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 […]
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’ […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
General research on Black Widow killers concur they commence their criminal careers at the age of 25 years, and target spouses, partners, family members, their children and anyone they might have formed a personal relationship with. They may kill someone threatening to expose them. They are quiet killers and go undetected for long periods because […]
I am often asked: How do male and female serial killers differ? Without getting lost down the rabbit hole, leading into the Pandora’s box of the current discourse on gender and the sexes, I noted that since the 20th century criminologists and forensic profilers have identified distinct differences between male and female serial killers. In […]