The dating section (or a modern dating site) can be a great way to earn money easily. On one condition:as long as you are not afraid to get your hands dirty ... with blood.
Dating advertisements were very fashionable at the end of the 19th century. The lady wrote that she was looking for a companion in life. She gave the address and a man stood at her door.
Belle Gunness, a good wife and mother? Well, appearances can often be deceiving.
However, every newspaper should warn that a visit to a stranger's house may have consequences. Unfortunately - she did not warn ...
A man with an ax in his head
When the police arrived at the Gunness home, they saw the body of the man. There was blood everywhere . The lying man was neither stabbed nor shot. There was an ax in the victim's head. And the deceased was Peter Gunness himself.
Young Belle, even before her murderous instincts had awakened.
His wife Belle argued it was an unfortunate accident. The ax hung in the workshop above the work table. The tool accidentally (or because of someone else's hand) dropped. And it had a nice target because it hit right in the head. In addition, hitting not with the handle, but with the blade. Police saw no signs of homicide. What happened to Peter was considered an unfortunate twist of fate. Belle became a widow - for the second time.
I'm looking for a husband, but rich
So let's go back in time to meet Mrs. Gunness's first chosen one. In 1876, Belle came from Norway to the United States as a child with her parents.
Here she found her husband, Max Sorensen. From this relationship, five children were born. Two of them died and the family received compensation to dry their tears. This fact did not surprise anyone, as in the 19th century children often died.
Max died shortly after, and Belle was left alone. She decided to move to La Porte. On her way she met the aforementioned Peter Gunness, on whose head an ax fell on his head shortly after the wedding. Could this death be another mishap?
Irrelevant. It is important that Belle did not cry because her late husband left her quite a legacy. However, that was not enough for her. She decided to look for another sweetheart. Therefore, she published a marriage advertisement, but as a wealthy hostess she made a condition. She announced that husband candidates - like her - should have money.
They had to prove their material status by bringing with them at least $ 500. Men began to arrive at Belle. They came, they brought money, but they never left again.
Belle Gunness farm. It was there that the ignorant victims of the black widow died.
The only exception was a certain Ray Lamphere. He came and stayed longer, becoming her lover and accomplice in crime.
Twenty-eight dead bodies on the plot
So what happened to the men? The truth will always come out, as the saying goes. So it was this time. One day Mrs. Gunness's house caught fire.
Neither she nor her children survived. The fire was not as astonishing as what was found on the property. Bones of 28 men unearthed . Most of the time they died of poison.
Ray Lamphere, Belle's accomplice and lover.
It's not everything. Police began to suspect Gunness of killing another 21 people , including farm workers and adopted children. In the face of the discovered facts, it was concluded that her second husband also had to be a victim of the crime.
What about Belle's partner? Lamphere was jailed for setting fire and killing Mrs Gunness and her children. In the cell, he revealed more shocking information. Well, the fire was supposed to be just a ... a smokescreen so that his beloved could escape. They were probably going to run away together, but luck would have Ray caught. What about Belle then? Did she really die in the flames? Or maybe she managed to escape?
The remains of 28 men were found at Belle Gunness farm, but police suspected them of a further 21 murders, including farm workers as well as adopted children.
The scenario in which the murderer survived seems less likely. She wouldn't have quit killing , they lose their source of easy income. Unless the money she had earned so far was enough for her to hide and live peacefully.
There is also a second option. Maybe she just changed her name and kept going, disguising herself more effectively?