beside her dead lover in her native town, San Antonio.

[“Nineteenth Century Bandits- A Famous Corsican.- A Pair of Brothers. - .What drove Them To The Bush. – A Female Bandit - Who Amassed Wealth.” Evening News  Supplement (Sydney, NSW, Australia), 24 Sep 1892 , p. 1]

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For similar cases, see: Female Serial Killer Bandits

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