A female serial killer is an elusive and rare creature, for her to be a gentlewoman from the South is even rarer. What type of women grows up around magnolia trees and gentle breezes and then murders her entire family, strangers, or coworkers? What justification could she give? Here’s a snapshot profile of 21 southern belle killers, slayers who defy their southern sensibilities.
Marie Dean Arrington
A Florida Black Female who killed in 1964/1968 with 2 victims. She shot her husband and killed another female, also kidnapped to extort her son’s release from prison. She was sentenced to 20 years for manslaughter in 1965, condemned in 1969, and then her sentence was commuted to life in 1972.
Margie Velma Barfield
A North Carolina White Female who killed from 1969-1978 with 5 victims, she was a “Black Widow” that was executed November 2, 1984.
Judias Buenoano
A white female that killed in Florida and Colorado from 1971-1980 she killed three victims; her husband, son, and her lover. She was executed in Florida in 1998.
Nannie Doss
For thirty years, this giggling granny loved her husbands to death – and her children, her grandchildren, her sisters and her mother. A profile of the killer who laughed all the way to her prison cell.
Ellen Etheridge
In Bosque County, TX this White Female killed 4 in 1913. She is labeled a “Black Widow” poisoner of her step children. She pled guilty and got a life sentence.
Janie Lou Gibbs
In the little town of Cordele, GA this White Female killed 5 in 1965-1967. The 5 victims of this “Black Widow” poisoner were her husband, children, and grandson. She was committed to an asylum in 1968, and deemed competent for trial 1974. She received 5 life terms in 1976.
In Austin, TX a White Female killed in 1996 with 2 victims. She was a nurse that injected potassium to elderly men and pled guilty in 1998. She received a 50 year term/25 minimum.
Audrey Marie Hilley
This Anniston, AL White Female killed from 1975-1979 with 4 victims. She was a
“Black Widow” poisoner of relatives/others. She received in 1983 a life term for husband and 20 years for attempted murder of daughter. She escaped in 1987 and died of natural causes.
This New Orleans, LA White Female killed from 1856-1861 with 4 victims. A prostitute who killed male acquaintances, she received 10 years-one count in 1861. It was reprieved 9 months later by new governor when Union troops occupied.
Patricia Jackson
In Tuscaloosa, AL this Black Female killed from 1966/1981 with 2 victims. She
Slashed boyfriend with a razor, and then stabbed a female bartender. She received
12 years for second degree murder in1966, paroled 1970, condemned 1981, then
commuted to life on appeal.
Martha Johnson
This Georgia White Female killed from 1977-1982 with 4 suspected victims, 2 confessed. She smothered children, which was mistaken for SIDS. She was condemned in 1990 but was Commuted on appeal.
Diana Lumbrera
In a Texas/Kansas spree, this Hispanic Female from 1976-1990 killed 7 victims.
She killed her children and received life terms in both states 1990.
Anjette Donovan Lyles
In Macon, GA this White Female killed from 1952-1957 with 4 victims. She was a
voodoo “Black Widow” who poisoned two husbands, a mother in law, and daughter. She was condemned on one count in 1958 and ruled insane. She was then sent to state hospital in 1960 where she died in 1977.
Blanche Taylor Moore of Alamance County, North Carolina, could not have fashioned herself as another Nannie Doss any better than if her predecessor came back to life herself.
Judith Ann Neelley
A White Female sentenced in 1983. Most man and women serial killer teams have the man as the instigator. A simple 18 year old girl that cuckolded her husband into a rampage of murder on her way to become the youngest girl on death row. Sentenced in Alabama where the murdered girl was found, but if released may face charges in Georgia as well.
Sarah Jane Newman
aka Sally Skull; this Texas White Female circa 1830-1864 had 5 victims. She was a
“Black Widow” husband killer who disappeared in 1867 with latest husband.
Melissa Norris
This Gaithersburg, MD white Female in the 1970’s-1986 had 3 confessed victims. She
Killed her mom and brother in house fire, beat to death her infant son in “exorcism”, and
pled out on temp insanity.
Terri Eden Maples Rachals
The Nurse with no heart of gold, Terri Rachals confessed to 6 murders. She was found guilty but mentally ill on one count of aggravated assault, was given a 17 year term with 3 years probation. She was released in 2003, sentenced in 1986.
Darlie Lynn Routier
Darlie Routier is either the most unlucky mother on the planet, or a stone face killer. Convicted of murdering her two sons for the insurance money to help her family out of financial trouble, Darlie held a grisly “birthday party” at the gravesite after their death.
