Dr. Micki Pistorius

Psychologist, Author & Profiler

Tag: Forensic Psychology

Condoned Sibling Rivalry Can Lead To Siblicide
May 16 2025
Articles

Condoned Sibling Rivalry Can Lead To Siblicide

The worst nightmare a parent can encounter is the death of a child, but what if that child was murdered, by a sibling?  How can anyone make sense of such a tragedy? Siblicide is a category of murder that is underreported, often because it is unfathomable that siblings can attack each other so violently and […]

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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’ […]

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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 […]

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Familicide: Bloodlines stained red with blood-feuds 
Jan 2 2025
Articles

Familicide: Bloodlines stained red with blood-feuds 

Throughout history, familicide is a crime considered most heinous in any society and it draws media fascination almost to the scale that a serial killer trial does.  Many cannot decide which is worst – a stranger killing innocent strangers, or a parent killing their child, or children killing their parents.  During the last quarter of […]

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