DR. MICKI PISTORIUS

La Voisin & Maria Lee: The Allure of Female Poisoners

Apr 24 2025

Articles

La Voisin & Maria Lee: The Allure of Female Poisoners

Besides both being regarded as infamous poisoners Catherine Montvoisin, colloquially known as La Voisin, a key figure in the 17th century-Affair des Poisons in France, and Maria Lee, a notorious murderer in post-Second World War South Africa, had several traits in common. Although neither were attractive, they both had a certain sensual allure, that ‘bewitched’ […]

by Dr. Micki Pistorius

Cougars Poisoning: Lusting for Young Lovers

Apr 18 2025

Articles

Cougars Poisoning: Lusting for Young Lovers

Several cougar poisoners killed those who opposed their relationships with younger men. American Martha Wise almost wiped out her entire family, and two South African women were executed for poisoning their husbands to pursue their young lovers. The Things We Do For Love, is a song released in 1976 by the British band 10cc. The […]

by Dr. Micki Pistorius

Smelling a Rat – Rodenticides, Female Rat Poisoners

Apr 10 2025

Articles

Smelling a Rat – Rodenticides, Female Rat Poisoners

The standard answer “I bought the poison for rats” alerts experienced detectives to “smell a rat” and investigate female poisoners. Rats are commensal, benefitting from human proximity. They evolved millions of years ago in Asia and moved in with humans, for humans provided a readily available source of food, whether their crops, their granaries or […]

by Dr. Micki Pistorius

Meddling and Peddling Poisons and Potions

Apr 3 2025

Articles

Meddling and Peddling Poisons and Potions

In Greek mythology, Medea, princess of Colchis, was regarded as a sorceress, an accomplished “pharmakeía” and is often depicted as a high-priestess of the goddess, Hecate. When Medea was abandoned by her husband Jason in favour of Glauke, princess of Corinth, she took revenge on her rival by sending her a dress and a crown […]

by Dr. Micki Pistorius

Powerful Princesses and Policial Poisonings

Mar 27 2025

Articles

Powerful Princesses and Policial Poisonings

Where the motive of the 17th-century Spana Prosecution poisoners was to rid themselves of their abusive husbands, there exists another class of poisoners – those who use poison for political advancement. Long before the Renaissance trio of Thofiania d’Adamo, Giullia Tofana and Gironima Spana concocted the arsenic-based Aqua Tofana, Rome’s most famous poisoner was Locusta, […]

by Dr. Micki Pistorius

A Renegade Gang of Roman Renaissance Female Serial Killers?

Mar 20 2025

Articles

A Renegade Gang of Roman Renaissance Female Serial Killers?

Ironically the word ‘arsenic’ originates from Greek folk etymology as ‘arsenikon’, a neuter form of the Greek adjective ‘arsenikos’ meaning “male”, or “virile” and over centuries it was arsenic that women have been using to eliminate the males in their lives. In the mid 1600’s a trio of Renaissance Italian woman with a keen sense […]

by Dr. Micki Pistorius

The Sisterhood of Arsenic and Old Lace – Lethal Old Ladies

Mar 13 2025

Articles

The Sisterhood of Arsenic and Old Lace – Lethal Old Ladies

A champion for children’s rights and an activist for socio-economic reform, whose own father was committed to a debtor’s prison, was Victorian era author and literary genius, Charles John Huffam Dickens. In one of his lesser-known novels, The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, Dickens raises the theme of an elderly man, Old Martin, employing […]

by Dr. Micki Pistorius

Angels of Death- Tipping the Scales of Themis

Mar 6 2025

Articles

Angels of Death- Tipping the Scales of Themis

Themis is the Greek goddess of justice, divine order, law, and custom and her symbol is the Scales of Justice. Her Roman equivalent is Justitia. She personifies divine law – “that which is put in place”. Judges were often referred to as “themistopóloi” – the servants of Themis. Many defence lawyers in Angel-of-Death nursing […]

by Dr. Micki Pistorius