by Miss Cellania
Source: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/48472#more-48472
Some women who vow to “love, honor, and cherish” end up violating those vows in a deadly manner. These stories of women who kill their men have some eerie similarities. A man dies, and someone notices his wife had already lost a husband or two due to a similar illness. An investigation reveals that each man had the same poison in his system. That’s the story of the human black widow.
1. Belle Gunness
Brynhild Paulsdatter Størseth was born in Norway and came to the US in 1881. Later known as Belle Gunness, she married Mads Albert Sorenson in 1884. The couple produced four children, two of whom died in infancy, but were fortunately covered by life insurance. During the marriage, both a home and a business burned down and insurance was paid out. Sorenson died on July 30, 1900, coincidentally the one day that two of his life insurance policies overlapped. Belle married Peter Gunness in 1902. He already had an two daughters, one an infant who died while under his new wife’s care. Gunness himself died in December of 1902 when a heavy machine fell on him. Peter Gunness’ older daughter prudently went to live with an uncle. Gunness’ death was investigated, but Belle was not charged -possibly because she was pregnant. Soon after, her adopted daughter Jennie Olsen, who was questioned over remarks she had made about Gunness’ death, disappeared completely. Gunness began corresponding with men through a lonely hearts club. She invited suitors to visit her and bring money. John Moe, Ole B. Budsburg, and Andrew Helgelien were among the many men who came to visit Gunness and brought money to help the poor widow with her mortgage, and were never seen again. She became suspicious that her hired hand, Ray Lamphere would rat her out, so Gunness fired him and reported that he threatened her.In 1908, the Gunness home burned down. Four bodies were found under the piano, three of Gunness’ children and the headless body of a woman whose measurements did not match Gunness. However, dentures found in the ashes were hers, and the coroner pronounced Belle Gunness to be dead. As the property was cleared, depressions in the ground raised suspicions. Digging revealed the body of Jennie Olsen. The bodies of six suitors and two children were also found. Many other possible victims were reported to the police by concerned relatives. The hired man Ray Lamphere was convicted of arson and died in prison, but not before he revealed details of his days with Gunness. He had told a minister how Belle would kill her victims with strychnine or a meat cleaver, then dismember their bodies before Lamphere buried them. The fate of Gunness has never been positively determined. She had withdrawn her money from the bank before the fire. The identity of the headless woman has also never been determined.
2. Marie Becker
Marie Alexandrine Becker was a bored, middle-aged Belgian housewife in the 1930s. Her husband Charles Becker, a cabinet maker, supported but did not excite her. Along came Lambert Beyer, who offered her the excitement of an affair. It wasn’t long before Charles died and left her an insurance settlement large enough to open her own business. Becker married Beyer, but the excitement of the illicit affair was no longer there. Two months into the marriage, Beyer also died. He had, of course, lived long enough to put Becker in his will as the sole beneficiary. She lived the high life, dancing, drinking, and carousing with men until the money started to dwindle. Becker then volunteered to take care of ailing elderly people, who would soon die and leave her an inheritance. She may have gotten away with it, except she generously offered to help a friend “get rid” of her bothersome husband. The friend went to the Belgian police, who found digitalis in Becker’s home. They exhumed the bodies of people who were known to be in Becker’s company before they died, and found evidence of digitalis in victim after victim. She was found guilty of ten murders, although she is suspected of more. Becker died in prison two years after receiving a life sentence.
