Gloria Greenfield, Serial Baby-Killing Mom – Ohio, 1971 (Charged in 2002)

Gloria Greenfield – formerly Gloria Jean Woods – is suspected of murdering four of her own babies, although evidence was only sufficient to try her for two homicides. The only child born to the Woods couple to survive was the child who was given the name of her mother, Gloria.

The original coroner reports stated that all had died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), a controversial non-diagnosis diagnosis, which in reality translated to “I don’t know what killed the child but I need some sort of label anyway.”

A reexamination of the four deaths resulted in a determination that the originally recorded of cause of death was only justified for one of the deaths, that of Joseph (2 months), who is thought to have died of pneumonia. Another, 28-day old Melissa, was ruled “undetermined. The new cause of death ruling was asphyxia for the other two: Theodore Woods (17 days), on Feb. 8, 1970 and Regina Woods (15 days), who died Mar. 5, 1971.

In 2000 her surviving daughter, Gloria Bennight, became suspicious and ordered death records on her dead siblings. Gloria had herself, when she was an infant, stopped breathing on two occasions – when 44 days and 80 days old – and was rushed to the hospital. Officials noted Bennight’s unusual request and in turn began investigating.

On Febrary 4, 2002, Gloria Greenfield, 53 years old, pleaded not guilty at her arraignment, yet on March 22 changed her plea at a subsequent hearing to guilty in a plea deal allowing the dismissal of one homicide charge: the March 9, 1969 death of Melissa Woods (28 days old). The prosecuting attorney stated the apparent motive was insurance payoffs:  $2,000 to $3,000 for each baby.

Gloria Bennight wept at the hearing and read a statement directed to her mother, saying: “You’re still my mom, I love you with all my heat and soul.”

Greenfield was sentenced to 1-20 years in prison, allowing parole as early as 10 months.

[Robert St. Estephe]

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Chronology:

Feb. 1969 – Joseph Woods (2 months), died in hospital; pneumonia; regarded as accurate cause of death.

Feb. 1969 – Melissa Woods (28 days) , died in hospital; charges dismissed; later ruled “undetermined.”

Feb. 8, 1970 – Theodore Woods (17 days), died in crib; later ruled asphyxia.

Mar. 5, 1971 – Regina Woods (15 days) , died in crib; later ruled asphyxia.

Feb. 4, 2002 – arraignment, plea of not guilty; Warren, Ohio.

Apr. 22, 2002 – Gloria Greenfield pleads guilty. Sentenced to 1-20 years in prison (allowing parole as early as 10 months).

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Based on information in:

[Joe Milicia, “Mother charged in three babies deaths 30 years later,” Daily News (Bowling Green, Ky.), Apr. 2, 2002, p. 10A]

[“Mother pleads guilty to killing,” The Bryant Times (Oh.), Apr. 23, 2003, p. 8]

 

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For more cases of this type, see Serial Baby-Killer Moms.

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[1524-1/8/21]

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Irene Becker, Serial Killer Nurse – Germany, 2006

Nurse Irene Becker – who tended to seriously ill patients in the cardiology ward of Charité hospital in Berlin, Europe’s biggest university hospital – liked to play God. Many of her patients had, even with the best of care, not long to live. But with the kind of care Becker offered to her chosen targets their days were ended abruptly, according to Becker’s whim.

The nurse’s boss and coworkers, even though they knew she abused patients and that suspicious deaths occurred when she was around, let her get away with it. But with the worst of care, the sort provided by Nurse Becker, their days were cut short abruptly. Following the investigation of 15 deaths of patients associated with Becker, Hospital Director Gert Baumann “came in for manifold criticism throughout the trial for failing to raise the alarm earlier.”

At the murder trial Presiding Judge Gert Faust harshly criticized the hospital governors and nurses for failing to report abuse and irregularities surrounding Becker’s patients. Her method was to inject her victims with an overdose of antihypertensive or sedative drugs that she would administer even while physicians were busy with efforts to revive the patient.

Becker was tried in April 2007 for the murder of six people and the attempted murder of two others between June 2005 and October 2006. Her motive was unclear. Becker eventually confessed that she killed four patients and asserted she did so out of sympathy, only wanting to relieve pain. “I acted in the interests of my patients,” she testified early in the trial. “I acted according to their wishes.”

The court found this explanation implausible and rejected the notion that patients requested to be euthanized by her. “State prosecutor Thorsten Neudeck alleged the nurse had given one male patient a lethal injection in 2005 simply because she was angry that he would not calm down.” In another case, the husband was in the room when Becker gave his wife the deadly injection. He testified that if he had known what was in store for his wife he would have slapped the nurse’s hand away.”

Becker, 54,  was convicted of five murders on June 29, 2007 and sentenced to life in prison.

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Charité (hospital), Berlin.

Brigitte Raddatz - prosecutor.

Pater Faust, Chairman of Superior Court 22 (Vorsitzende der 22. Großen Strafkammer).

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Jun. 2005 - Oct. 2006 – murders, in the cardiology ward of Berlin’s Charité hospital.

Oct. 4, 2006 – “The clinic had turned the criminal police on 4 October 2006 after suspicions. Since then, the woman is in custody.”

Apr. 2007 – When she went on trial in April, she admitted to four killings, and her lawyer argued that they were the lesser crime of manslaughter.

Jun. 29, 2007 – 54 year-old Irene Becker sentenced; been jailed for life for murdering five patients.

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[“Urteil im Charité-Prozess: Lebenslange Haft für Todes-Schwester,” Stern (Germany), Jun. 29, 2007]

[“German Nurse Sentenced to Life for Killing Patients,” DW (English) (Germany), Jun. 29, 2006]

[The Associated Press, “German Nurse Convicted of Murders,” The Washington Post (D.D.),  Jun. 29, 2007]

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For more cases, see Sicko Nurses

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[1372-1/16/21]

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Kelly Marie Cochran, Suspected Serial Killer, 2016, Indiana

Kelly Marie Cochran, 33, of Indiana is charged with two murders in two states. Investigation continues. In Crystal Falls, Michigan the Iron County prosecuting attorney, Melissa Powell, has filed court papers noting that other possible murders are to be investigated. Powell stated that Cochran has "claimed responsibility for the deaths of other individuals, which, if true, make her a serial killer." She is currently held in Michigan in the Iron County Jail on a $5 million cash bond, charged with six felonies, including murder.  She was captured in Kentucky and voluntarily extradited to Michigan to face charges. There she is charged with:

-Homicide, open murder for the death of Christopher Karl Regan
-Second-degree home invasion
-Conspiracy to commit dead bodies – disinterment & mutilation
-Concealing the death of an individual
-Lying to a police officer
-Accessory after the fact to a felony

Investigators believe that Corcoran, together with the husband, had plotted a staged “caught in the act” murder of her 53-old boyfriend, Christopher Regan. On October 13, 2014, she lured Regan with a promise of sex and Jason Cochran, 37, shot the man in the head with a .22 shotgun. Husband Jason, using an electric hand saw, cut up the body. They put the remains in trash bags and drove to the Iron River where in the woods they distributed the bags. Police recovered from the woods “a human skull with an apparent bullet hole, bones and bone fragments. Police also recovered a .22 caliber rifle, a .22 caliber bullet, and a pair of glasses.”

Following her April 18 arrest in Kentucky where she had fled, Cochran was “interrogated by both Michigan and Indiana police for almost 70 hours.” Cochran confessed to murdering her husband. She injected him with heroin and then choked him to death. He was dead in under 60 seconds. She told police "I still hate him (her husband), and yes, it was revenge. I evened the score,” referencing the earlier murder, which she apparently later regretted. She added that before Regen was killed she had considered dropping the plan and killing her husband instead.

Investigation may or not substantiate Ms. Cochran’s allusion to previous murders at her hand. One should note that Miranda Barbour of Pennsylvania, who committed a murder on November 11, 2013, made a grandiose confession to having previously murdered at least 22 others. But the claim, after investigation, was discredited.

[Robert St. Estephe]

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Kelly Marie Cochran, 33, “of Merrillville, Indiana.”

Earlier crimes – "claimed responsibility for the deaths of other individuals, which, if true, make her a serial killer."

Oct. 13, 2014 – Christopher Regan, 53, murdered with shotgun, dismembered, Iron River, Mi.

Feb. 20, 2016 – Jason Cochran, 37, murdered, Hobart, Indiana; “asphyxia due to strangulation that was complicated by heroin intoxication.” Found dead Feb. 20. “Cochran confessed to killing Jason Cochran, her husband of 13 years. Cochran told police she delivered an overdose of heroin to her husband on Feb. 20, and put her hands on his neck, nose and mouth. According to reports, Cochran told police he died less than a minute later.”

Mar. 15, 2015 – “When police searched her home with the FBI in March, 2015, they found nothing.”

Apr. 2016 – “According to the document, Cochran has an alleged prior mental health history, which includes a voluntary admission to a psychiatric facility in Indiana a month ago [in April, 2016].”

Apr. 26, 2016 – “According to the Post-Tribune, Cochran fled Northwest Indiana without telling family members on April 26, about nine weeks after her husband's death and around the time Michigan authorities charged her in Regan's death.”

Apr. 28, 2016 – arrested in Wingo, Kentucky, where she had fled from Hobart, Ind.

Apr. 29, 2016 – “Following her arrest in Kentucky, Cochran spoke with police on April 29 and provided details in the killing of Regan and directed them to recovery of evidence in the case.”

May 3, 2016 – Graves County Jail in Mayfield, Kentucky; Cochran signed extradition papers that will bring her from Mayfield, Graves County, Kentucky to Crystal Falls, Iron County, Michigan.

May 16, 2016 – arrived in Mi. on extradition; formally charged in Iron County, Mi. Pleased not guilty.

May 23, 2016 – “During a May 23 interview with Hobart Detective Jeremy Ogden, Cochran said she blamed her husband for taking "the only good thing I had in my life," court records state. "I still hate him (her husband), and yes, it was revenge. I evened the score," records quote her as saying.”

Aug. 12, 2016 – charged with murder of Jason Cochran. Superior Court of Lake County, Ind.

Sep. 13, 2016 – “Kelly Cochran is set to appear for a preliminary exam in Iron County on September 13th.”

 

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[Jerry DeRoche,“Cochran charged in husband’s death,” Iron County Reporter (Mi.), Aug. 17, 2016]

 [“New details in murder case link suspect to possible serial killings,” ABC10 News (WBUP/WBKP – Marquette, Michigan), May 17, 2016]

[Melissa Locker, “Is This Indiana Woman a Serial Killer?” Rolling Stone, Aug. 17, 2016]

[“Kelly Cochran charged in husband's heroin death,” UPMatters.com, Aug. 15, 2016]

 

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[4571-1/9/21]

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Antonie Staskova, Serial Baby-Killer Mom – 2007, Czech Republic

Antonie Staskova is a chronic child abuser. Two of her sons died before they reached the age of one – Radek in 1989 and David in 1992. Though one of the boys had a broken rib and arm the official cause of death was given as accidental suffocation. After the brutal 2007 murder by stabbing of her 5-year-old son, Honzíka Rokos, the earlier investigations were reopened by the regional prosecutor’s office. Another abused child, Stašková, was removed from Antoine’s custody and raised by the girl’s grandmother,

• Parental kidnapping.

On May 27, 2007, the boy’s father, Roman Rokos, dropped of the child with the mother and her boyfriend, Paul Grepl. The trio then disappeared. The frantic father went through all the proper legal channels to get help in finding and retrieving his boy. In August police began searching for the missing boy. By December 5 an “extraordinary” search was launched. It was only four days later that his mother murdered him. It is believed she was motivated by hatred for the child’s father.

• Murder of Honzíka Rokos

It was a bizarre murder. Antonie was dominant and easily manipulated the emotionally dependant boyfriend, Paul Grepl. She told him she wanted to kidnap her son and kill him and herself. This was in May, seven months before the murder. Boyfriend was put to work to help Antonie in her project. Paul dutifully prepared by digging a grave in Moravia, then he dug another in Usti nad Labem, and then it seemed necessary to change locations and did yet another in the same town.

On December 7 they took the child to one of the prepared pits. According to Paul, whom the prosecutors believed, Antonine injected her son’s right forearm injection of air and then took her knife stabbed him twice. Then she began to suffocate him. They removed the boy, who despite the grotesque attacks was still alive. It is estimated that the boy, writing in excruciating pain, live two or three hours longer.

Paul Gepl, at trial, described a hellish scene. The mother down in the pit Paul had dug for the purpose, held the child, talking to him holding his hand while she stabbing him over a period of “tens of minutes.” He said to his torturer: “Mother do not worry, I will not die.” After a while she lifted the child from the intended grave and deposited him in the backseat of her car. The boy wailed and moaned that it hurts. Paul, ever helpful, clapped his hand to his mouth to keep him quiet.

The prosecutor described Atonine and Paul’s conduct as a display of utter cynicism and disrespect for life. “They sat in their car while behind them the child died. He wailed and moaned, and although now she claims to love him, no one did nothing to save him,” she said.

It was a routine random police check of parked cars that led to the discovery of the murder. The boy was dead when they found him.

• Trial

At the trial Antonine denied she did the deed. She admitted only that boys inserted the syringe with air into the boy’s arm, claiming she did not hit a vein.

Antonie Stašková and Paul Grepl sat quietly throughout the trial. Grepl stared into the country and Stašková bit her lip.

The pair blamed the boy’s father for their crime, harboring the belief that he would have kept the mother from her child. Paul claimed he loved the boy as his own son.

On August 11, 2008 Antonie Stašková maintained her innocence, yet  was convicted of murder and sentenced to 24 years in prison.  Pavel Grepl pleaded guilty to suffocation and received a sentence of 20 years.

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Antonie Stašková, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic

Stašková – daughter survived, in custody of grandmother, Sonya Gubišová.

Roman Rokos – father of Honzíka Rokos, 5.

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1989 – Radek (younger than 12 mo), choked. Suspected murder.

1992 – David (younger than 12 mo), choked. Suspected murder. One of the two boys had a broken arm.

May 25, 2007 – parental kidnapping; Roman Rokos handed a five-year son’s wife that he should have for the weekend. Since then he is seen him.

Jun. 4, 2007 – The court issued a preliminary injunction according to which Jan Rokos should be entrusted to the care of his father.
Jul. 22, 2007 – Roman Rokos visited the police in Kynzvart and demanded his son, who was, according to his information the mother.
Jul. 23, 2007 – Antonie Stašková his son visited Kynžvart police claiming they no longer hadf the boy.
Aug. 2007 – Police launched a search after Jan Rokos.

Dec. 9, 2007 – Honzíka Rokos (or, Jan Rokos), 5; murdered by Antonie Stašková and Pavel Grepl. His body was buried, but later [returned to him?].
Dec. 28, 2007 - Police officers found when checking Antonie Staškova and Paul Grepl in Czech goldsmiths in the Most car body of a murdered child. Body found in Zlatníky.
Dec. 29, 2007 - Police have accused Antonie Staškova and Paul Grepl murder.

Aug. 11, 2008 – Antonie Stašková Sentenced to 24 years, Grepl sentenced to 20 years. Pavel Grepl pleaded guilty to suffocation.

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[“Policie vyšetří i smrt dalších dětí vražedkyně,” (“Police investigate death of other children murderess”), Týden.cz, Jan. 2, 2008]

[Ian Willoughby, “Woman charged with murder of child suspected of previous killing of other two sons, Rasdio Praha (English), Jan. 3, 2008]

[Rudolf Prchal, “Pětiletého Jana Rokose jsem zadusil, aby netrpěl, řekl u soudu Grepl,” (I choked Five-year-old Jan Rokos to stop his suffering, said Grepl in court”), Novinsky.cz, Aug. 11, 2008]

[Jitka Hrušková, “Vražedkyně, která zabila své dítě, sedí v opavské věznici.” (“Murderess who killed her child sitting in Opava Prison”), Denikcz, Feb. 17, 2009]

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For more cases of this type, see Serial Baby-Killer Moms 

 

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[2429-1/16/21]

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Aino Nykopp-Koski, Serial Killer Nurse – Finland, 2009

Finnish Wikipedia (loose translation): Aino Annikki Gretel Nykopp-Koski (b. 1950 ) is a Finnish serial killer nurse who assaulted, attempted to murder and murdered murdered a number of her patients in 2004-2009. Previous to her arrest for the series murders and other crimes, Nykopp-Koski had been convicted of theft of drugs and the property of her patients. The crimes took place in hospitals, care centers and in the patients own homes.

Police began investigating Nykopp in March 2009 after the one of her patients, a 80-year-old woman, was nearly killed by poisoned yogurt. She was saved by doctors at The victim of an old woman were rescued Mary's Hospital (Marian sairaalassa). Investigation of this poisoning led police to evidence of a long series of similar poisonings of patients under Nykopp’s care. Nykopp denied responsibility for the poisonings which in a number of cases resulted in death. She tried to attribute the deaths to the patients’ having mistakenly, or deliberately, overdosed themselves but police did not accept her story and placed her under arrest. An extensive investigation resulted in multiple charges of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, theft and drug violations.

On May 14, 2010 Nykopp was found guilty by The Helsinki District Court of five murders, six attempted murders and two counts of aggravated assault. The court ordered a psychological examination in order to make a proper sentence decision. “Psychiatric examinations concluded in November the nurse fully understood the consequences of her actions even though she suffered from [an antisocial] personality disorder, and could thus be deemed responsible for the murders.” On December 22, 2010, Helsinki District Court sentenced her to life imprisonment. Nykopp appealed in 20011 and on March  29, 2012 the Helsinki Court of Appeal upheld the rulings.

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List of crimes:

Jun. 22, 2004 – woman, 81, murdered.

Jun. 5, 2005 – man, 70, murdered.

Jun. 23, 2005 – aggravated assault; poisoned a colleague’s coffee.

Feb. 2006 – attempted murder, drugged woman, 91; possessions stolen. City of Helsinki. Agency: Care Services Chickweed Oy.

Oct. 26, 2006 – aggravated assault, drugged woman, 83. Home care; VKTL Services Ltd.

Oct. 27, 2006 – attempted murder, drugged man, 85. Home care; VKTL Services Ltd.

Nov. 22, 2006 – attempted murder, drugged woman, 83; VKTL Services Ltd.

Oct. 2007 – attempted murder, woman, 75; VKTL Services Ltd

Mar. 8, 2008 – murder, woman, 90 [poisoning began Feb. 25]; property stolen.

Aug. 31, 2008 – attempted murder, 77-year-old woman; possessions stolen.

Feb. 13, 2009 – woman, 77, murdered; lid Koti Helsinki Foundation for Seniors.

Mar. 2009 – attempted murder; woman, 80. “the nurse had prepared jugurttiannoksen [yogurt], mixed with a variety of life-threatening drugs.”

List based on source: [Rikos Julkaistu, “Näihin myrkytyksiin perushoitaja katsottiin syylliseksi,” (“Nurse found guilty of these poisonings”), MTV Internet (Finland), May 14, 2010]

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[“Finnish nurse gets life for murdering five patients,” The Telegraph (London, England), Dec. 22, 2010]

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For more cases, see Sicko Nurses

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[1291-1/16/21]

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Dana Stodolova, Serial Killer Bandit – Czech Republic, 2003

For over a year in 2001-2002 Czech serial killer couple Dana Stodolová (29) and husband Jaroslav Stodolová (33) preyed upon elderly neighbors and other old folks they take short trips to find. They were after money but often found it convenient to murder those they stole from. They murdered at least six though strangling, smothering or stabbing to death. One of the murders was committed by Dana on her own in which she stabbed her victim, Mary Čondlovou (78) of Henry Hradec, to death.

They were arrested Feb. 3, 2003 for a robbery and confessed to the theft. The stolen goods turned over to police tied the couple to other crimes, robberies involving murder, and their series of robbery-killings was able to be reconstructed. They were convicted on April 26, 2004 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Following is a resume of their crimes:

• On September 30, 2001, the masked duo robbed Alois Miškovského (77) of Chabeřice of 160 crowns. They left the victim tied up. He was not found for two days and died less than a year following the attack.

• November 16, 2001, staying with Dana’s mother in Slavošov, they robbed a neighbor Jaroslava Šanda (75). The retrieved 40,000 crowns but the victim managed to pull the nylon stocking from Jaroslav face. Jaroslav strangled him to death so he would not be identified. They put the body in bed and surrounded it with lighted candle as a way of burning the house in a delayed manner. The autopsy was faulty and missed signs of strangulation.

• November 28, 2001: Another neighbor, Růženy Skohoutilové (68) was robbed of jewels and 50,000 crowns cash by the couple. The victim was asphyxiated with a scarf and pillows and buried the body buried in the garden, along with several documents and articles of daily use that they thought, by their absence, would create the impression that the woman had traveled somewhere. About 6 months later her son in law was constructing green houses he discovered the body. Police erroneously attributed the crime to a trio who had recently committed another murder.

• April 30, 2002: In the village Měchonice they attacked Antonína (66) and  Mary Krále (62). They strangled their victims and turned on the stove’s gas so that the deaths would be thought accidental asphyxiation. Autopsies failed to note strangulation.

• August 11, 2002: In Chabeřice the pair broke into the home of Růženy (78) and Václav (85) Hromasových, who were known to the criminals because they had in the part lent them money. They tied the woman up and Dana began to strangle her with a towel and panties, which picked up a clothesline. The husband was awakened and Dana, holding a knife, threatened to kill his wife unless he told them where their money was. The made of with 21,000 crowns. They left the victims alive.

• September 14, 2002:  Dana committed a murder on her own in Henry Hradec. She expressed in terest in finding a job and a place to stay. She won tthe confidence of Mary Čondlovou (78), and was allowed to stay in her home. The following day when her benefactor came home Dana attacked her and tied her to a chair, demanding money. When Čondlová refused, Dana gagged the woman, struck her twice on the head with a rolling pin [?] and then stabbed four times in the chest with her knife.
 

• October 28, 2002:  in Slavošov the attacked Joseph Malin (81), who lived in the house opposite them. Malina had often publicly boasted that he had saved a large sum of money. The knocked on his door and Jaroslav stunned him with a sharp blow to the head knocking him down. They then attempted to hang the victim from the rafters using a telephone cable, but it snapped. They attempted the procedure again with success. The intention was to simulate suicide. They made off with 2 million crowns [?]. Investigators classified the death as suicide.

• December 2, 2002, the Stodolovás broke into the home of Bozena Cerháková (92) and his daughter Helen (52) in Brněnec and another daughter who was visiting, Dagmar Weiss (62). The couple had heard Helena was preparing to buy a house so they assumed she was flush with cash. After they forced Helen to reveal where the money was hidden the killing began. Dagmar [?] was strangled with a scarf. Bozena was smothered with a pillow but not completely. Helen was strangled in the bathtub. Dana sliced the woman’s wrists to simulate suicide. The intention was to set the scene of a deadly family quarrel ending in the suicide of the killer. Bozena survived the attack, and but offered police a disjointed testimony, in which he identified only Jaroslav. Jaroslav was questioned but did not confess and there was a lack of evidence.

• February 3, 2003: They robbed a rich retiree, Joseph Peroutka (78) in Onšovec. Jaroslav asked the man for some water for a pregnant wife whom he said had fainted. The robbers locked their victim in the basement and rushed their search, found no money, and left with only a stolen mobile phone and some sweets. The old man was found and freed by police the following day. The officer already know the couple and was able to be confident they were the culprits. He charged them with the robbery. The stolen goods they turned over provided evidence tying them to the double murder in Brněnec. Eventually they confessed to the series of robberies and murders outlined here.

Note: Effort has been made to accurately convey the facts based on the Czech Wikipedia entry on the case. Please notify us if errors are detected.

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Dana Stodolová (born Bábíková) (b. Jul. 19, 1970).

Jaroslav Stodolová (b. May 8, 1966 ).

Home: Kutna Hora, Czech Republic.

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1988 – couple meet.

YEAR? – Couple married.

Sep. 30, 2001 – Alois Miškovského (77), in Chabeřice. Assault; died months later.

Nov. 16, 2001 – Jaroslava Šandu Šanda (75), in Slavošov; strangled.

Nov. 28, 2001 – Růženy Skohoutilové (68); strangled.

Apr. 30, 2002 – Antonína Krále (66) & Mary Krále (62), in Měchonice; husband strangled; wife asphyxiated with gas fumes.

Aug. 11, 2002 – Růženy (78) & Václav (85) Hromasových, in Chabeřice; no deaths. Convicted of robbery. (suspended sentence?)

Sep. 14, 2002 – Mary Čondlovou (78), in Henry Hradec; died from 4 knife wounds.

Oct. 28, 2002 – Josefa Malinu (81), in Slavošov; hanged to appear suicide.

Dec. 2, 2002 – Bozena Cerháková (92) & daughter Helen (52), daughter Dagmar Weiss (62), in Brněnec; 3 murders made to sppear murder suicide committed by victim.

Feb. 3, 2003 – arrested; “without the usual fierce denial is time to act confessed voluntarily and completely released and stolen things.”

April 26, 2004 – sentenced to life imprisonment by Hradec Kralove Regional Court; “the two were married by the Regional Court in Hradec Kralove.”

2006 – they were in the absence of mutual consent divorce.

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Links to more Serial Killer Couples

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For similar cases, see: Female Serial Killer Bandits

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MORE: Female Serial Killers & Arson

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[1176-4/12/20]
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Sylvie Coulon, Serial Baby-Killing Mom – 1988, France

On October 2, 1988, Sylvie Coulon, a French pediatric nurse aid, pregnant at the time, was called in by the Limoges police for questioning. They had been tipped off four months earlier by an anonymous phone call to Coulon’s four-year long habit of getting pregnant and yet never seeming to have a baby to be show for her efforts. She confessed to killing newborns in 1984, 1985, 1986 and early 1988. Coulon told the prosecutor she did the deeds because she was ''alone and broke.'' She also said that though she was pregnant a fifth time she wanted to allow the child to live. On March 12, 1988 Sylvie Coulon, 27, was convicted to 12 years in prison for killing four of her new born babies.

[Robert St. Estephe]

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12 mars 1990 : Sylvie Coulon, 27 ans, aide-puéricultrice, est condamnée à 12 ans de réclusion à Limoges. Elle avait jeté quatre nouveau-nés aux ordures. 

[“Plusieurs cas d'infanticides multiples ces dernières années,” lefigaro.fr, 28/07/2010]

http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2010/07/28/01016-20100728ARTFIG00537-plusieurs-cas-d-infanticides-multiples-ces-dernieres-annees.php

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For more cases of this type, see Serial Baby-Killer Moms.

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[863-1/14/21]

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Marie-Françoise Buisson, Serial Baby-Killing Mom – France, 1989

The following note is the only report on this case that has been located so far.

December 14, 1990 – Marie-Françoise Buisson, 27, radio hostess, is sentenced to to 8 years imprisonment for killing four newborns between 1982 and 1989.

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EXCERPT: 14 décembre 1990 : Marie-Françoise Buisson, 27 ans, animatrice de radio, est condamnée à 8 ans de réclusion à Limoges pour avoir tué quatre nouveau-nés entre 1982 et 1989. 

[“Plusieurs cas d'infanticides multiples ces dernières années,” lefigaro.fr, 28/07/2010]

http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2010/07/28/01016-20100728ARTFIG00537-plusieurs-cas-d-infanticides-multiples-ces-dernieres-annees.php

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For more cases of this type, see Serial Baby-Killer Moms.

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[842-1/9/21]

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Michele Kalina, Serial Baby-Killing Mom – Pennsylvania, 2010

 

Michele Kalina, 44, of Reading, Pennsylvania, did not just have a skeleton in the closet, she had five of them and 19-year-old daughter Elizabeth discovered them. Mom had always warned Elizabeth and her dad Jeffrey to stay away from the closet and for two years she did. But one day in July 2010 she looked in and then decided it needed to be cleaned out. What she found shocked her and she called police. Elizabeth told them she had found human remains in a cooler.

 

“Officers arrived, but told Elizabeth and her dad, Jeffrey Kalina, that these were not human remains. So the cops left and the Kalinas threw them in the trash.” But that evening father and daughter found more, three “suspicious” containers, one of which was filled to the top with cement. “

 

A week later police searched the apartment again, this time finding bones in a plastic bag and a letter Jeffrey’s wife Michelle had written to her boyfriend seven years before, saying she’d had a baby girl in 2003, but that she’d given it to the Catholic church for adoption.”

 

X-ray examination showed that the cement encased “an unknown mass”; it turns out the mass was the remains of a baby. August 8 was the day that the bones were determined to be human and Michele Kalina was arrested. She was with charged with two counts of abuse of a corpse and held on $5 million bail.

 

Investigation showed that the children were the product of a 14-year-long affair. The married couple had not been intimate since 1992. Six times between 1996 and 2000 Michele managed to explain away her weight gain –  convincing husband, daughter and boyfriend (a co-worker) her heftiness was not the result of pregnancy. claiming she had a cyst on her fallopian tubes. Yet she had Michelle gave birth to the five babies between 1996 and 2000. Then she either killed them or allowed them to die, keeping their remains in her family’s apartment. In actuality Michele had given birth to six of the man’s children -- three boys, and two girl, and another baby of unidentifiable sex. All but for a girl given up for adoption were killed immediately after birth which took place in the bathtub.

 

Psychiatrist Dr. Jerome Gottlieb stated that Kalina remembers little about the birth and death of the five newborns. When talking about them “she shows no emotion. It’s like she is talking about someone else.” Alcoholic Kalina was drunk during the births. She pretended the children were not born alive. “At first she said she gave birth to stillborns,” Gottlieb said. “She referred to all five of these babies as fetuses, emotionally detaching herself.” “She could not explain why she chose to put the babies in a container and then in the closet,” he said. Kalina claimed she “preserved the remains of the dead babies to remind her of her shame for having the affair.”

 

On Oct. 26, 2010 Michele Kalina was charged with five murders. On Dec. 10 was arraigned on charges of homicide, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, reckless endangerment, and abuse of a corpse. She pled not guilty. But at trial she finally entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced by the Berks County judge to between 20 and 40 years in prison. At the trial Jeffrey Kalina testified “that he still loves his wife and plans to stay married to her.”

 

[Robert St. Estephe]

 

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EXCERPT: “She [Michelle Kalina] meets the definition of a serial killer,” said Bowen-Hartung, who specializes in forensic psychology and is chairwoman of psychology and counseling at Alvernia. “It’s not uncommon for a serial killer to keep them as trophies as remembrance,” she said of remains. “The babies were so young. She did not allow maternal attachments. This is a really weird case.” [Holly Herman, “Mystery of Michele Kalina: Reading infant homicides baffle experts,” Reading Eagle (Pa.), Oct. 31, 2010]

 

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Reading, Pennsylvania

 

Michelle Margaret Kalina, 44 at time of arrest. Some reports spell the name “Michelle.” “Michele,” however, is presumed to be the correct spelling.

 

Jeffrey Kalina – husband, 53 at time of discovery, but not the father of the murdered babies.

 

Elizabeth Kalina, 19-year-old daughter. Born 1991.

 

Andrew, Son – born with cerebral palsy, died at age 13, in 2000.

 

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1985 – Kalinas married.

1992 – Kalinas “stopped being intimate with one another in 1992.”

1996 – Authorities suspect the 5 births occurred between 1996 and 2010. Began intermittent affair with unnamed paramour in 1996. “They ranged in gestational age from 32 to 43 weeks old when they died, according to prosecutors.” Three boys, and girl, and another baby whose sex couldn’t be identified.

Oct. 2003 – at St. Joseph’s Medical Center and gave that child up for adoption, according to court documents.

Jul. 2010 – skeletons discovered by Elizabeth Kalina (19?) in closet. “One body was encased in concrete,” Berks County District Attorney John Adams said. “It was a very bizarre case. The others were wrapped in garbage bags.”

Jul. 29, 2010 – “a forensic anthropologist determined the remains found on July 29 were human.”

Aug. 8, 2010 – “Reading police arrested Kalina Monday [Aug. 8] evening after a forensic anthropologist determined the remains found on July 29 were human.” MK held on $5 million bail, charged with two counts of abuse of a corpse.

Aug. 11, 2010 – Gombar said police and county detectives on Wednesday [Aug. 11, 2010] removed the third set of remains from the cement block found in a 2-by-3-foot container. That container was found July 29, the same day investigators found the other two containers with remains. “We conducted an X-ray and it revealed there was an unknown mass in the cement block,” Gombar said. “We knew something was in the cement block.”

Oct. 26, 2010 – charged with 5 murders (as “date of arrest” error elsewhere).

Oct. 28, 2010 – Kalina was supposed to appear in Berks County District Court Oct. 28, for a preliminary hearing on charges that she murdered five of the infants, but the hearing was postponed.

Dec. 14, 2010 – pleads not guilty. Michele Kalina, 44, was arraigned on charges of homicide, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, reckless endangerment, and abuse of a corpse.

Aug. 4, 2011 – pleads guilty. A Berks County judge sentenced her to between 20 and 40 years in prison.

 

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[Sam Wood, “Remains of children found in cooler in woman’s home,” The Philadelphia Inquirer (Pa.), Aug. 10, 2010]

[Holly Herman, “3rd set of remains found in cement in apartment,” Reading Eagle (Pa.), Aug.13, 2010]

[Pete Kotz, “Michele Kalina, Married Mom, Charged With Secretly Killing 5 Babies She Had With Her Boyfriend,” TrueCrimeReport.com, Oct. 26, 2010]

[“Neighbor: Mom Accused of Killing 5 Babies Was 'Strange' AOL, Oct. 28, 2010] 

[Jessica Hopper, “Pennsylvania Mom Pleads Guilty to Murder After Baby Skeletons Found in Closet,” Abcnews.go.com, Aug. 4, 2011]

[Holly Herman, “Kalina pleads guilty to third-degree murder in death of infant,” Reading Eagle (Pa.), Aug. 4, 2011]

[Maryclaire Dale, “Michele Kalina hid baby remains; Sent to jail for 40 years in 

Pennsylvania,” DailyTelegraph.com.au Aug. 5, 2011]

[“Mother charged with murder after killing five of her newborn babies and keeping their bodies locked in a closet for 14 years,” DailyMail.co.uk, Oct. 26, 2010]

 

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For more cases of this type, see Serial Baby-Killer Moms.

 

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[1611-1/8/21]

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Kathleen Folbigg, Serial Baby-Killing Mom – Australia, 2001

EXCERPTS from Kathleen Folbigg’s diary:

• • With Sarah, all I wanted was her to shut up. And one day, she did.

• • Even though I'm responsible, it's alright. She accepts and is happy... She's a fairly good-natured baby, thank goodness - it saved her from the fate of her siblings. I think she was warned. …another one like Sarah. She saved her life by being different.

• • I feel like the worst mother on this earth, scared that she'll leave me now like Sarah did. I knew I was short-tempered, and cruel, sometimes, to her, and she left - with a bit of help.

• • …would like all my mistakes and terrible thinking be corrected and mean something, though. Obviously, I'm my father's daughter.

[from: “Of Woman Born,” Australian Story (ABC Radio, Australia), Mar. 15, 2004]

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Wikipedia: Kathleen Megan Folbigg (née Donovan) (born 14 June 1967) is an Australian serial child killer. Folbigg was convicted of murdering her three infant children, eight-month-old Patrick Allen, 10-month-old Sarah Kathleen and 19-month-old Laura Elizabeth. Folbigg was also convicted of the manslaughter of a fourth child, Caleb Gibson, aged 19 days. The murders took place between 1991 and 1999, coming to an end only when her husband discovered her personal diary, which detailed the killings.

Folbigg was originally sentenced to 40 years' jail, with a non-parole period of 30 years, but on appeal this was reduced to 30 years, with a non-parole period of 25 years. Folbigg maintains her innocence, claiming the four children died from natural causes.

• Early life

On 8 January 1969, Folbigg's biological father, Thomas John Britton, murdered her mother, also named Kathleen, by stabbing her 24 times. Following her father's arrest on the day after the murder, Folbigg was made a ward of the state and placed into foster care with a couple.

On 18 July 1970, Folbigg was removed from the care of the foster couple and placed into Bidura Children's Home.

In September 1970, Folbigg moved into a permanent foster care placement. This arrangement lasted until she was a young adult. She left school at the age of 15. In 1987 she married Craig Gibson Folbigg.

• MURDERS:

1) Caleb Gibson

Caleb Gibson Folbigg was born a healthy baby on 1 February 1989. Caleb was known to breathe noisily and was diagnosed by a paediatrician to be suffering from a mild case of laryngomalacia, something he would eventually outgrow. On 20 February 1989, Folbigg put Caleb to sleep in a room adjoining the room she shared with her husband. During the night, Caleb stirred from midnight until 2 a.m. Found by Folbigg, the death was attributed to Cot Death.

2) Patrick Allen

Patrick Allen Folbigg was born on 3 June 1990. Craig Folbigg remained at home to help care for his wife and baby for three months after the birth. On 18 October 1990, Folbigg put Patrick to bed. Craig Folbigg was awakened by the sounds of his wife screaming and found her standing at the baby's cot. He noticed the child wasn't breathing and attempted to revive him by cardiopulmonary resuscitation. An ambulance was called and Patrick was taken to hospital. Patrick would later be diagnosed to be suffering from epilepsy and cortical blindness. On 18 February 1991, Folbigg telephoned her husband at work, saying "It's happened again!"

3) Sarah Kathleen

The couple moved to Thornton in the City of Maitland. Sarah Kathleen Folbigg was born on 14 October 1992, and died on 29 August 1993.

4) Laura Elizabeth

In 1996, the couple moved to Singleton. On 7 August 1997, Laura Elizabeth Folbigg was born. On 27 February 1999, Laura died.

• Trial

Folbigg's trial lasted seven weeks. The prosecution alleged Folbigg murdered her four children by smothering them in periods of frustration. During a jury replay of Folbigg's police interview, she attempted to run from the court room.

The defence made the case that Kathleen did not kill or harm her children and that Kathleen did not think that Craig was responsible either. Although prosecution witnesses were concerned about the lack of prodromal (early warning) symptoms in any of the children, the defence posed natural explanations for the events such as Cot Death and, in the case of Laura's death, myocarditis. The defence highlighted that Folbigg was a caring mother, pointing to journal entries that showed the care and concern that she gave her children. Some of Laura's acquaintances gave statements to investigators about her caring nature.

The defence pointed out that there were no direct admissions to the killings in Folbigg's journal entries, and that any entries indirectly suggesting her responsibility could be chalked up to a typical grieving mother's guilt. Folbigg appeared genuinely distraught to ambulance and police responders to the scene. They pointed out that no physical evidence could link Folbigg to murder; it was an entirely circumstantial case with very little consensus among the scientific experts who testified at trial.

• Verdict

On 21 May 2003, Folbigg was found guilty by the Supreme Court of New South Wales jury of the following crimes: three counts of murder, one count of manslaughter and one count of maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm. On 24 October 2003, Folbigg was sentenced to 40 years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of 30 years.

• Appeal

On 17 February 2005, the court reduced her sentence to 30 years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of 25 years on appeal. Due to the nature of her crimes, Folbigg resides in protective custody to prevent possible violence by other inmates.

***

Feb. 21, 1989 – Caleb (20 days) murdered.
Oct. 18, 1990 – Patrick stopped breathing, was revived.
Feb. 18,1991 – Patrick (8 months) murdered.
Aug 29 1993 – Sarah Kathleen (10 months) murdered.
Feb. 27, 1999 Laura Elizabeth (18 mo) murdered.
April 19, 2001 – KF arrested.
May 21, 2003 – Folbigg was found guilty by the Supreme Court of New South Wales jury of the following crimes: three counts of murder, one count of manslaughter and one count of maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Oct. 24, 2003 – Folbigg was sentenced to 40 years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of 30 years.
Feb. 17, 2005 – the court reduced her sentence to 30 years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of 25 years on appeal.

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For more cases of this type, see Serial Baby-Killer Moms. 

 

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[1444-1/15/21]

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