Serial Killer Moms & Step-Moms who Murdered Children Aged 2 Years Or Older

This checklist is distinct from that which lists Female Serial Killers who serially murdered their own babies.

For those cases, see: Serial Baby-Killing Moms

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►►MOTHERS

►1st c BC – Princess Laodice of Cappadocia – Kingdom of Pontus, Anatolia

She poisoned to death 5 sons; the 6th was rescued before being murdered. 

►1825 – Françoise Bossard (Harand) – Brioux-sur-Boutonne, France.

3 victims:
Charles Harand (9)

Françoise-Aimée Harand

Virginie Harand (5)

►1835 – Margaret Jäger (Jager, Joye, Jaeyer, Jaeger) – Mentz, Swabia – murdered 3 daughters (2, 5, 10) & 5 others. (inheritance motive)

May 1825, her uncle.

June 1826, her mother, 68.

December 1830, her father, 70.

August, 1831, her husband, Jäger ("Jaeyer")

December 1831, daughter, 2

December 1831, daughter, 5

December 1831, daughter, 10

August, 1833, Renter ("Rentner"), the husband of her mistress, with her assistance.

►1844 – Eliza Joyce – Boston, England

Emma Joyce, step-daughter, 19-months, died Oct. 1841, (laudanum)

Ann Joyce, daughter, aged 6-weeks, Jan. 1812, (laudanum)

Edward William Joyce, step-son, of some years’ growth, arsenic

►1846 – Joseph & Mary  Pimlett – Runcorn, England; May 16, 1846; 2 own children, attempted to murder a 3rd. (life insurance proceeds).

James Pimlett, 10 months, died, Mar. 6, 1846

Richard Pimlett, died Mar. 21, 1846

Thomas Pimlett, 3 years 10-months-old, poisoned Mar. 27, 1846

►1847 – Mary Runkle – Oneida, New York, USA

5 suspected victims:

1831 – peddlar

1831 – Mary Margaret Runkle, age 6, drowned

1831 – Cornelius Runkle, age 3,  drowned

Year? (between 1831-1847) – son (age?)

1847? – John Runkle, husband

►1849 – Mary Anne Geering – Lewes, England – (“burial club” life insurance)

Richard Geering, husband, died

James Geering, son, died

George Geering, son, died

Benjamin Geering, son, survived

►1850 – Marie-Catherine Moitrier Segard (Ségard) – Nancy, France

Victims:

M. Marchal, first husband, died 1842

Anne Marie Florine Segard, 10-months-old, died Feb. 28, 1848

Anne Marie Florine Marchal, 8-years-old, died Feb. 28, 1848

Joseph Arsène Segard, son, 10-months-old, died Mar. 18, 1848

Constant Segard, son, died Mar. 28, 1848

Jean-Baptiste Segard, 37, second husband, died May 2, 1848

►1851 – Mary Emily Cage – Ipswich, England

5 of Mary Emily Cage’s 14 children died within a fortnight. She was hanged in August 1851.

►1860 – Elizabeth McCraney – New York & Wisconsin, USA

Her child #1, Ostego County, New York

Her child #2, Ostego County, New York

A previous husband

Resident #1 of Lancaster County, Wisconsin

Resident #2 of Lancaster County, Wisconsin

Huhlah McCraney, stepdaughter, 17

Mr. McCraney, husband

Thomas P. Burnett, brother-in-law

Mrs. Burnett (wife of Thomas)

Burnett daughter

►1869 – Mrs. Wahle – Jacksonville, Illinois, USA

Mrs. Wahle murdered (5 children ages not stated, except for the last to die: 11 mo.)

►1871 – Ann Burns – Wigan, Lancashire, England

3 victims: step-father & 2 own children

►1871 – Charlotte Lamb – Trimbelle, Wisconsin, USA

Victims:

Mrs. Carr – friend, poisoned in Fall 1871, survived; subsequent poisonings, survived.

Chauncey S. Lamb, husband – died Sep. 18, 1871.

Mrs. Lamb, Chauncey’s first wife – suspected murder.

Woman, friend of widower Chauncey Lamb – suspected murder.

Orrin (Daniel) S. Lamb, son, 18 – died May 24, 1872.

Sarah A. Lamb, daughter – died June 24, 1872.

Irene Hall Ottoman – neighbor, died Aug. 3, 1872; 2 separate poisonings.

Royal Garland, 32 – employer (C. L. was his cook), died Aug. 15, 1872.

Sears, boy – friend of Orrin, poisoned, survived.

►1871 – Lydia Sherman – New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Edward Struck – husband # 1

Martha Struck, 6, her own child

Edward Struck Jr., almost 4, her own child

William Struck, 9 months, her own child

Dennis Hurlburt, husband # 2

Horatio N. Sherman, husband # 3

Ada Sherman, her own child

Frankie Sherman, her own child.

►1872 – Emily Lloyd – Leesburg, Virginia, USA

Suspected Murder Victims:

1870 – Charles E. Lloyd, husband, died.

Jul. 24, 1870 – Henry, son (10), died.

Jul. 25, 1870 – George, son (8), died.

Summer 1871 – Mrs. Hammerly, elderly aunt of Mrs. L., from Washington.

Feb. 16, 1872 – Annie, daughter (5), died.

Mar. 25, 1872 – Maud, daughter (age?), died.

►1873 – Mary Ann Cotton – West Auckland, Durham, England

Husband 1: William Mowbray January 1865.
Husband 2: George Ward – married in Monkwearmouth on Aug. 28, 1865; died Oct. 1866.
her 3½-year-old daughter Mowbray died.
Husband 3: James Robinson married Mary Ann at St Michael's, Bishopwearmouth on 11 August 1867.
Mary Ann Cotton’s mother, 54, died spring of 1867.
Isabella Mowbray, daughter Apr. 1867.
Robinson child – died Apr. 1867.
Another Robinson child – died Apr. 1867.
Mary Isabella, daughter, born Nov., died Mar. 1868.
Margaret Cotton, Frederick’s sister – died Mar. 1870.
Husband 4: Frederic Cotton, married Sep. 17, 1879 – died Dec. 1871.
Frederick Cotton Jr., Step-son – died Mar. 1872.
Charles Cotton, Step-son – Jul. 12, 1872.
Robert Cotton, infant – died soon after death of Frederick jr. (Mar. 1872).

►1875 – Marguerite Léris Grieumard – Saint-Vincent, France – intense hatred of children, severe abuse

Victims:

Jean Greiumard, Marguerite’s husband – died Jun. 27, 1875

Marguerite Greiumard, daughter – died Jun. 30, 1875

Antonin David, 11, grand-son – died Jun. 12, 1875

Jean David sr., Marguerite Greiumard’s father-in-law – died Jun. 15, 1875

Jean David, jr., 26, son-in-law – poisoned but survived

 

►1882 – Barbara Ondricek – Huidon, Slany, Bohemia

Victims:

March 20, a six-year-old girl

March 27 a three-year-old

April 14, a nine-year-old boy

►1886 – Sarah Jane Robinson – Summerville, Massachusetts, USA

Deaths:

Oliver Sleeper, 72, her landlord, died Aug. 10, 1881

Moses Robinson Jr., husband, 45, died Jul. 23, 1883

Emma M. Robinson, daughter, 10, died Sep. 6, 1884

Elizabeth B. Freeman, 1, niece, died Apr. 15, 1885

Prince A. Freeman, 33, brother-in-law, died Jun. 27, 1885

Elizabeth A. Robinson, 24, daughter, died Feb. 22?, 1886

Thomas A. Freeman, 7, nephew, died Jul. 23, 1886

Mrs. Feeeman, sister, wife of prince A., died 1884

►1886 – Annie Snoots – Adamsville, Ohio, USA

Wilber Snoots, infant, died Oct. 6, 1883

Daughter (name not given), died Apr. 1884

Georgie Snoots, died Jul. 1886

Carrie Snoots, 6, died Jul. 5, 1888

►1888 – Sarah Jane Whiteling – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Victims:

John Whiteling, husband, 38, died Mar. 20, 1888

Bertha Whiteling, daughter (Thomas Story, father), died Apr. 24, 1888

William (Willie) Whiteling, son, 2, died May 26, 1888

Possibly 5 other Whiteling children, “unaccounted for”

Martin boy, poisoned with candy, recovered

2 other Martin children, attempted to poison with candy.

►1889 – Lizzie Brennan – Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA

Victims:

Michael (“John” in some sources) Brennan, son, died May 1889

Michael Brennan, 70, husband, died Apr. 1889

Edward (“Thomas” in some sources) Brennan, 15, son, died Jun. 26, 1889

Daniel Brennan, son, poisoned, bur recovered

Probable intended victims:

Dennis Brennan, 19, son (life insurance taken out)

Mary E. Brennan, 20, daughter (life insurance taken out)

Lizzie B. Brennan, 41, daughter? (life insurance taken out)

►1890 – Julia Higbee – Meade County, Kentucky, USA

Oct. 14 – Jessie Higbee, son, 1-year-old.

Oct. 2 – Maud Higbee, daughter, 2-years-old.

Nov. 13 – Eillie Higbee, daughter, 4-years-old.

Dec. 7 – Hallie Higbee, daughter.

►1891 – Mrs. Thomas Austin – Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Mrs. Thomas Austin murdered a husband and 5 children (ages not stated, yet they were of various ages, not all babies)

►1893 – Martha Needle – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Henry Needle, her husband, died Oct. 4, 1889

Mabel Needle, 3, her own child, died Feb. 28, 1885

Elsie Needle 6, her own child, died Dec. 9, 1890

May Needle, 4 years and 11 months, her own child, died 27th Aug. 27, 1891

Louis Juncken, the brother of her fiancé, Louis sickened on Apr. 26, died 15 May 1894

►1902 – Hattie Whitten – Dexter, Maine, USA

Victims:

1900 (or 1898?) – Mr. Whitten, husband, died, Dover, Maine

Sep. 19, 1902 – Frannie B. Whitten, daughter (11), died, Dexter, Maine

Nov. 27, 1902 – Jennie E. Whitten, daughter (9), died, Dexter, Maine

►1906 – Bridget Carey – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Suspicious Deaths & Illnesses (acquitted; accused of 8? (10?) murders):

James Carey, brother-in-law, and boarder, died (date?)

Rose Carey, sister-in-law, died 1903

Mrs. Ann Carey, mother-in-law, died 1903 or 1904

Peter Carey, husband, died circa Jan. 1906

Cecilia (Celia) Cook, boarder, died Aug. 13, 1906

Patrick Cook (“Coyle” incorrectly), 37, boarder, died Sep. 17, 1906

Mary Carey, 8, daughter, poisoned on Nov. 16, 1906, died on 17th

Anne Carey, 6, daughter, poisoned on Nov. 16, 1906, died on 17th

Edward Carey, 3, son, poisoned on Nov. 16, 1906, recovered

►1906 – Rosa Vrzal – Chicago, Illinois, USA

Mar. 27, 1905 – Martin Vrzal, husband, murdered

Sep. 1905 – Mary Vrzal, 22, murdered

Feb. 1906 – Tillie Vrzal, aged 22, murdered

May 1906 – Rose Vrzal, aged 14, murdered

Nov. 25, 1906 – Ella Vrzal, aged 12, murdered

►1911 – Louise Vermilya – Chicago, Illinois, USA

9 deaths:

1) Arthur F. Bisonette – 26, policeman, died Oct. 26, 1911.

2) Richard T. Smith – boarder, died Mar. 11, 1911.

3) Frank Brindkamp – 22, son of Mrs. Vermilya, died Oct. 30, 1910.

4) Fred Brindkamp – 66,  first husband of Mrs. Vermilya, died “some years” before 1911 in Barrington.

5) Charles Vermilya – 59, second husband, died Aug. 1, 1909, at Maplewood.

6) Lillian Brindkamp – 26, died Jan. 21, 1906, at No. 2916 Groveland ave.

7) Harry G. Vermilya – 25, stepson, died Sep. 20, 1901, at No. 395 West Diversy Parkway.

8) Cora Brindkamp – 8, daughter, died at Barrington.

9) Florence Brindkamp – 4 1/2, daughter, died at Barrington.

►1911 – Carrie Bodie (Boddy) Sparling – Ubly, Michigan, USA (accomplice, Dr. Robt. Macgregor)

Deaths:

John Wesley Sparling, husband – Jul. 1909 (“1908”) (in London, Ontario)

Peter Sparling, eldest son – Jul. 1910

Albert Sparling, second son – May 1911

Cyril Sparling, son, 20 – Aug. 1911

Other suspected murders:

Margueret Gibbs, nurse

Dr. Robert A. MacGregor

Mrs. Carrie Bodie Sparling

►1912 – Jennie O. (Wilbur) Guild – Sheldonville, Massachusetts, USA

Suspected Victims:

Benjamin H. Guild, died Jul. 18, 1902 (husband, married, Jun. 4, 1902)

Leroy Wilbur, 3, son, died Nov. 4, 1892

Tracy Wilbur, 9, son, died Nov. 4, 1892

Nathan G. Wilbur, died Aug. 27, 1894 (husband, married 1881)

►1912 – Frieda Trost (“Grost”) – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Three children of her first husband (who died mysteriously) also died mysteriously.

►1913 – Cynthia Buffom (Buffum) – Little Valley, New York, New York, USA

Victims:

Norris, son, 4, died May 1913

Willis Buffom, husband, dies August 11, 1913

Laura, daughter, 12, died Feb. 2, 1914

Herbert, son, 18 (in 1913), crippled by poison

►1913 – Ida Leckwold – Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

6 children murdered:

Viola Leckwold, daughter, aged 9 (died Sep. 8, 1913)

Laura Leckwold, daughter, aged 11 months (died Jul. 8, 1913)

4 of Ida Leckwold’s babies aged under 1 year (between 1905-1911)

►1922 – Nellie Sturmer Koulik – Chicago, Illinois, USA – (not tried)

Victims:

1 – Wojcik Stermer, Nellie’s first husband, died in 1918. Body, exhumed, disclosed arsenic.

2 and 3 – Sophie and Benjamin Stermer, Nellie’s 7-month-old twins, who died within a month of each other in 1917.

4 –  Dorothy Spera, 2 year old granddaughter, who died in 1921, after her grandmother insisted that she be

5 – John Stermer, 22, Nellie’s son, who became ill in 1918 when his father died, but recovered. He declared he thought his mother had poisoned him.

►1922 – Edith Murray “Cleveland Black Widow” – Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Edith Murray was not prosecuted; suspected of murdering 3 husbands and 2 children.

►1923 – Clothida Cravana (Maria Clothida Gaione, nee Cravino) – Turin, Italy

Ernest, son, 10, died Feb (or “Mar.”) 1916

Angela, daughter, died Sep. 1918 (or “1917”)

Giovanni Gaione, husband, died Jan. 1919

►1925 – Della Sorenson – Danneborg, Nebraska, USA

Mrs. Sorenson’s first victim was little Viola Cooper, daughter of her first husband’s sister. The baby died July 23, 1918.

Her first husband, John Weldman, was her next victim. He passed away of poison in 1920. John Weldman’s mother. Mrs. Wilhelmina Weldman, died a short time later from the same cause.

Mrs. Sorenson’s other victims, in the order of their deaths, were:

Minnie Weldman, 8, daughter. She died September 7, 1921.

Clifford Cooper, 4 months old, infant brother of Viola Cooper. August 20, 1932.

Ruth Brock, less than a year old, daughter of a relative. February 20, 1923.

Delores Sorenson, one year, daughter of her second marriage. February 19, 1924.

Another child, an unnamed infant, sometime in 1924.

►1929 – Hattie Stone – Belair, Maryland, USA

Victims:

Mrs. Emma Stone, mother-in-law,

Edward Stone, husband

Edgar Stone, son

George, 15, son, died Jun. 3, 1929

►1930 – Mary E. Hartman – Long Beach, California, USA

http://unknownmisandry.blogspot.com/2014/12/mary-e-hartman-suspected-california.html

1928 – O. B. Hartman – husband, 47, died

1929 – Henry A. Hartman, 22, son, died

April 14 , 1930 – Ruth Hartman, 14, daughter, died

►1931 – Alice Mason – Pekin, Illinois, USA

Victims:

John Mason, husband, died circa Nov. 1930

Mildred Mason, daughter, died Aug. 9, 1931

Harry, 15, ill in Oct. 1931, recovered (one sources, apparently in error, gives age as “18”)

Robert, 22, son, planned to murder

►1934 – Emilia Webb Wardrop - Coshocton, Ohio, USA

Victims:

Oct. 1, 1931 – Herbert George Webb, 18, son, died.

Jan. 7, 1932 – Mrs. Iona Cordelia Webb Senter, 24, daughter, died.

Mar. 1932 – Charles Hughes, 21, nephew, crippled from hips down.

►1935 – Dora Bullock Frost - Houston, Texas, USA

Deaths:

July 16, 1932 – Vernon Bullock, 10 months old, died.

Jan. 1, 1933 – Leola (Lee Lola) Bullock, 10, died.

March 2, 1934 – John Bullock, 43, former husband, died.

June 1, 1934 – Woodrow Wilson Bullock, son, 17, died.

►1936 – Velma Patterson – Commerce, Texas, USA

►1938 – Lillie May Curtis – Center, Texas, USA

Victims:

Marcle Jack, five, boy.

Margie Ree, seven.

Robert, nine.

Billie Burke, 10, girl.

Gloria Jean, 11.

T. O. Curtis, 13.

►1952 – Roberta Elder – Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Husbands:

Rev. William H. Elder (died Aug. 21, 1952)\

John Woodward (36, common law h, died 1938)

James Garfield Crane (45, died 1947)

Children (her own):

Willie May Thurmond (2-weeks-old)

Lizzie May Thurmond (1-week-old)

James Garfield Crane (1, died Dec. 1943)

James W. Thurmond (13,  Jun. 1939)

Step-children:

Willie Thurmond (12, died 1939)

Fannie Mae Elder (15, died Mar. 1951)

Annie Pearl Elder (9, died 1951);

Other victims:

Mother – Mrs. Kelly “Collie” Brown (died 1945)

Cousin – Gloria Evans (died Dec. 26, 1944)

Grandchild –Jimmy Lee Crane Hunter (2, died 1943)

Former wife of husband – Mrs. Willie Mae Elder (41, died Jan. 1950)

Friend – Nora Scott Harris (93 or 94, died Dec. 22, 1951)

►1954 – Nannie Doss – Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

1) Daughter (one of four daughters) of husband no. 1 Charles Braggs, and Nannie.

2) Another daughter (one of four daughters) of husband no. 1 Charles Braggs, and Nannie.

3) Husband no. 2, married Robert (Frank Harrelson), married 1929, died Sep. 16, 1945.

4) Robert Lee Haynes, grandson, Jacksonville, Alabama, died as newborn, 1943, hatpin.

5) Robert (born, 1943; 3-1/2-years old) her grandson (son of Melvina Braggs).

6) Husband no. 3, Arlie Lanning, died at Lexington, North Carolina, in 1952; house burned.

7) Mother-in-law Arlie Lanning’s mother; died 1945?

8) Husband no. 4, Richard Morton -- laid to rest at Emporia, Kansas. 

9) Husband no. 5 Samuel Doss, married (June 1953; or, Jul. 1954?), in Tulsa, Oklahoma, died Aug. 1954; died Oct. 5, 1953.

10) Louisa, Nannie’s mother, died January 1953.

11) Nannie’s sister Dovie, died.

12) Another of Nannie’s sisters, died.

►1956 – Rhonda Belle Martin – Montgomery, Alabama, USA

Victims:

Emogene Garrett, 3 (her daughter) – died 1939

George Garrett (her second husband) – died 1939

Anna Carolyn Garrett, 6 (her daughter) – died 1937

Ellyn Elizabeth Garrett, 11 (her daughter) – died 1943

Mrs. Mary Frances Gibbon (her mother) – died 1944

Claude Carroll Martin, 51 (her fourth husband) – survived poisoning, crippled

►1967 – Janie Lou Gibbs – Cordele, Georgia, USA

Victims:

Charles Clayton Gibbs, husband, 39, died Jan. 21, 1966;

Marvin Ronald Gibbs, son, 13, died Aug. 29, 1966;

Melvin Watess Gibbs, son, 16, Jan. 23, 1967;

Roger Ludean Gibbs, 19;

Ronnie Edward Gibbs, grandson, 1-mo, Oct. 28, 1967.

►1990 – Diana Lumbrera – Friona, Texas, USA

Six children murdered:

Nov. 30, 1976 – daughter, Joanna Lumbrera, 3 months old, Friona, Texas.

Feb. 13, 1978 – son, Luís Garza, 2 ½ months old, Friona, Texas.

Oct. 2, 1978 – daughter, Melissa Lumbrera, 3 years old, Friona, Texas.

Oct. 8, 1980 – cousin, Ericka Leonor Aleman, 6 weeks old, Muleshoe, Texas.

Aug. 17, 1982 – daughter, Melinda Lumbrera, 3 years old, Friona, Texas.

Mar. 28, 1984 – son, Christopher Daniel Marcos, 5 ½ months old, Dimmitt, Texas.

May 1, 1990 – son, Jose Antonio Lumbrera, 4 years old, Garden City, Kansas.

►1994 – Rosemary West – Gloucester, England

1) Charmaine West (8; born 22 February 1963): Rose’s step-daughter. Killed in June 1971 by Rose West while Fred was in prison, the motive said to be Rose’s wish to break links with Charmaine’s mother, “Rena.”

2) Heather Ann West (16; born 17 October 1970), daughter of Rose and Fred. Killed June 1987.

►1995 – Filita Mashilipa – (remote village), Zambia

Mashilipa confessed to killing seven of her nine children. She considered herself a witch.

►2007 – Antonie Stašková (Staskova) – Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic

►2007 – Shirley Winters – New York state, USA

►2013 – Diane Staudte – Springfield, Missouri, USA

This mother-daughter serial killer team engaged in a homicidal house-cleaning project using antifreeze, a deadly poison,  as their tool. The serial poisoner mom told detective that she chose to terminate the life of her husband Mark because she “hated him.” Her son Shawn deserved to die because he was “worse than a pest.” Daughter Sarah, who survived the attempt on her life, barely, was deemed not fit to live because she “would not get a job and had student loans that had to be paid.”

 

2017 – Anna Young – Micanopy, Alachua County, Florida

 

►►STEP-MOTHERS

►597 – Fredegun, Queen of Franks – Merovignian Kingdom, Soissons, France

“Before [King] Chilperic married her, she got one queen repudiated and strangled another. Then she murdered her three stepsons.”

►1843 – Elizabeth Eccles – Bolton, England

Alice Haslam, 10, daughter from previous marriage – died September 10, 1842, daughter, died in 1840 (?)

Nancy Haslam, 6, daughter from previous marriage – died early September, 1842

William Eccles – stepson, 13 (or 15?), died September 1842

Hannah Haslam – daughter, died in infancy

William Heywood – baby boy, died

►1860 – Elizabeth McCraney – Medford, Otsego County, New York, USA

Clark child #1 (of Abram Clark, first, husband, later divorced) Ostego County, New York.

Clark child #2, Ostego County, New York.

Spencer Baker, Husband # 2.

Allen Baker, brother-in-law.

Her sister.

Resident #1 of Lancaster County, Wisconsin.

Resident #2 of Lancaster County, Wisconsin.

Huhlah Ann McCraney, stepdaughter, 17, Oneonta, N. Y., died May 11, 1860.

Thomas P. Burnett, brother-in-law.

Mrs. Burnett (wife of Thomas).

Burnett daughter.

►1872 – Wilhelmine Woltmann – Stade, Germany

This serial killer of seven persons was executed by beheading. She murdered the parents of the man she loved because they objected to their union. Four other adults she murdered before she married a widower, murdered his children and was finally brought to justice.

Child – knocked eye out

Wife of employer – death by poison

Her own child – murder suspected

Husband, Brunswick, army officer – death by poison

Mr. Wachter, Hanover – father-in-law

Mrs. Wachter, Hanover – mother-in-law

Mr. Woltman (her husband), Stade – 2 step-children

►1878 – Mrs. David Drake – Westfield, Massachusetts, USA

Husband #1

Son (with husband #1)

Mrs. Drake, husband #2

Etta, step-daughter, 17 (with husband #1)

►1909 – Martha Rendell – Perth, WA, Australia (executed)

Victims:

Annie May Morris, (various sources give age as: 7, 9, 10), died, Jul. 28, 1907

Olive Lilian Morris, (various sources give age as: 5, 7, 8), Oct. 6, 1907

Arthur J. Morris, (various sources give age as: 14 or 15), Oct. 8, 1908

►1913 – Ellen Etheridge – Meridian, Texas, USA

4 step-children murdered, one poisoned but recovered; planned to kill all 8:

Jun. 1913 – Beulah Etheridge, 2, step-child, poisoned with lye, died

Jun. 1913 – Harrison Etheridge, 8, step-child, poisoned with lye, died

Oct. 2, 1913 – Oscar, Etheridge, 5, step-child, poisoned with arsenic, died

Oct. 2, 1913 – Richard, 9, step-child, poisoned with arsenic, died

Oct. 2, 1913 – Pearl Etheridge, 7, step-child, poisoned with arsenic, but recovered.

►1923 – Eliza Torosian – Fresno, California, USA

Aug. 1919 – Garabed, stepson, 18 months old, was found dead in a shallow pool.

Jun. 1923 – her husband died after a brief illness.

Oct. 1923 –  Margaret, 17,  stepdaughter, died after a brief illness.

Oct. 1923 –  Gordon (Goorken), 26?, stepson, poisoned but recovered.

Nov. 5, 1923 – Attempted bribery following arrest.

Nov. 7, 1923 – Attempted suicide following arrest.

Mar. 1, 1924 – Found guilty of murder of Margaret.

►1924 – Annie Hauptrief – San Marcos, Texas, USA

Died:

Court Schroeder (first husband), died 3 months after wedding

Walter Hauptrief, 14, died , died Apr. 11, 1923

Lydia Hauptrief,12, died Apr. 7, 1923

Herbert Hauptrief, 8, died May 1923

Anna (Annie) Hauptrief, 10, died Nov. 11, 1923; poisoned early Jul. 1924

Survived:

William Hauptrief (husband), crippled by poison, in wheelchair

►1925 – Birdie Strome – Springfield, Ohio, USA

Step-daughter had predicted own death, died of strychnine poisoning. Mrs. Strome was suspected of being a serial killer (former husband and sister-in-law died of “mysteriously”). She was convicted of the girl’s murder and died in prison not long afterwards.

►1937 – Agnes Joan Ledford – St. Helens, Oregon, USA

Victims:

1932 – John Matson, husband, died

September 6, 1937 – Ruth, 13, step-daughter, died

September 8, 1937 – Dorothy, 15, step-daughter, died

►1939 – Anna Louise Sullivan – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Jan. 30, 1931 – Fred Ricklefs, husband #2, died

Feb. 20, 1938 – Theresa Sullivan, 11, step-daughter, enters hospital, survives, crippled

Apr. 28, 1938 – James Sullivan, 18, step-son, dies

Dec. 12, 1938 – Michael J. Sullivan, husband #3, first entered hospital, survived

Jan. 10, 1939 – Michael Sullivan again enters hospital, survived, crippled

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SEE MORE: Female Serial Killer Collections

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[1627-4/3/21]

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Hattie Whitten, Maine Serial Killer - 1902

Victims:

Jan. 24, 1891 – Harry E. Whitten, husband, died, Dover, Maine, (Chicago Tribune).

Sep. 19, 1902 – Frannie B. Whitten, daughter (11), died, Dexter, Maine

Nov. 27, 1902 – Jennie E. Whitten, daughter (9), died, Dexter, Maine

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FULL TEXT (Article 1 of 3): Dexter, Me., November 30. – Mrs. Hattie Whitten, who was arrested yesterday on the charge of having poisoned her 9-year-old daughter, from whose funeral she had just returned, committed suicide today by hanging while in the custody of the deputy sheriff. Her death ends a case which promised to be as sensational as any inquired into in many years.

Mrs. Whitten is suspected also of having caused the death of an elder daughter, aged 11, on September 19 last, and this body has been exhumed. Both children died suddenly, when previously they had appeared to be in the best of health. Mrs. Whitten’s husband also died suddenly two years ago. The children were insured for $56 and $85, respectively. As a cause of death the physician’s certificate mentioned meningitis and heart failure.

An autopsy on the body of the younger girl disclosed arsenic and strychnine. The result of the autopsy on the older girl has not been made public. The woman was taken in charge by a deputy sheriff, and this afternoon being left alone, she tied together two towels and hanged herself to a bed post.

A coroner’s jury had reported that the girl’s death was due to poison administered by the mother. Mrs. Whitten was arraigned on Saturday. She pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder and was held until Tuesday for a hearing.

Since her death some of the evidence presented before the coroner’s jury has been made public. It was shown that she brought laudanum, arsenic and castor oil the day prior to the death of her daughter in September, and strychnine and arsenic on three days the past week. Dr. Murphy, who attended both children, said if poison was given the poison undoubtedly was administered in oil, that it might pass through the stomach into the intestines and to make useless a stomach pump. As regards the second child it was shown that on Tuesday Mrs. Whitten left a postal card of the post-office calling Dr. Murphy to attend the child, regardless of the fact that he lives only a half mile from where she was stopping  and has a telephone.

Mrs. Whitten was about 45 years of age and came here from Dover, Maine, three months ago.

[“Died Self-Slain After Poisoning Her Daughter – Tragic Death of Mrs. Whitten Who Killed Her Children and Husband. – Arrested While Returning From Child’s Funeral – After Her Arrest She Secured Two Towels and Ended Her Miserable Existence – Wanted To Get Insurance on Their Lives.” The Atlanta Constitution (Ga.), Nov. 30, 1902, p. 12]

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FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 3): Bangor, Me., Nov. 20. – Mrs. Hattie L. Whitten, of Dexter, who was arrested on Saturday, charged with the murder of her two little daughters, Jennie and Fannie, committed suicide by hanging this afternoon in the house of Deputy Sheriff Leslie  Curtis, where she was being held, pending a further hearing in the case next Thursday.

Deputy Sheriff Curtis had kept close watch upon Mrs. Whitten until 2 p. m., when he went out to care for his horse, leaving his prisoner in care of his wife. Mrs. Whitten asked for two towels, which were brought by Mrs. Curtis, who then stepped out of the room. Five minutes later, when Mrs. Whitten had hanged herself by means of the towels to the bedpost. Physicians were called, but the woman was dead.

It has been found that Mrs. Whitten came of a respectable family, but has led rather an irregular life since her husband died four [sic] years ago. She was addicted to morphine, and her children say that for several days before her arrest and suicide she was mentally unbalanced. Since she came to Dexter for four months ago, Mrs. Whitten has kept company with a weaver named Sutro, and it is said that they were about to be married.

[“Murderess Suicides – She Was Accused of Having Poisoned Her Own Daughters, Jennie, and Fannie. – Was Probably Insane,” The Scranton Republican (Oh.), Dec. 1, 1902, p. 1]

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FULL TEXT (Article 3 of 3): Dexter, Me. – Mrs. Hattie L. Whitten, who was arrested charged with having poisoned her nine-year-old daughter, from whose funeral she had just returned, committed suicide by hanging from a bedpost while in the custody of Deputy Sheriff Curtis.

Her death ends a case which promised, from the suspicions held against Mrs. Whitten, to be as sensational as any inquired into in Maine for a long time.

Mrs. Whitten was suspected not only of having caused the death of the child just buried, but also that of her husband, who died two years ago, even that of an elder daughter, aged eleven, who died September 19 last. Both children died suddenly when just previously had appeared to be in the best of health. The children were insured for $56 and $85 respectively.

Suspicion having been aroused by the death of a younger Thursday the physicians decided to hold an autopsy. The autopsy was held while the body was at the cemetery awaiting interment. Traces of arsenic and strychnine were found. Mrs. Whitten’s arrest followed.

Without delay a Coroner’s jury was impaneled, and on evidence presented it was reported that the girl’s death was due to poison administered by the mother.

Since Mrs. Whitten’s death some of the evidence presented before the Coroner’s jury has been made public. It was shown that she bought laudanum, arsenic and castor oil the day prior to the death of one daughter, in September, and strychnine and arsenic on three days of last week.

The autopsy showed evidences of poisoning in the stomach, intestines and brain, warranting of sending these parts to Professor Robinson, of Bowdoin College, for analysis. The stomach and intestines from the body of the elder daughter, which was exhumed, were also sent to Professor Robinson.

Mrs. Whitten was about forty-five years of age, and came her from Dover, this State, three months ago.

An incident just brought out that last Monday Jennie, then in good health, was selling small wares from house to house, stating that with the proceeds she intended to purchase her mother a Christmas present, and at the same time her mother was at the drug store purchasing poison.

[“Child Poisoner A Suicide – Woman Arrested at Dexter, Me., Hangs Herself. – Victims’ Lives Were Insured – The Accused Murderess Also Was Suspected of Having Killed Her Husband, Who Died Two Years Ago – She Had Purchased Poisonous Drugs and Gave Them to Her Little Daughters.” The Western North Carolina Times (Hendersonville, N. C.), Dec. 5, 1902, p. 5]

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[974-1/12/21]

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Daniela Poggiali, Italian Alleged Serial Killer Nurse

Shortly after her arrest on October 9, 2014, in Lugo, Italy of suspected serial killer nurse Daniela Poggiali, the number of her victims was estimated to be 38. Two months of investigation has resulted in a much higher estimate: 96.

One of her nursing colleagues described to police Daniela’s strange behavior following the deaths of her patients: “She was particularly euphoric and wanted to have a photo next to the dead body,” as Il Corriere della Sera reports. Investigators propose the motive for the killings was that the victims “irritated her.”

A long article on the case published in the US in Newsweek in December 2014 introduces this larger victim count and asserts that “if found guilty of killing all those patients, she will be classed one of the most prolific serial killers in history.” Such a characterization demonstrates just how little is generally known about female serial killers. A great quantity of erroneous obsolete claims clutter the internet and are found on seemingly authoritative sources on the internet. Wikipedia’s extremely incomplete treatment of female serial killers, sporting an index page containing only a few dozen cases of the many hundreds known to researchers. This most certainly results in giving journalists seeking quick knowledge a wildly false impression of what is actually available to be learned about the topic.

Personally, I am not qualified to report on male serial killers, but I can state that my research on female serial killers suggests that there are over thirty cases which involve a larger number of suspected victims than are thought to have been murdered by Daniela Poggiali. Following is an excerpt from our catalog of Prolific Female Serial Killers.

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Chronology:

Mar. 2014 – Hospital bosses only became suspicious of Poggiali.

Apr. 8, 2014 – Death of Rosa Calderoni, age 78.

Jan. 2014 – photos pf Poggioli with corpses taken (posted on Facebook).

Oct. 9, 2014 - Poggiali arrested on suspicion of murdering Calderoni.

Jul. 28, 2015 – Federal Investigation report issued; “voluntary manslaughter” charge recommended for death of Rosa Calderoni.

2014 – DP receives flood of fan mail while in jail.

Mar. 2016 – DP convicted of murdering Rosa Calderoni (78), sentenced to life in prison.

Jul. 7, 2017 – Bologna Court of Appeals, annulls sentence; defendant released from prison after 1,003 days of incarceration; on basis of an expert opinion.

Jul. 20, 2018 – Court of Cassation overturned the acquittal.

May 23, 2019 – restoration of life sentence requested by prosecutor, Pg Luciana Cicerchia.

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Steve Hopkins, “Italian nurse who took photos of herself with patients she had murdered is flooded with fan mail in prison – including marriage proposals,” Daily Mail (London, England), Oct. 27, 2014

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2809536/Italian-nurse-took-photos-patients-murdered-flooded-fan-mail-prison-including-marriage-proposals.html

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[Harry Spooner “’Angel of Death’ Who May Be One of the World's Worst Serial Killers,” Newsweek, Dec. 19, 2014]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/angel-of-death-who-may-be-one-of-the-worlds-worst-serial-killers/ar-BBgZMS1

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►Female Serial killers with 100 or more victims (33)

Agrippina the Younger – 59 AD – Rome – more than 100

Bamberger, Henrietta – 1899 – St. Louis, Mo. – 300 babies estimated

Báthory, Elizabeth – 1610 – Čachtice Castle, Hungary – est. 80-600

Bedwarska, Madame – 1892 – Lodz, Poland – 117 babies buried in cellar

Blanco, Griselda – 1985 – Miami, Florida – drug mafia, 200+

Deshayes, Catherine (“La Voisin”) – 1679 – Paris, France – (2,500)

Dyer, Amelia – 1896 – Reading, England – ext. 300 babies

Fazekas, Suzanna – 1929 – Nagyrev, Hungary – estimated over 100

Fortmeyer, Julia Etta – St. Louis, Missouri – 1875 – 300
“Grey Nuns of Montreal” – 1876 – Montreal, Canada – 631 babies     

Gruber, Maria – 1989 – Vienna, Austria – Lainz Angels of Death – est. 49-300

Guzovska, Madame – 1903 – Warsaw, Poland – over 500 babies

Holmen, Mrs. (alias, true name unknown) – 1906 – Stockholm, Sweden – 1,000 victims

Ishikawa, Miyuki (Kyuuki) – 1948 – Tokyo, Japan – 103

Jager, Mari – 1897 – Hodmozoe, Hungary – more than 100

Kusnezowa, Madame – 1913 – Archangel, Russia – 1,000+ babies

Leidolf, Irene – 1989 – Vienna, Austria – Lainz Angels of Death – 300

Meyer, Stephanija – 1989 – Vienna, Austria – Lainz Angels of Death – est. 49-300

Mwerinde, Credonia – 2000 – Kunungu, Uganda –1,386

“Osaka Baby Farmers” – 1902 – Osaka, Japan – 300 babies  

“Osaka ‘Devil Woman’Baby-Killer” – 1906 – Osaka Japan – over 100 babies          

“Paris Baby-Killers” – 1906 – Quartier Vivienne, Paris, France – 120 children

Petromany, Martha  – Knecz, Romania (Hungary) – 1906 – 100
Popov, Thekla – 1882 – Melencze, (Serbia); Hungary – about 100

Popova, Madame – 1909 – Samara, Ukraine – about 300
Rubio de Pascadera, Anastaa – 1887 – Mexico – over 100?

Sach, Amelia & Annie Walters – 1902 – Finchley, England – probably 100s of babies
Safarine, Sophie – 1927 – Navoia, Russia – 3 of her own husbands + 55 husbands of others

Saltykova, Darya Nikolayevna – 1762 – Moscow, Russia – 132

Soulakiotis, Mariam – 1952 – Keratea, Greece – 177

Spara, Hieronyima – late 1600s – Italy – more than 100, multiple arrests of accomplices (executed)

Szabo, Frau – 1929 – Nagyrev, Hungary – 7 confirmed, est. around 100

Tann, Georgia – 1950 – Memphis, Tennessee – probably many 100s of babies

Thompson, Coleen – 2003 – Rockville, Maryland – 211 suspected

“Vivienne Midwife” – 1906 – Paris, France – over 120 babies

Wagner, Waltraud – 1989 – Vienna, Austria – Lainz Angels of Death – est. 49-300

Young, Lila Gladys – 1945 –  Halifax, Nova Scotia, Can. – 400-600

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For more cases, see Sicko Nurses

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Sadism & Female Serial Killers

 
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[4500-1/15/21]

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