December 4, 2006Near Bethany, MissouriAnna Yoder Borntreger (26) dies, ostensibly from liver problems Anna’s death, while sudden, was not presumed to have been foul play, primarily because she had been ill for a short while prior to her death. Some of her family had their suspicions, however. “They felt that maybe it wasn’t actually a…
Woman poisons, beats, stabs terminally ill husband
October 8, 2000Ahwatukee Foothills, Phoenix, ArizonaWendi Andriano (30) poisons, beats, and stabs her husband Joe Andriano (33) On October 7, Wendi and Joe went to a barbecue, returning to their home around midnight at which point they put their two young children to bed. Around 2:15 a.m., Wendi called a coworker and neighbor (both worked…
Suspected serial poisoner executed
March 24, 1873 Durham, England Mary Ann Cotton (34, pictured) is executed for the murder of her stepson Cotton, who eventually was given the nickname “The Dark Angel,” had a streak of suspicious deaths following her, including three husbands, her mother, a lodger, and twelve children (either her own or her stepchildren). The deaths in…
The “Yorkshire Witch” is executed for fatally poisoning client
March 20, 1809 York, North Yorkshire, England Mary Bateman, the “Yorkshire Witch,” is hanged for murder Bateman, looking to bolster her husband’s modest income, began to tell fortunes in 1799 but soon offered her services as a “screwer-down,” claiming to use phantoms to immobilize her clients’ enemies, and sold various other supposed spells and charms.…
Mass-poisoner executed
February 26, 1852* Rennes, France Hélène Jégado is executed for murder * Note: the exact date of Jégado’s execution seems to be up for debate, with sources claiming either February 26 or 27, 1852, March 1852, or December 1851. For this entry, I chose to use the date listed in Fatal Violence: Case Studies and…
