Female serial killers are rare, making up only about 10% of all known serial killers. But when they strike, their crimes are shocking, chilling, and unforgettable.
From cunning poisoners to manipulative caregivers, these women have left a mark on true crime history. Some are infamous for the sheer number of their victims, others for the twisted ways they carried out their crimes.
Here’s what you need to know about the 15 most prolific and dangerous female serial killers who shocked the world.
15 Most Famous Female Serial Killers Throughout History
These women made history for their horrific crimes, motives, and chilling methods. They show the dark range of humanity’s capacity beyond gender.
1. Amelia Dyer (UK, 1800s) – Baby farmer who killed infants
| LifeSpan | 1837 –1896 |
| Also Known as | The Reading Baby Farmer |
| Murder Count | 6 confirmed; possibly 200–400+ infants |
| Method of Killing | Strangulation (usually with white tape), neglect, and disposal of bodies wrapped in linen or paper into rivers |
| Motive or Typology | Financial gain through baby farming |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | England |
| Crime Period | 1869 –1896 |
| Punishment Received | sentenced to death |
| How did she die? | Executed by hanging at Newgate Prison on 10 June 1896 |
Born in 1837, Amelia Dyer operated as a “baby farmer” in Victorian England, a supposed caretaker for unwanted infants.
Behind this guise, she strangled babies (often with white tape), disposed of their bodies, and pursued the activity purely for monetary gain. While six killings were confirmed, authorities estimate she could have killed between 200 and 400 infants over her deadly career, making her one of history’s most prolific murderesses.
Psychology Behind Amelia Dyer’s Serial Killing
So what was going on in her mind? Amelia’s criminal psychology was rooted in financial greed mixed with a complete lack of empathy. The Victorian era’s desperate social conditions made “baby farming” a profitable, yet grim, trade, and she exploited it without remorse.
Her process was chillingly consistent: take the child, secure the fee, quickly strangle with white tape, and dispose of the evidence. No emotional connection. No hesitation. Just a cold, calculated system for profit.
In the end, her empire of death collapsed. Police traced baby corpses back to her, and in 1896, she was convicted and sentenced to death. Amelia Dyer’s final chapter came swiftly; she was hanged at Newgate Prison, closing the book on one of the darkest killing sprees in British history.
2. Maria Swanenburg (Netherlands, 1800s) – Poisoned family and neighbors
| LifeSpan | 1839 – 1915 |
| Also Known as | “Goeie Mie” (Dutch for “Good Mie”) |
| Murder Count | 27 victims confirmed; 90+ suspected of poisoning |
| Method of Killing | Arsenic poisoning |
| Motive or Typology | Financial gain from the victims’ life insurance |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | Netherlands |
| Crime Period | 1880–1883 |
| Punishment Received | Sentenced to life imprisonment in 1885 |
| How did she die? | Died in prison in Gorinchem on April 11, 1915 |
Maria Swanenburg, better known as “Goeie Mie” (Good Mie), looked like a caring neighbor in Leiden. But behind that friendly mask was one of the deadliest women in Dutch history. Between 1880 and 1883, she poisoned dozens of people with arsenic, often slipping it into their food or drinks.
Her victims weren’t strangers, either; most were family, friends, or neighbors. While 27 murders were confirmed, investigators suspected she had poisoned over 90 people in total.
Her motive? Purely financial. Many of her victims had life insurance or inheritances that Swanenburg stood to gain from.
Psychology Behind Maria Swanenburg’s Killings
Maria wasn’t a woman driven by rage or sudden impulses. Instead, she was cold, calculating, and financially motivated. Experts now describe her as a classic example of a “comfort killer,” someone who murders for personal gain.
Her process was simple but deadly: mix arsenic into meals, wait for the victim to fall ill, then continue poisoning until they died. Because she targeted people close to her, suspicion didn’t rise immediately; neighbors even trusted her to “care” for the sick.
But when patterns of sudden deaths kept pointing back to her, the truth came out. In 1885, she was convicted of three murders (though suspected of many more) and sentenced to life in prison. Maria spent the rest of her days locked away in Gorinchem, where she eventually died in 1915.
3. Daria Saltykova (Russia, 1700s) – Noblewoman who tortured and killed serfs
| LifeSpan | 1730–1801 |
| Also Known as | Saltychikha |
| Murder Count | 38–100+ victims |
| Method of Killing | Torture, starvation, and physical abuse |
| Motive or Typology | Sadistic pleasure and abuse of power |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | Russia |
| Crime Period | 1756–1762 |
| Punishment Received | Sentenced to life imprisonment in 1768 |
| How did she die? | Died in captivity on December 9, 1801 |
Daria Nikolayevna Saltykova, infamously known as “Saltychikha,” was born into a powerful noble family in Russia in 1730. After marrying Gleb Saltykov and becoming a wealthy widow by age 26, she inherited a large estate near Moscow.
Saltykova began her reign of terror by systematically torturing and killing female serfs under her control, ultimately claiming at least 38 officially confirmed victims but possibly over 100.
Her calculated cruelty shocked Russian society, turning her name into a byword for aristocratic abuse.
Psychology Behind Daria Saltykova’s Serial Killing
Saltykova’s crimes were rooted in sadistic pleasure and abuse of power. As a member of the nobility, she exploited her status to inflict suffering without fear of immediate consequences.
Her methods were calculated, systematically torturing serfs until death, reflecting a cold and controlling mindset.
Eventually, her actions caught the attention of authorities after repeated complaints. In 1768, she was sentenced to life imprisonment and spent the rest of her life confined.
Daria Saltykova died in captivity on December 9, 1801, leaving behind one of the darkest legacies in Russian criminal history.
4. Miyuki Ishikawa (Japan, 1940s) – Midwife who let 100+ infants die
| LifeSpan | 1897 – 1987 |
| Also Known as | The Demon Midwife (Oni-Sanba) |
| Murder Count | An estimated 27–103 infants |
| Method of Killing | Neglect, starvation, and exposure |
| Motive or Typology | Financial gain, utilitarian/exploitative |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | Japan (Tokyo) |
| Crime Period | 1946 –1948 |
| Punishment Received | 4 years in prison |
| How did she die? | Natural causes in 1987 |
Miyuki Ishikawa, chillingly known as “The Demon Midwife”, seemed like a trusted caregiver in post-war Tokyo. But between April 1946 and January 1948, she turned her maternity home into a deadly place for infants born out of wedlock or whose parents couldn’t pay.
Ishikawa and her accomplices are believed to have killed at least 27, possibly more than 80 infants, using deliberate neglect and withholding care. She presented herself as a helpful midwife, but behind closed doors, she exploited the most vulnerable for financial gain.
Psychology Behind Miyuki Ishikawa’s Crimes
Miyuki’s mindset was cold, calculating, and profit-driven. She manipulated desperate parents, convincing them to pay her to take care of their children, while knowing many would never survive. Her crimes reveal a mix of utilitarian calculation, moral detachment, and psychopathic tendencies.
Her reign of terror ended when authorities discovered the bodies of several infants. She was arrested, convicted of infanticide, and sentenced to 4 years in prison. Ishikawa lived out the rest of her life in Japan, dying of natural causes in 1987.
5. Mary Ann Cotton (UK, 1800s) – Poisoned family for insurance money
| LifeSpan | 1832 –1873 |
| Also Known as | The Black Widow |
| Murder Count | At least 21 |
| Method of Killing | Arsenic poisoning |
| Motive or Typology | Financial gain / profit-driven serial killer |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | England |
| Crime Period | 1850s–1872 |
| Punishment Received | Sentenced to death |
| How did she die? | Executed by hanging at Durham Gaol on March 24, 1873 |
Mary Ann Cotton, later nicknamed “The Black Widow,” became one of England’s most notorious female serial killers. Born in 1832, she lived an ordinary life on the surface, but behind closed doors, she was carrying out one of the deadliest arsenic-poisoning sprees in British history.
Her killings began in the 1850s, starting with her own children and husbands. Over the years, she is believed to have poisoned at least 21 victims, including three husbands, a lover, and multiple children. Each death was carefully staged, often followed by her collecting insurance money.
Psychology Behind Mary Ann Cotton’s Serial Killing
Cotton wasn’t driven by rage or sadistic pleasure aloneher crimes were largely about financial gain and survival. Using arsenic poisoning, she chose a method that was hard to detect at the time, making her crimes appear like natural deaths from stomach illness.
Her calm and calculating approach shows a profit-driven criminal psychology, where money outweighs morality. But her downfall came in 1872, when the suspicious death of her stepson led to an investigation. She was finally caught, tried, and hanged at Durham Gaol on March 24, 1873.
6. Belle Gunness (USA, early 1900s) – “Hell’s Belle” who killed suitors
| LifeSpan | 1859 – 1908 |
| Also Known as | Hell’s Belle, Lady Bluebeard |
| Murder Count | 14 confirmed; possibly up to 40 victims |
| Method of Killing | Poisoning with strychnine; dismemberment and body disposal |
| Motive or Typology | Financial gain (life insurance and valuables) |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | United States |
| Crime Period | 1884–1908 |
| Punishment Received | N/A (never apprehended or tried) |
| How did she die? | Presumed dead in a house fire on April 28, 1908 |
Belle Gunness, “Hell’s Belle” or “Lady Bluebeard,”started life in Norway but made her deadly mark in the United States. After immigrating in 1881, she quickly built a reputation as a hardworking woman running a farm and butcher shop in Indianabut appearances were deceiving.
Her killing spree began in the 1880s, using poison and dismemberment to eliminate anyone who stood between her and money. Belle lured victims through personal ads, promising love or work, only to murder them and collect their valuables. While 14 murders are confirmed, historians suspect she may have killed up to 40 people over her career.
Psychology Behind Belle Gunness’ Crimes
Belle was calculated, manipulative, and utterly ruthless. She didn’t kill out of passion or rageher crimes were carefully planned, methodical, and financially motivated. Poisoning allowed her to maintain a facade of a caring, respectable woman, while dismemberment and hiding bodies show her cold, practical side.
Her reign of terror came to an uncertain end in 1908, when her farmhouse burned down and a headless body was found in the ruins. Authorities presumed it was Belle, but no one knows for sure if she diedor if “Hell’s Belle” managed to escape and vanish.
7. Jane Toppan (USA, 1800s) – Nurse who experimented on patients.
| LifeSpan | 1854 – 1938 |
| Also Known as | Jolly Jane |
| Murder Count | 12 confirmed, 31 confessed, 100+ suspected |
| Method of Killing | Poisoning with morphine and atropine |
| Motive or Typology | Sexual gratification, power over helpless victims, and possible jealousy |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | United States (Massachusetts) |
| Crime Period | 1895–1901 |
| Punishment Received | committed for life to Taunton Insane Hospital |
| How did she die? | Died in the asylum in 1938 |
Jane Toppan, born Honora Kelley, was better known as “Jolly Jane.” On the surface, she was a trusted nurse in Massachusettswarm, caring, and empathetic. But behind that facade, between 1895 and 1901, she became one of America’s most chilling serial killers.
In her nursing role, she killed at least 12 confirmed victims, confessed to 31, and is suspected of over 100 deaths.
Psychology Behind Jane Toppan’s Killing Spree
Jane’s actions were driven by a sinister blend of sexual thrill, power, and jealousyespecially toward her foster sister. She admitted that her ambition was “to have killed more helpless people than any other man or woman who ever lived.”
Her process was as disturbing as her motive. She’d quietly experiment on her patientsusing morphine and atropine to bring them to the brink of death, then nurse them back…and repeat the cycle, deriving pleasure each time.
That wasn’t all. Sometimes she used poison to manipulate situationsknock someone off just enough to appear drunk (so she could steal a job), or even poison herself to attract sympathy. And most horrifying of all, she would hold dying patients close, even attempting to glimpse “their souls” as they passed.
8. Nannie Doss (USA, 1900s) – The “Giggling Granny”
| LifeSpan | 1905 – 1965 |
| Also Known as | “The Giggling Granny,” “The Jolly Black Widow,” “The Lonely Hearts Killer”, “Lady Blue Beard” |
| Murder Count | 11 confirmed victims |
| Method of Killing | Poisoning (primarily arsenic) |
| Motive or Typology | Financial gain through life insurance policies; desire for companionship |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | United States |
| Crime Period | Life imprisonment (sentenced May 17, 1955) |
| Punishment Received | Sentenced to life imprisonment in 1768 |
| How did she die? | Died of leukemia in the hospital in 1965 |
Nannie Doss, dubbed “The Giggling Granny,” was born in 1905 in Oklahoma. A seemingly cheerful grandmother, she hid her true self behind smiles, killing husbands, family, and lovers for life insurance money and personal motives.
But behind that friendly smile was a deadly secret. Her first suspected murders began in 1927, targeting husbands, relatives, and loversalways with a handy arsenic-laced twist.
Over her criminal career, Nannie is confirmed to have killed 11 people, though some reports suggest the number could be higher. She carefully planned her poisonings, often for life insurance payouts or personal gain, all while maintaining the image of a doting family member.
Psychology Behind Nannie Doss’s Crimes
Nannie’s actions reveal a mix of financial cunning, emotional detachment, and a craving for control. She charmed victims, gained their trust, and then killed methodically using poisonslow, quiet, and lethal. Her behavior shows clear signs of psychopathy and manipulative tendencies, all hidden behind a cheerful, “harmless” persona.
Her spree ended when authorities noticed a suspicious pattern in deaths around her. She was arrested, tried, and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1955, spending her final years in prison before dying of leukemia in 1965.
9. Dagmar Overbye (Denmark, early 1900s) – Killed infants in her care
| LifeSpan | 1887 – 1929 |
| Also Known as | “Englemagersken” (The Angel Maker) |
| Murder Count | 9–25 children (including her own) |
| Method of Killing | Strangulation, drowning, burning |
| Motive or Typology | Financial gain through fraudulent adoptions |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | Denmark (Copenhagen) |
| Crime Period | 1913–1920 |
| Punishment Received | Commuted to life imprisonment |
| How did she die? | Died in prison on May 6, 1929 |
Dagmar Overbye, born in 1887, was a Danish caretaker known as “The Angel Maker.” She accepted unwanted infants for a fee and killed them by strangulation, drowning, or burning.
Her murders were uncovered in 1920; she was convicted of killing between nine and 25 children, including her own, all for financial gain through fraudulent adoptions
Psychology Behind Dagmar Overbye’s Crimes
Dagmar’s motives were primarily financial, collecting fees for her “adoption services.” But there was more than moneyshe showed a cold, calculating disregard for human life. By maintaining the guise of a loving caregiver, she gained trust and avoided suspicion, demonstrating manipulation and psychopathic traits.
Her crimes ended when authorities discovered a missing child hidden in her oven, leading to her arrest, conviction, and death sentence, which was later commuted to life imprisonment. Dagmar spent her remaining years behind bars, dying in prison in 1929.
10. Marybeth Tinning – Serial Killer Mom
| LifeSpan | 1942 – Present |
| Also Known as | The Baby Killer |
| Murder Count | 1 confirmed conviction, 9 suspected victims |
| Method of Killing | Smothering |
| Motive or Typology | Attention-seeking (possible Munchausen syndrome by proxy) |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | United States (New York) |
| Crime Period | 1972–1985 |
| Punishment Received | Convicted of second-degree murder; sentenced to 20 years to life; released on parole in 2018 |
| How did she die? | Alive as of the latest reports |
Marybeth Tinning, The Baby Killer, had a life marked by tragedy and suspicion. Her first confirmed killing came on December 20, 1985, when she smothered her 4-month-old daughter, Tami Lynne, to death. Over the next 14 years, eight of her other children died under mysterious circumstances, leading authorities to suspect her involvement in their deaths as well.
Her method of killing was smothering, often using a pillow, and she maintained a facade of a grieving mother, which made her crimes even more unsettling. Despite her denials, the pattern of deaths and the lack of natural causes led to her conviction.
Psychology Behind Marybeth Tinning’s Crimes
Marybeth’s behavior suggests a possible case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP), a disorder where a caregiver intentionally harms others to gain attention or sympathy. Her repeated actions over the years, coupled with her ability to deceive medical professionals, point to a deep-seated psychological issue. Some experts believe her actions align with the DSM-5’s criteria for MSbP, indicating a lifelong pattern of deceptive behavior.
Her killing spree ended when she was convicted of second-degree murder in 1987 and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. After being denied parole six times, she was granted parole on her seventh attempt and was released on August 21, 2018.
11. Leonarda Cianciulli (Italy, 1940s) – Soap Maker of Correggio
| LifeSpan | 1894 –1970 |
| Also Known as | The Soap-Maker of Correggio (La Saponificatrice di Correggio) |
| Murder Count | 3 confirmed victims |
| Method of Killing | Blunt force/strangulation; then dissolved bodies in caustic soda and baked into teacakes |
| Motive or Typology | Superstitious/maternal obsession |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | Italy (Correggio, Reggio Emilia) |
| Crime Period | 1939–1940 |
| Punishment Received | 30 years in prison + 3 years in criminal asylum |
| How did she die? | Died in a criminal asylum from cerebral apoplexy on October 15, 1970 |
Leonarda Cianciulli, chillingly nicknamed “The Soap-Maker of Correggio,” started life like many in rural Italy, but her story took a dark turn in the late 1930s. Her first killings began between 1939 and 1940, when she lured three women into her home under the guise of friendship. Her goal? To use their deaths in twisted rituals, she believed would protect her son from the perils of World War II.
She killed three women and took things furtherdissolving their bodies in caustic soda to make soap and even baking parts into teacakes for unsuspecting visitors. It’s gruesome, calculated, and completely shocking.
Psychology Behind Leonarda Cianciulli’s Crimes
Leonarda’s mind was a mix of superstition, maternal obsession, and cold calculation. She genuinely believed human sacrifices could safeguard her family, yet she carried out her acts with methodical precision. Luring, murdering, and disposing of bodies in such a grotesque manner shows highly manipulative and psychopathic traits, combined with delusional thinking.
Her crimes caught up with her when authorities discovered the horrific truth. She was arrested, tried, and sentenced to 30 years in prison plus 3 years in a criminal asylum, where she eventually died in 1970.
12. Aileen Wuornos (USA, 1990s) – Killed seven men in Florida
| LifeSpan | 1956 – 2002 |
| Also Known as | The Damsel of Death |
| Murder Count | 7 confirmed victims |
| Method of Killing | Shooting |
| Motive or Typology | Claimed self-defense; spree killing of clients; possible psychopathy |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | United States (Florida) |
| Crime Period | 1989 – 1990 |
| Punishment Received | Death by lethal injection |
| How did she die? | Executed in 2002 at Florida State Prison |
Aileen Wuornos, “The Damsel of Death,” was born in 1956 in Michigan and endured a turbulent upbringing. She began killing in 1989, targeting menmostly her clients as a sex workeracross Florida. Over the next year, she killed 7 men across Florida, shooting each in what she described as self-defense.
Her killings were fast, violent, and calculated, often carried out immediately after meeting her victims. Despite her chaotic upbringing and life on the streets, she maintained a chilling consistency in her attacks.
Psychology Behind Aileen Wuornos’s Crimes
Aileen’s behavior reveals a mix of trauma, rage, and survival instincts. Her early life was marked by abuse, neglect, and abandonment, which contributed to her deep mistrust of men and her eventual violent retaliation. The murders reflect psychopathy, impulsivity, and a distorted sense of self-preservation, carried out with cold precision.
Her spree ended when authorities caught up with her in 1991. She was arrested, convicted of six counts of first-degree murder, and sentenced to death, ultimately executed by lethal injection in 2002.
13. Martha Patty Cannon
| LifeSpan | 1760 – 1829 |
| Also Known as | The Devil on the Nanticoke |
| Murder Count | 4 confirmed murders (suspected of more) |
| Method of Killing | Kidnapping, confinement, possible murder by abuse |
| Motive or Typology | Financial gain, slave trading, psychopathy |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | United States |
| Crime Period | 1800s – 1829 |
| Punishment Received | Arrested and indicted for murder; died before trial |
| How did she die? | Died in prison (cause disputed: poisoning or natural causes) |
Martha Patty Cannon, also called “The Devil on the Nanticoke,” was born around 1760. Her criminal career started with kidnapping free African Americans and fugitive slaves, selling them into the southern states. While she’s confirmed to have killed at least 4 victims, historians believe there may have been many more.
Cannon’s operations weren’t just about moneythey were about control, fear, and ruthless power. Victims were confined, abused, and transported under harsh conditions, leaving a trail of horror in her wake.
Psychology Behind Patty Cannon’s Crimes
Her psychological profile is just as chilling. Experts say she displayed cold-blooded psychopathy, manipulation, and a shocking lack of empathy, all while maintaining a seemingly normal façade.
The end came in 1829, when authorities uncovered human remains on her property. She was arrested and indicted for murder, but Cannon died in prison before her trial, reportedly from poisoning or natural causes.
14. Delphine LaLaurie (USA, 1800s) – New Orleans socialite who tortured enslaved people
| LifeSpan | 1787 – 1849 (approx) |
| Also Known as | Madame LaLaurie |
| Murder Count | The exact number is unknown |
| Method of Killing | Torture, mutilation, starvation, chaining, physical abuse |
| Motive or Typology | Sadistic pleasure and abuse of power |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | United States (New Orleans, Louisiana) |
| Crime Period | Until 1834 |
| Punishment Received | None directly; fled New Orleans before authorities could apprehend her |
| How did she die? | Believed to have died in Paris, France, in 1849 |
Marie Delphine Macarty, later known as “Madame LaLaurie,” was born in 1787 into a prosperous Louisiana family. A celebrated New Orleans socialite, LaLaurie’s elegant lifestyle masked severe atrocities; she began torturing and murdering enslaved people in her mansion. Her crimes were exposed after a house fire in 1834 revealed a chamber of horrors, though she fled before arrest. The total number of her victims remains unknown, sealing her legacy as one of the most infamous women in American history
Psychology Behind Delphine LaLaurie’s Crimes
LaLaurie’s actions were driven by sadistic pleasure and the abuse of power. She used her social status to act without fear of consequences, chaining and mutilating victims in secret. Her methods were calculated and cruel, reflecting a mind that thrived on control and domination.
When her crimes were finally discovered after the fire, the public was outraged. LaLaurie fled New Orleans and was never brought to justice. She is believed to have died in Paris in 1849, leaving behind one of the most infamous legacies of cruelty in American history.
15. Katherine Knight (Australia, 2000) – Skinned and cooked her partner
| LifeSpan | 1955 – Present |
| Also Known as | Australia’s Hannibal Lecter |
| Murder Count | 1 confirmed victim |
| Method of Killing | Stabbing, mutilation, attempted cannibalism |
| Motive or Typology | Revenge, sadistic tendencies |
| Country (or Region) of Crimes | Australia (New South Wales) |
| Crime Period | February 2000 |
| Punishment Received | Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole |
| How did she die? | Alive, serving sentence at Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre |
Katherine Knight, often called “Australia’s Hannibal Lecter,” was living a life marked by violence and trauma long before her first murder. Her first confirmed killing came in February 2000, when she brutally murdered her partner, John Price, in a shocking act of revenge after he tried to leave her.
Knight’s crime was not just a murderit was gruesome and meticulously planned. She stabbed and mutilated Price, skinned him, and even intended to cook parts of his body to serve to his children. She remains one of the most notorious female killers in Australia, with 1 confirmed victim, but a level of cruelty that few could imagine.
Psychology Behind Katherine Knight’s Crimes
Katherine’s early life was riddled with abuse and trauma, including sexual abuse by her father and exposure to domestic violence. These experiences shaped a personality capable of extreme rage, control, and sadistic tendencies. Her killings reflect deep-seated anger, psychopathy, and a desire for revenge, executed with cold precision and premeditation.
Her reign of terror ended when she was arrested, tried, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, making her the first woman in Australia to receive such a sentence. Katherine Knight is alive today, serving her sentence at Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre.
Why Female Serial Killers Are Different
Female serial killers are different from men in a few big ways, and it’s actually pretty interesting once you break it down. Here’s the simplest way to look at it:
Who They Target
Most male serial killers go after strangers, often people they don’t know at all. They “hunt” their victims. Female serial killers usually “gather” their victims from around themthink family members, friends, or people they take care of. In fact, women are almost twice as likely to kill someone they know, while men are way more likely to target strangers.
Why They Kill
Men mostly kill for reasons like anger, control, or even thrill or fantasy. There’s often a deep dark urge behind it, sometimes even linked to obsession or sex. Women, however, tend to have a reason in their mind even if it’s not a good one! Usually, it’s about money, convenience, or to get someone out of the way. Sometimes, it’s for revenge or, very rarely, for sympathy and attention.
How They Kill
Men usually use brutal, violent methods: stabbing, shooting, or beating. Women are much more subtle. They often use poisoning, suffocation, or other ways that don’t require much strength and aren’t messy. That keeps suspicion off and makes it harder to catch them. Because of this sneaky approach, women can sometimes kill for years without anyone noticing.
How Long Do They Go Undetected
On average, women keep going longer before they get caught. Why? Because their methods are quieter and people don’t expect womenespecially those caring for othersto be killers.
So, in short, female serial killers are more likely to kill people they know, do it for reasons like money, and use quieter ways to get away with it. Men, on the other hand, usually go after strangers, use violence, and act from deep, destructive urges.
Psychological Profile of Female Serial Killers
Psychologically, many female serial killers have backgrounds marked by trauma, abuse, or mental health issues such as depression, substance misuse, or personality disorders. They may also show traits like manipulation, a need for control, and sometimes a lack of empathy.
Yet, unlike the common stereotype that women are nurturing and caring, these killers can be ruthless and cold-hearted when it comes to their victims.
Interestingly, studies show that female serial killers often hold jobs in caregiving roles like nursing or babysitting, roles that help them earn the trust of their victims. Some openly admit to wanting to have killed more helpless people than anyone else, showing a disturbing mindset of power and control.
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Final Thoughts
Female serial killers are rare, but their stories prove that evil knows no gender. From Patty Cannon’s ruthless slave trading to Aileen Wuornos’ revenge-driven murders, each case reveals a chilling mix of trauma, greed, manipulation, and power.
What makes these women even more terrifying is how they often hid in plain sightas wives, mothers, caretakers, and neighbors. Their victims never saw the danger coming until it was too late.
While history has recorded their crimes, it also leaves us with important lessons about human psychology, unchecked power, and the thin line between trust and betrayal.
FAQs
Aileen Wuornos is often considered the most infamous, especially in the U.S., but history also remembers names like Mary Ann Cotton, Belle Gunness, and Darya Saltykova.
Unlike many male killers driven by lust or dominance, female serial killers are often motivated by money, revenge, power, or twisted psychological needs. Some even kill for so-called “mercy” or convenience.
One of the earliest recorded was Darya Saltykova (1730–1801) in Russia, a noblewoman who tortured and killed over 100 serfs. But history suggests even earlier cases may have existed.
Absolutely. While less common than men, modern cases do appear. Some have been uncovered in recent decades, reminding us that this dark phenomenon isn’t just part of history.
