May 1, 1952 Alabama Earle Dennison poisons her 2-year-old niece to claim the insurance money on a policy she had taken out on the toddler Dennison's young niece, Shirley Weldon, was visiting when Dennison gave her an orange drink laced with arsenic. After the toddler became ill and vomited, Dennison gave her a bottle of… Continue reading Woman poisons toddler niece to collect insurance money
Tag: poison
The “death” of Belle Gunness, serial killer for profit
April 28, 1908 La Ponte, Indiana The bodies Belle Gunness’ three children and the headless corpse of a woman are found in the charred remnants of Gunness’ home Gunness was believed to have been a serial killer, killing her first husband, Mads Albert Sorenson, and their two infant children, as well as burning down their… Continue reading The “death” of Belle Gunness, serial killer for profit
Feudal lord poisoned by his geisha lover after she falls for kabuki actor
March 2, 1871 Japan Geisha Yoarashi Okinu poisoned her lover in order to be with a kabuki actor with whom she had fallen in love Yoarashi had become the mistress of a daimyo (high-ranking lords under the shogunate in feudal Japan) before meeting a kabuki actor named Arashi Rikaku. She paid for sex with Arashi… Continue reading Feudal lord poisoned by his geisha lover after she falls for kabuki actor
Mother kills children to spare them from being separated following her suicide
November 4, 1997 Lincoln County, Arkansas Christina Marie Riggs kills her 5- and 2-year-old children before attempting suicide Riggs was allegedly suicidal and feared her children, who had different fathers, would be separated if she killed herself. She injected her sleeping 5-year-old son with undiluted potassium chloride which, when undiluted, is extremely painful. He woke… Continue reading Mother kills children to spare them from being separated following her suicide
First woman executed by lethal injection
November 2, 1984 Raleigh, North Carolina Velma Barfield becomes the first woman executed by lethal injection at the age of 52 Barfield confessed to killing 6 people by poisoning, including elderly patients in her care, her mother, and her fiancé. She was sentenced to death for the murders, the first woman executed by lethal injection… Continue reading First woman executed by lethal injection
