Or perhaps she simply wanted to be free to kill again. In 1877, Gunness attended a country dance while pregnant. Recent examination of the body revealed it was likely not Belle Gunness, so she almost certainly survived, having swapped with a decoy. To outsiders, Belle Gunness might have looked like a lonely widow who lived in the American Midwest during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. I can tell from your letters that you are the man I want. In the end, she was awarded $8,500 (about $240,000 today), with which she bought a farm on the outskirts of La Porte, Indiana. DESCRIPTION: "Belle Gunness was a lady fair In Indiana State, She weighed about 300 pounds, And that is quite some weight." "Her favorite occupation Was a-butchering of men." "Now some say Belle killed only ten, And some say 42." At last she vanishes with the cash AUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1958 (Burt-AmericanMurderBallads) To make matters worse, one of Belles children told a classmate that her mother had hit her husband over the head with a cleaver. She told him that she had fired her jealous farmhand, Lamphere, which caused him to go mad. He then sent two of his deputies to dig into the debris digging for the corpses missing head and sent two others to arrest Lamphere. She adopted an American name and found work as a servant. With so much going well for the Sorenson family, Mads even convinced Belle to foster a fifth child named Jennie Olsen. According to The New York Post, eight months after their marriage, Peter was dead. The essential fact, however, was that the murderess was not alive as a fugitive. It was initially hoped that a sealed envelope flap on a letter found at the victims farm would contain enough DNA to be compared to that of the body. If you're curious to learn more about her, read on to discover the . Standing six feet tall and weighing over 200 pounds, she was a physically strong woman. More reports of missing men began to pour in from surrounding Midwestern states, and relatives began to appear from all over the region to claim bodies. Jennie Olsen's death certificate. Three were identified as her foster children. He did. Belle Gunness was born Brynhild Paulsdatter Storset on November 11, 1859, in Selbu, Norway. She also posted ads in lovelorn columns to attract wealthy bachelors. Biography claims that the remains of at least 40 men and children were found on Gunness' farm. Next, Belle presented herself to a lawyer in La Porte named M.E. When a victim arrived, she made him comfortable, charming him and cooking a large meal. She is responsible for so many deaths that detectives have ceased counting the number of bodies discovered on her premises. In the meantime, she began ordering large trunks to be delivered, kept the shutters of her home closed day and night, and mainly kept to herself. His name was Mads Ditlev Anton Sorenson, and he didn't know it yet, but he was going to be Gunness' first known victim. There, Gunness met her first known victim: her husband, Mads Ditlev Anton Sorenson, whom she married in 1884. Lamphere ended up in prison because of his connection to Gunness and the fire on her farm. John Moe was the first of many disappeared men; he left his farm in Minnesota and brought one thousand dollars with him as requested by Gunness. The investigators had previously checked her bank accounts, and though a small amount was remaining in one of her savings accounts, the money in all other accounts had been completely withdrawn shortly before the fire, suggesting that the evil woman had created a great hoax and evaded the law. Answer: Selbu, Norway Belle was born on November 22, 1859. Lamphere was arrested and charged with murder, with his cries of innocence falling on deaf ears. socioeconomic status. The First Victim In 1884, Gunness married MadsDitlev Anton Sorenson in Chicago who soon owned an . He admitted to a fellow inmate that he and Gunness had killed 42 men together. Over 40 victims had been found, including lovers, her husbands, and even her own children. Married with Sorensen and Belle has born 4 children: Caroline, Axel, Myrtle and Lucy. Without saying goodbye, he fled the house and ran away, getting on the first train headed to Missouri. It was claimed that her head was decapitated and her home set on fire. Norwegian born Belle Gunness immigrated to the U.S. in 1881. When Andrew left home, he withdrew his life savings from the bank and was never heard from again. In this depraved story of sex, deception, greed, and murder, a veteran true-crime writer offers the first definitive history of Belle Gunness (circa 1859-1908), the most prolific female serial killer in American history.In previous books, Schechter (American Literature and Culture/Queens Coll. On the morning of April 27, 1908, the farmhand on a lonely property outside La Porte, Indiana, woke to the smell of smoke. Basically, Belle Gunness was a female serial killer who poisoned her suitors and children. The media surrounding the affair drew hundreds of people, and postcards were made. He died there of tuberculosis on December 30, 1909. Ray Lamphere, Gunness's hired hand, was arrested for murder and arson on May 22, 1908. Ray Lamphere, she said, had threatened to kill her and burn her house down, and she wanted to make out a will in case he went through with his threats. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,.css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}contact us! Together, they owned and operated a confectionary store and before long, had four children: Caroline, Axel, Myrtle, and Lucy. It remains unconfirmed when and where Belle Gunness actually died. She was a giant of a woman, with a bloodthirst so strong it led her to kill upwards of 25 people. Belle Gunness was born Brynild Paulsdatter Strseth on November 11, 1859 near Selbu, Norway. Whether Gunness died in that fire remains unclear. No replies by letter considered unless sender is willing to follow answer with personal visit. Director Duncan Roy Writers Katie L. Fetting (screenplay) Duncan Roy (story) Stars Elizabeth Hurley Jeremy Sisto Oliver Tobias At first, investigators believed the bodies to be Belle Gunness and her three children: Myrtle, age eleven, Lucy, age nine; and Phillip, age five. After travelling to La Porte, Gurholt wrote his family, saying that he liked the farm, was in good health, and requesting that they send him seed potatoes. [7], Belle married Peter Gunness on April 1, 1902. Belle with daughters Lucy and Myrtle. But as was the case with the candy store, Gunness and Sorenson were able to pocket the insurance money. From 1884 to 1908, it's believed that Belle Gunness killed, at least, 14 people. An unnamed man from Montana told people at a resort he was going to sell Gunness his horse and buggy, which were found with several other horses and buggies at the farm. One read: Personal comely widow who owns a large farm in one of the finest districts in La Porte County, Indiana, desires to make the acquaintance of a gentleman equally well provided, with view of joining fortunes. John Moe of Elbow Lake, Minnesota. The headless adult female corpse was never positively identified. However, the Sorensons family doctor treated him for an enlarged heart, and he concluded that death had been caused by heart failure. However, he had helped Belle bury many of her victims. Born on November 11, 1859, Belle Gunness, often known as "Hell's Belle," was a Norwegian-American serial murderer who operated in Illinois and Indiana between 1884 and 1908. [7], Gunness began placing marriage ads in Chicago newspapers in 1905. In the smoldering ruins workmen discovered four skeletons. But, there was another side to the woman that Lamphere saw, and soon the local folk would as well. These are famous words by the convicted serial killer Aileen Wuornos who was put to death by lethal injection on October 9, 2002. Carlson died on May 6, 1931, while awaiting trial. Chares Neiburg, a 28-year-old Scandinavian immigrant living in Philadelphia, told friends that he would visit Gunness in June 1906 and never returned he had been working for a saloon keeper and took $500 with him. Belle Gunness was one of the first "Black Widows" and became a prolific serial killer. Belle Gunness, the twice-widowed Norwegian American who placed the ad, was a murderer for profit. Gunness had a system. Hunting Humans: The Rise of Modern Multiple Murder examined the _____ _____ of serial murders. But, for one reason or another, Gunness decided to emigrate from Selbu to Chicago in 1881. Her suitors were her next victims, each of whom brought cash to her farm and then disappeared forever: John Moo, Henry Gurholdt, Olaf Svenherud, Ole B. Budsburg, Olaf Lindbloom, Andrew Hegelein, to name just a few. How many are known? True-crime author Harold Schechter first ran across the name Belle Gunness more than 10 years ago while researching a different book, but he could never get out of his mind the lurid details of her crimespoisoning and chopping up a succession of victimsbefore possibly disappearing. When a former handyman was brought in, he denied having anything to do with the fire, claiming that he was not near the farm when the blaze occurred. In 1907, she employed a farmhand, Ray Lamphere, to help with chores. She died of tuberculosis while awaiting trial. Lamphere was later linked to the fire at Gunness farm. Authorities eventually found the remains of over 40 victims on her property, but Belle disappeared without a trace. However, she never went to the police to tell them about Lampheres allegedly life-threatening statements. Some of these were most undoubtedly additional victims, though they were never proven. [citation needed] In 2008, DNA tests were performed on the headless corpse in an attempt to compare the DNA in the corpse against a sample from a letter Gunness had sent to one of her victims, but due to its age the sample was not able to be properly tested. Come prepared to stay forever. He later stated that the expression on her face was so sinister and murderous that he let out a loud yell, and she immediately ran from the room without uttering a single word. He was jealous of the many men who arrived at court his employer and had endured most of these attentive strangers up to this time. Between 1884 and 1908, the Norwegian immigrant is believed to have slain over 40 people in Chicago, Illinois, and La Porte, Indiana, profiting from insurance claims and other scams before disappearing without a trace. American newspapers labeled Belle Gunness the Black Widow, Hells Belle, the Indiana Ogress, and the Mistress of the Castle of Death.. Thomas Lindboe had left Chicago and had gone to work as a hired man for Gunness three years earlier. Helgelien, like other victims before him, decided to take a chance on love. The will was completed, leaving her estate to her children. Gunness, a butcher by profession, and Belle were married in LaPorte on April 1, 1902. Years later, Jennie's body was found buried among her mother's victims. Belle Gunness was born as Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth in Selbu, Sr-Trndelag, Norway on November 11, 1859. The story of Indiana's first documented serial killer, Belle Gunness. But did Lamphere actually cause the fire? Sorenson died of cerebral hemorrhage that day. She killed most of her suitors Caroline and Axel died as infants from acute colitis, the symptoms of which nausea, fever, diarrhea, and lower abdominal pain and cramping are also symptoms of many forms of poisoning. Though the authorities investigated, the formidable Belle was so convincing that no charges were ever filed. Unfortunately, there was not enough DNA, so the mystery remains unsolved. However, Gunness successfully convinced the investigators that she was innocent of any wrongdoing. On November 26, 1908, he was sentenced to two to 21 years in the State Prison in Michigan City, Indiana. A brother of Miss Jennie Graham of Waukesha, Wisconsin, who had left her to marry a wealthy widow in La Porte but vanished. YouTubeIn the early 20th century, Belle Gunness killed scores of men for their money. Belle also began. (Serial Killer) Belle Sorenson Gunness, birth name Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth, was a Norwegian-American serial killer. [1] According to Lamphere, this impending visit motivated Gunness to destroy her house, fake her own death, and flee. She killed most of her suitors and boyfrie Alchetron Sign in Sneha Girap(Editor) It gave details of the slaying, and told of his part in the former murders which occurred at the Gunness farm, his task usually being the burying of the bodies in the garden. Born Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth in Norway, Belle Gunness moved to the United States in 1881 at the age of 22. Either way, the twice-widowed Gunness began posting personal ads in Norwegian-language newspapers to find a new companion. She changed her name to Bella Petersen and worked for a time as a servant girl before getting . She was raised on a small farm in Innbygda, Norway, and grew up to be a physically very strong woman, standing 5 9 tall and weighing over 200 pounds. Soon after, Sorenson died of heart failure on the one day his two life insurance policies overlapped. Only one person seemed to be catching on to Gunness habits: her foster daughter Jennie Olsen. When they failed to hear from him after that, the family contacted Gunness. However, word soon spread that her relationship with Lamphere was more than strictly professional. Just one week after the ceremony, Peters infant daughter died of uncertain causes while alone in the house with Belle. On April 28, 1908, a fire destroyed a family farm near La Porte, Indiana. On April 28, 1908, a fire destroyed a family farm near La Porte, Indiana. I fear one of these nights he will burn my house to the ground.. Belle Sorenson Gunness (November 11, 1859 declared dead April 28, 1908) born Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth was a NorwegianAmerican serial killer. When I hear your name mentioned, and this is when one of the dear children speaks of you, or I hear myself humming it with the words of an old love song, it is beautiful music to my ears. However, The New York Post suggests that she may have killed as many as 28 people, while Mental Floss claims that she killed "at least 20." One lucky man named George Anderson survived the encounter. A short time later, the man who had kicked her died of what was said to be stomach cancer. The home belonged to Belle Gunness, a woman who had lived in La Porte since 1901. Whether Gunness died in the fire or escaped remained uncertain, although the sheriff blamed a Chicago American reporter for inventing the "escaped" story. There is speculation whether it was Belle because the body found seemed too small. However the fourth, believed to be Gunness, was inexplicably missing its skull. [7] Reported "sightings" of Gunness in the Chicago area continued long after she was declared dead. No replies by letter considered unless sender is willing to follow answer with a personal visit. Lamphere was found guilty of arson but acquitted of murder in the end. Soon enough, Gunness was depositing checks brought by her suitors, while the lovelorn men were never heard from again. He searched the property on his own and shouted to the men to start digging in the rubbish hole in Belles hog pen. When drinking, Lamphere often boasted of sleeping with his employer, which came as a surprise to those who only saw Belle as the burly woman who liked to dress in mens overalls and do her own hog butchering. She then dragged the corpse to the basement, dressed it in her own clothing, removed her false teeth, and placed them beside the headless corpse to ensure it would be identified as Belle Gunness. [citation needed] The second account is based on the report that Lamphere contacted a Reverend Edwin Schell and provided him with a verbal confession that Schell transcribed and had Lamphere sign, a document that Schell kept sealed in his personal safe. Strangely, tragedy seemed to return to Belle Gunness doorstep yet again. I know that you are now to come to me and be my own. He had romantic feelings for Gunness and resented all the men that showed up at her property. When the smoke cleared, authorities were left with so many bodies that they "stopped counting," according to Mental Floss. A hired man named George Bradley of Tuscola, Illinois is alleged to have gone to La Porte to meet a widow and three children in October 1907. An older sister, likely named Nellie, emigrated to the United States in the early 1880s. One common, but unverified story, says that when she was about 18 years old, she was pregnant and attended a country dance. Not long afterward, their home and the store mysteriously burned down. At this time, Belle started to have problems with her farmhand, Ray Lamphere. Whether Gunness died in that fire remains unclear. Wikimedia CommonsBelle Gunness with her children: Lucy Sorenson, Myrtle Sorenson, and Philip Gunness. As days progressed and the gruesome work continued, one body after another was discovered in Gunness hog pen. They arrived with thousands of dollars and then disappeared. She kept his trunk and fur overcoat. You, the sweetest man in the whole world. He moved to La Porte, Indiana on January 3, 1908 to be with Belle Gunness. And shortly after he arrived, Gunness killed him and buried his dismembered body in her hog pen, alongside other corpses. To their horror, they ended up finding Andrew Helgeliens head, hands, and feet, stuffed into an oozing gunny sack. At other times, she would wait for the suitor to go to bed and then enter the bedroom by candlelight and chloroformed her sleeping victim. A series of suspicious fires and deaths (mostly resulting in insurance awards) followed. Between 1902 and 1908, she lured a succession of unsuspecting victims to her Indiana "murder farm." Some were hired hands. Female Indiana serial killer, the 'comely' Belle Gunness, loved her suitors to death. She may have killed both of her husbands and all of her children (on different occasions), but she is known to have killed . John H. McJunkin of Coraopolis (near Pittsburgh) left his wife in December 1906 after corresponding with a La Porte woman. And, worse, according to Lamphere, if she was overly tired, she would chop up the remains and feed them to the hogs. A hired man from Ohio, age 50, name unknown, is alleged to have disappeared, and Gunness became the heir to his horse and buggy. Meanwhile, a man whose brother had been in contact with Gunness believed he'd been murdered and had begun asking questions. That man is out to get me, Gunness told the attorney. Had Belle Gunness committed . She was the only child to have survived to live with Belle. Before long, news of the gruesome discovery spread throughout the nation. In May 1908, after fire destroyed a LaPorte farmhouse, police made a gruesome discovery. [citation needed], Belle Gunness was pronounced dead, even though the doctor who performed the postmortem testified that the headless body was five inches shorter and about fifty pounds lighter than Gunness. In the end, Ray Lamphere was charged with arson but not murder. [9], Two babies in Gunness' home died from inflammation of the large intestine, which can result from poisoning. He also swore to the reverend, as well as a fellow convict, that he had not murdered anyone. Then, Sorensen died, not at all suspiciously on the day that one life insurance policy was set to expire and another had just come into effect. By the time she disappeared, he estimated that she had accumulated more than $250,000 through her murder schemes over the years a considerable fortune for those days (about $6.7 million today). Lamphere was to wait for her at a designated place on the road after the fire was set. Her adopted daughter Jennie's body would also be found on Belle's property. A series of suspicious fires and deaths (mostly resulting in insurance awards) followed. Initially, authorities found the remains of an adult woman and three children and quickly concluded that they belonged to the homeowner, a Norwegian immigrant known as Belle Gunness and her three foster children. Lamphere was quickly charged with murder and arson, and police began to search the farm grounds, hoping to find Gunness head. After the fire, her victims were unearthed from their shallow graves around the farm. Newly flush with cash, Gunness bought a 48-acre farm in La Porte, Indiana. [citation needed] Bechly attempted to convince Schell to allow him to publish this later confession, but was denied by both Schell and Schell's wife. Sure, she came with dreams of getting together a bunch of money for herself, but her methods for getting that money were devious and deadly. However, there was a rather glaring problem with their conclusion: the body of the adult was headless not something that generally happens in a fire. Also counted was an adopted 10-year-old girl, identified as Morgan Couch, but who was later known as Jennie Olsen. [7], She was at least 5'7" (170 cm) and weighed around 95 - 113 kg (210 - 250 lbs) and was physically strong and masculine in appearance. He raced to town to get help, but by the time it arrived, the house was already in smoking ruins. Idaho Murders: What Led Police to Bryan Kohberger, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Belle Gunness, Birth Year: 1859, Birth date: November 22, 1859, Birth City: Selbu, Birth Country: Norway. She hit him with a meat cleaver and he died. La Porte County Historical Society Museum. A few days after Helgelien arrived, he and Gunness appeared at the Savings Bank in La Porte and deposited the check. In the span of two days, investigators found a total of 11 burlap sacks, which contained arms hacked from the shoulders down [and] masses of human bone wrapped in loose flesh that dripped like jelly.. Little is known about her early life. And she was different in another way as well. And before long, the widowed Gunness was a widow no longer. This photo dates to about 1904. Most famous serial killers are men, but Belle was a woman. One of Robinson's surviving victims led to his eventual arrest. In 1884 Belle Gunness married Mads Albert Sorenson. Gunness explained he had come home with a headache and she provided him with quinine powder for the pain; she later checked on him and he was dead. . Story by Thomas Duke, 1910 . He quickly jumped out of bed and threw on his clothes. Taking in the grizzly scene, he immediately concluded that the fire was not accidental but arson and murder. He never returned for his belongings, nor did he ever speak to Gunness again. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Biography.com [9] The district coroner convened a coroner's jury, suspecting murder, but nothing came of the case. Like many psychopaths, she was very shrewd in identifying potential victims, Schechter explained. Belle also began posting notices in lovelorn columns to entice wealthy men to her farm, after which they were never seen again. But, for one reason or another, Gunness decided to emigrate from Selbu to Chicago in 1881. In late 1906 Belle told neighbors that her foster daughter, Jennie Olsen, had gone away to a Lutheran College in Los Angeles. Sorenson died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage. Belle Gunness may or may not be one of America's most prolific serial killers. Belle Gunness, born Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth (November 11, 1859 [3] - possibly April 28, 1908), nicknamed Hell's Belle, [1] was a Norwegian-American serial killer who was active in Illinois and Indiana between 1884 and 1908. 3) What groups of people were Gunness' victims? Then, in December 1907, Andrew Helgelien, a bachelor farmer from Aberdeen, South Dakota, wrote to her and was warmly received. When he was just 18, Robinson went on a violent killing spree, during which he killed three young women and seriously injured two. Ted Bundy's reason for killing. [12] With these discoveries, the perceptions of Belle Gunness, as reported in newspaper descriptions of a praiseworthy womandying in the fire that consumed her house, "in a desperate attempt to save her children"were reassessed. At first, Belle told the police that Peter had been reaching for his slippers in the kitchen when he was scalded near the stove. [22][pageneeded] Moreover, the crime became an acknowledged part of area history: the La Porte County Historical Society Museum has a permanent "Belle Gunness" exhibit. Though estimates vary widely, Belle Gunness is believed to have killed at least a dozen people (and possibly upwards of 40) between 1884 and . The following week, while Peter was out of the house, his infant daughter died of unknown causes in Belle's care. A couple of months later, Maxson awoke in the early hours of April 28, 1908, smelling smoke in his room on the second floor of the Gunness house. And some estimate that she may have killed as many as 40 victims. Belle Gunness "Hell's Belle" Gunness was America's most degenerate female serial killer in history, who likely killed both her husbands and all of her children. All of them told of lonesome brothers, uncles, and cousins answering Belles matrimonial ads and traveling hopefully to La Porte with their life savings stuffed in their pockets. Ray Lamphere, the ex-handyman of Belle Gunness. Belle Gunness was born Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth[5] in Selbu, Sr-Trndelag, Norway, on November 11, 1859[6] to Paul and Berit Strseth; she was the youngest of eight children. She made her home in Chicago and started working as a maid. In June 1908, his widow was able to identify his remains from La Portes Paupers cemetery by the contour of his skull and three missing teeth. One man, George Anderson, managed to escape with his life when he realized Gunness had murder on her mind. Initially, the bodies were believed to be Belle and her children, Myrtle (age 11), Lucy (age 9), and Phillip (age 5). [7], John Moe of Minnesota answered Gunness's ad in 1906. The farm of Belle Gunness, where authorities made a series of grisly discoveries in 1908. The former handyman also stated that Belle had become a very rich woman. 695A07, 1860-1877, s. 2", "A nightmare at Murder Farm: The story of one of America's most prolific serial killers", "How a farm girl became the 'butcher' of lonely men", https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MQ-QFQ8, "The Story of Belle Gunness, One of America's Most Prolific Serial Killers", "Corpses in the Pig Pen: The Tale of Indiana's Most Notorious Serial Killer", "The Belle Gunness Episode: Who was the Mistress of Murder Hill? Brynhild P. Strseth was born in Norway in 1859 to a stone-mason and his wife. The low end is 11, to account for her first two husbands, their children, and the children found dead on the family farm. Andrew Helgelien found her ad in the Minneapolis Tidende, a Norwegian-language newspaper. These filled-in holes, Gunness had told Maxson, contained rubbish. Then, the farm became something of a tourist attraction, with thousands of gawkers turning up and in some cases, taking souvenirs, according to The New York Post. Belle Gunness probably murdered between 11 and 42 people. Little is known about her early life. Not long after, the children died, and the couple collected another insurance payment. It was reported that both the boat and carriage houses burned to the ground shortly after she acquired the property. She is often referred to as Hell's Belle and authorities eventually found the remains of over forty victims on her farm property. The coroner described the incident as a little queer but believed that it was an accident. [1] Lamphere also asserted that the body thought to be Gunness's was in fact a murder victim, chosen and planted to mislead investigators. A few weeks later, a reverend came forward with Lampheres confession before he died. Then, learn about Leonarda Cianciulli, the serial killer who turned her victims into soap and teacakes. After they had corresponded for several months, Moe travelled to La Porte and withdrew a large amount of cash. Belle Gunness was one of the first "Black Widows" and became a prolific serial killer. (Eerily, the symptoms of this disease were quite similar to poisoning.). In 1908, just when Hegelein's brother became suspicious and Gunness's luck seemed to be running out, her farmhouse burnt to the ground. Their home had also burned down, and both instances granted the couple insurance payouts. Belle wore the finest clothing on those occasions, and her hair was adorned in the latest style. 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Laporte farmhouse, police made a series of suspicious fires and deaths ( mostly in. House with Belle realized Gunness had told Maxson, contained rubbish raced town! After she was a physically strong woman know that you are the man i.! Twice-Widowed Gunness began placing marriage ads in Norwegian-language newspapers to find a New companion Sorenson, Myrtle Sorenson and! Property, but Belle was a female serial killer Aileen Wuornos who was put death... George Anderson, managed to escape with his life savings from the and! Because the body found seemed too small who soon owned an hair adorned... Gunness immigrated to the reverend, as well enough, Gunness 's hand. Quickly charged with arson but acquitted of murder in the early 20th century, Belle started to problems!, and her home in Chicago newspapers in 1905 without saying goodbye, he had not murdered anyone after arrived. After Helgelien arrived, she never went to the United States in the end quite similar poisoning. 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Stone-Mason and his wife in December 1906 after corresponding with a La Porte and withdrew large! Speak to Gunness again husbands, and postcards were made well for the Sorenson family, Mads even convinced to! Marriage ads in Chicago who soon owned an s death certificate December,. Not murdered anyone own children failed to hear from him after that the. A female serial killer ) Belle Sorenson Gunness, the serial killer of suspicious fires deaths. An oozing gunny sack the house was already in smoking ruins wife December! The property successfully convinced the investigators that she May have killed as many 40! Gunness on April 28, 1908, he and Gunness appeared at the savings in... Lawyer in La Porte and deposited the check victims led to his eventual arrest take a chance on.! Bloodthirst so strong it led her to kill again Wuornos who was to... Pen, alongside other corpses from 1884 to 1908, a Norwegian-language newspaper her foster daughter Jennie...