The Infamous World of Female Serial Killers

Serial killers are often portrayed as male, but history has shown that women can also commit these heinous crimes. Female serial killers often use methods and motivations that differ from their male counterparts, making their cases particularly chilling and intriguing. This blog explores the most well-known female serial killers, the public’s reaction to them, their methods, and how they compare to male serial killers.

Most Notorious Female Serial Killers

• Aileen Wuornos (United States)
  • Crimes: Killed seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990, claiming they assaulted her during prostitution encounters.
  • Method: Shooting.
  • Motivation: Claimed self-defense but was convicted of first-degree murder.
  • Media:
    • Film: Monster (2003), starring Charlize Theron.
    • Books: Dear Dawn: Aileen Wuornos in Her Own Words by Lisa Kester and Daphne Gottlieb.
    • Documentaries: Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003).
• Dorothea Puente (United States)
  • Crimes: Ran a boarding house in Sacramento, California, where she murdered tenants to collect their Social Security checks.
  • Method: Poisoning.
  • Victims: Nine confirmed deaths, though suspected of more.
  • Media:
    • Book: The Bone Garden by William P. Wood.
    • Documentary: Worst Roommate Ever (Netflix, 2022).
• Elizabeth Báthory (Hungary)
  • Crimes: Known as the “Blood Countess,” allegedly tortured and murdered hundreds of young girls in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
  • Method: Torture and mutilation.
  • Motivation: Believed to bathe in their blood to maintain youth.
  • Media:
    • Films: The Countess (2009), Bathory (2008).
    • Books: Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsebet Bathory by Kimberly L. Craft.
• Nannie Doss (United States)
  • Crimes: Known as the “Giggling Granny,” poisoned multiple family members, including four husbands, her mother, and her sister.
  • Method: Poisoning with arsenic.
  • Motivation: Financial gain and personal grievances.
  • Media:
    • Books: Deadly Women: Nannie Doss by J.T. Hunter.
    • TV: Deadly Women series (Investigation Discovery).
• Mary Ann Cotton (United Kingdom)
  • Crimes: Murdered up to 21 people, including husbands, children, and lovers, in the 19th century.
  • Method: Poisoning with arsenic.
  • Motivation: Financial gain from life insurance policies.
  • Media:
    • TV: Dark Angel (2016).
    • Book: Mary Ann Cotton: Britain’s First Female Serial Killer by Martin Connolly.
• Amelia Dyer (United Kingdom)
  • Crimes: Known as the “Baby Farmer,” killed over 200 infants under her care in Victorian England.
  • Method: Strangulation.
  • Motivation: Financial profit from fostering illegitimate babies.
  • Media:
    • Books: Amelia Dyer: Angel Maker by Alison Rattle and Allison Vale.
• Beverly Allitt (United Kingdom)
  • Crimes: Nurse who killed four children and injured several others in her care during the early 1990s.
  • Method: Lethal injections of potassium and insulin.
  • Motivation: Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
  • Media:
    • Documentaries: Nurses Who Kill (TV series).
• Jolly Jane Toppan (United States)
  • Crimes: Nurse who confessed to killing at least 31 patients in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • Method: Poisoning with morphine and atropine.
  • Motivation: Deriving pleasure from being present during her victims’ deaths.
  • Media:
    • Books: Fatal: The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer by Harold Schechter.
• Karla Homolka (Canada)
  • Crimes: Participated in the rape and murder of three young women, including her sister, alongside her husband, Paul Bernardo.
  • Method: Strangulation and sexual assault.
  • Motivation: Complex dynamics of control and submission with Bernardo.
  • Media:
    • Film: Karla (2006).
    • Books: Invisible Darkness: The Horrifying Case of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka by Stephen Williams.

Why Are People More Shocked by Female Serial Killers?

Societal stereotypes about women as caregivers and nurturers make the idea of a female serial killer particularly shocking. The methods used—often poisoning or suffocation—can seem more insidious because they exploit trust and proximity. Female serial killers challenge deeply ingrained notions of femininity, making their crimes seem even more unsettling.

Are Female Serial Killers Less Brutal?

In general, female serial killers often use less overtly violent methods, such as poisoning or smothering, compared to male killers who frequently rely on physical violence. However, the impact of their crimes can be equally devastating. For example, Elizabeth Báthory’s alleged torture of hundreds of victims rivals the brutality of any male counterpart.

Are Men More Likely to Be Serial Killers?

Yes, studies show that men are more likely to be serial killers, accounting for roughly 85-90% of all documented cases. However, women’s involvement, while less frequent, is significant and often overlooked in discussions of criminal behavior.

Media on Female Serial Killers

• Movies:
  • Monster (2003) – Aileen Wuornos.
  • The Countess (2009) – Elizabeth Báthory.
  • Karla (2006) – Karla Homolka.
• Books:
  • Fatal: The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer by Harold Schechter.
  • Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsebet Bathory by Kimberly L. Craft.
• Documentaries:
  • Worst Roommate Ever (2022) – Dorothea Puente.
  • Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003).
  • Deadly Women series (Investigation Discovery).

Motivations, Behaviors, and Methods of Female Killers

While each case is unique, there are some notable trends that distinguish female killers from their male counterparts. Here’s an overview of the common patterns observed:

• Financial Gain: Many female killers are motivated by money, targeting victims for life insurance payouts, inheritance, or theft. Examples include Mary Ann Cotton and Dorothea Puente.
• Caretaker Role Exploitation: Female serial killers like Nannie Doss and Jane Toppan have used their roles as caregivers (e.g., nurses, mothers, or spouses) to access and harm their victims.
• Revenge or Emotional Motivation: Some female killers act out of perceived betrayal or emotional conflict, such as cases involving abusive relationships.
• Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy: Nurses like Beverly Allitt harm or kill their patients to gain attention or sympathy.

• Trust and Proximity: Female killers typically target people they know or have close relationships with, such as family members, patients, or dependents.
• Vulnerable Populations: Victims are often those who are less likely to resist or report abuse, such as children, the elderly, or the infirm.
• Fewer Strangers: Unlike male killers who may target strangers, female killers are more likely to choose victims within their personal or professional circles.

• Poisoning: Arsenic, morphine, and other toxins are commonly used by female killers. This method is slow, difficult to detect, and aligns with the caregiver stereotype.
• Smothering or Strangulation: Some female killers use suffocation, especially when their victims are infants or elderly.
• Manipulation or Coercion: Women are less likely to commit the physical act of murder themselves but may manipulate others into doing it for them.

• Emotional Manipulation: Female killers often excel at manipulating those around them, leveraging trust or sympathy to their advantage.
• Lack of Physical Confrontation: Women are less likely to engage in overtly violent or physically aggressive crimes compared to men.
• Social Expectations: Women may use societal stereotypes about femininity and nurturing to mask their crimes, making them harder to detect.

• Longer Timeframes: Female killers tend to operate over longer periods, sometimes spanning years or decades.
• Fewer Victims: On average, female serial killers tend to have fewer victims than male serial killers, though there are exceptions (e.g., Amelia Dyer with over 200 infant victims).

• Less Suspicion: Society often views women as less capable of violence, making female killers less likely to be suspected initially.
• Caregiver Roles: Occupying roles such as nurse, mother, or landlady provides cover for their crimes, as deaths in these contexts may be attributed to natural causes.

Why These Patterns Matter

Understanding these patterns helps law enforcement and criminologists recognize the unique profiles of female killers. It also underscores the importance of questioning stereotypes that may delay justice in cases involving women.

Conclusion

Female serial killers, though less common, leave an indelible mark on history. Their stories challenge societal norms, force us to reconsider assumptions about gender, and reveal the dark complexities of human nature. Through books, movies, and documentaries, their legacies continue to fascinate and horrify audiences worldwide.