Jane Toppan, An Unusual Type of Female Serial Killer

“Jolly” Jane Toppan was quoted as saying that her goal in life was “to have killed more people—helpless people—than any other man or woman who ever lived.” Her career as a nurse gave her the perfect opportunity to carry out that mission. She had access to drugs that were lethal if given at wrong dosages and elderly patients, whose deaths may not raise much suspicion. Eventually “Jolly” Jane became too enthusiastic with her killings, murdering four members of a family she was supposed to be caring for, causing authorities to take notice.

When she was arrested, she claimed to have killed as many as 31 people, though only 12 were proven to have been connected to her. What made Jane Toppan’s case unusual is her motive. The majority of female serial killers commit their murders for financial gain, maybe even for attention, but not “Jolly” Jane. She did it for the sexual thrill she gained from holding and caressing them as they died.

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Leslie “Mad Dog” Irvin, Serial Killer from the 1950s

Leslie “Mad Dog” Irvin received his nickname due to the ruthless murders he committed and the way he was led into the courtroom for his trial chained like a dog. The prosecutor in the case even referred to Irvin as “Mad Dog” in his closing arguments. How many people fell victim to the hands of Leslie Irvin? How did he carry out the murders? Was he found guilty? If so, was he sentenced to death? Read on as we explore the life and crimes of Leslie “Mad Dog’ Irvin.

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The Top 10 Greatest Last Words of Forgotten Criminals

This is a collection of some of the greatest last words spoken by criminals before execution. They range from disturbing, chilling, sad, awesome, and even funny.

Wallace Wilkerson's last words — Wallace Wilkinson

Name: Wallace Wilkerson

Crime: Shot and killed William Baxter after an argument about cheating in a game of cribbage.

Sentence: Death by firing squad on May 16, 1879

Last Words: “Oh my God! Oh my God! They have missed!”

The firing squad missed shooting his heart and it took 15-27 minutes for him to die from blood loss.

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The Lonely Hearts Killers: A Match Made for Murder

Martha Beck and Raymond Martinez Fernandez are a couple better known as “The Lonely Hearts Killers.” Raymond had gotten a head start on his criminal career before meeting Martha. He mainly committed petty crimes such as theft until 1947 when it’s believed he committed his first murder. In 1947 when Raymond responded to Martha’s lonely hearts ad in the newspaper, she was to be his next victim. Instead the couple ended up falling in love. When Martha found out about Raymond’s criminal past she thought it was a brilliant scheme. She joined him and together they used the personal ads to search for their victims. Those unfortunate women who were only looking for love were instead conned, robbed, and murdered. The lonely hearts killers are known to have killed four people, but may have had has many as 20 victims.

Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck, The Lonely Hearts Killers — Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck, “The Lonely Hearts Killers.”

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Belle Gunness Wants Love, Only If You are Insured

Belle Gunness with her children. — Belle Gunness with her three children.

Belle Gunness was born Brynild Paulsdatter Størseth on November 11, 1859 near Selbu, Norway. In 1881, at the age of 21, she moved to the United States in search of wealth and gave herself the Americanized name of Bella (Belle) Petersen. Belle did indeed become wealthy, but not because she earned the money honestly. Quite the opposite, in fact.

It is believed that Belle killed at least 14 people, though some speculate that number could be as many as forty, earning herself a variety of nicknames including Hell’s Belle, the Black Widow, and Lady Bluebeard.

The truth of her crimes wasn’t known until her supposed death in 1908. In April of that year, the Gunness farmhouse in La Porte, Indiana burned to the ground. The body of a woman along with Belle’s three children were found and as investigators continued the search of the property, the partial remains of at least 11 other people were discovered.

But did she really die in the fire of 1908? After all, the body that was supposedly Belle’s was headless, making it impossible to positively identify during a time long before DNA testing. Also take into account the numerous sightings of her all over the country for decades after her “death.” It sure does make you wonder.

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The Wineville Chicken Coop Murders: So Wicked, the Town Changed It’s Name

The Wineville chicken coop murders involved the kidnapping and murder of at least four young boys, though authorities believe there could have been as many as 20 victims. These events took place between the years 1926 and 1928 in what was once the town of Wineville, California. Before these boys were murdered, they first had to endure both physical and sexual abuse. The town was so horrified and heartbroken by what had occurred that it changed its name so that it would not be forever associated with the murders that took place there.

In 1924, at the age of 17, Gordon Stewart Northcott moved with his parents to Los Angeles, California from British Columbia, Canada. Two years later, nineteen-year-old Northcott asked his father to buy a piece of land for him in Wineville so that he could build a house and chicken ranch. Northcott asked his fifteen-year-old nephew, Sanford Clark, if he would help with the building of the ranch. Clark’s parents gave him permission to go to California from their home in Saskatchewan, Canada. After all, he would be in the protection of a loving family member…or so they thought. Little did they know what young Sanford Clark would endure during his time at his uncle’s chicken ranch.

Gordon Stewart Northcott. Perpetrator of the chicken coop murders — Gordon Stewart Northcott

Nine-year-old, Walter Collins went missing on March 10, 1928 after his mother, Christine Collins, gave him money to go to the movie theater. A couple months later, on May 16, 1928 two brothers went missing on their way home from a Yacht Club meeting. Nelson Winslow was ten-years-old and his brother, Lewis, 12. A couple of bizarre letters were sent to the Winslow boys’ parents. One stated that they were going to Mexico, the other said they wanted to stay missing for as long as possible to gain fame. The authorities didn’t connect the two cases with one another. They also didn’t know that the headless body of a Latino boy found in February had a connection to these cases.

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Lyda Southard: Killer of Husbands and Escapee of Jail

Lyda Southard was born as Lyda Anna Mae Trueblood on October 16, 1892 in Keytesville, Missouri, about 60 miles Northeast of Kansas City. She is known by many names including “Flypaper Lyda,” “The Black Widow,” and Anna E. Shaw. She is also known as being one of America’s first known female serial killers.

Lyda Southard, Flypaper Lyda, The Black Widow — Lyda Southard

She killed four husbands, a brother-in-law, and daughter. What could be the motive for doing such a thing? How did she get the nickname “Flypaper Lyda”? Read on to find out…

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AMY ARCHER-GILLIGAN: Murder at the Nursing Home

“Sister” Amy Duggan Archer-Gilligan was born in Milton, Connecticut on October 31, 1873. She was somewhat of a pioneer in the care of the elderly. During her time, not many nursing homes existed because up until then it was considered the family’s obligation to care for their loved ones. She was the owner of “Sister Amy’s Nursing Home for the Elderly,” and later, “Archer Home for the Elderly and Infirm.” Pioneer she may have been, but these are no nursing homes where you would have wanted to send your loved ones. “Sister” Amy was later proven to have murdered at least five people, though that number is likely much higher.

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Serial Killer H.H. Holmes and his Famous Murder Castle

Herman Webster Mudgett, better known as Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, was born May 16, 1861 in Gilmanton, New Hampshire. He was one of the first recorded American serial killers.

Mudgett had a difficult childhood, growing up with a violent alcoholic father. His mother was a devout Methodist who read the Bible to him. He claimed that, as a child, once his classmates discovered he was afraid of the local doctor they forced him to look at and touch a human skeleton. The bullies just wanted to scare him, but some believe that instead this is where his fascination and obsession with death started.

In June of 1884 Mudgett graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School. While attending school he stole bodies from the laboratory, disfigured them and then claimed the people were killed accidentally so he could collect insurance money from policies he took out on each deceased person.

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