#serialkillersaturdays

The Village of Assassins - Death count 50+

News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840 

 It is 1929 in a small village in Hungary – a village which over several years is going against the growth rate taking place in the surrounding villages.  What is odder still, the incredible death rate seems to be striking the predominantly middle to older male population. 

The village statistics in terms of percentage of land holding women is also strangely higher than the average. What unfolds is a web of treachery and murder involving a group of women with one deadly female as the mastermind supplying the poison and teaching the others how to use the poison to avoid detection.  

Murderess Martha Marek  - Serial Killer Saturdays 

News of the Times Episode 270 | 1938 

In today’s episode it is 1937 Austria and Martha Marek, a supposed feeble, nearly sightless woman has reported thefts from her house - luckily, she is insured. From this attempted insurance fraud, the reported stolen items found in a warehouse she is renting, unravels activity dating back to her first known insurance fraud that made the international news– hacking off her husband’s leg for an insurance payout – to a series of murders that take place, always to the benefit of Marth Marek. We take a look at the fascinating tale of Murderess Martha Marek – her life and crimes – in today’s episode of Serial Killer Saturdays. 

Serial Killer Bela Kiss: Death Count 30+

News of the Times Episode 266 | 1912 - 1929? 

From 1912 Hungary, one of the worst serial killers, enticing women around the world with promises of marriage, began his horrific spree.  Bela Kiss, popular with neighbours and always with plenty of money to spend, killed woman after woman, girl after girl, and then pickled them n alcohol or buried them around his house.   

Bodies were found in his hen house, shed, garden, and the surrounding woods as well as in the ominous caskets found in his cellar.  When he was not fully killing women, he would entice women, knock them out and take their possessions, leaving them in the street. We take a look at the life and crimes of Bela Kiss in today’s episode of Serial Killer Saturdays. 

The 10 Fold Bolton Murderess - Serial Killer Saturdays 

News of the Times Episode 261 | 1842 1842 

Little Bolton, and there have been two unexpected successive deaths in the Eccles household.  As Mrs Eccles goes to the factory to collect on the insurance policy of one of the dead, questions are asked.   

What unfolds is a stream of deaths dating back years to people within her immediate household.  What was particularly interesting was that in most of the cases, no discernible motive could be found – the paltry insurance to be collected was far smaller than the regular wages that had been handed over to her by the victim. Betty Eccles seemed to be under the illusion that she could talk her way out of the mountain of proof set against her.  

It was said between 20,000 and 30,000 attended her execution. We investigate the case of the ten-fold plus murderess from Bolton in today’s episode of Serial Killer Saturdays. 

The Eight Fold Murderer - Serial Killer Saturdays 

News of the Times Episode 253 | 1924 

Within Germany, the case of Fritz Angerstein, the Eight-Fold Murderer, is still remembered today. The brutal slayings take place in a rural village in Westphalia Germany in 1924.  Angerstein and his sickly wife live in a large company house which has two office rooms with staff on the bottom floor.  

Some years before, Angerstein has begun siphoning off money from the company to pay off his own debts.  His wife, who has had poor health for some time, is joined by her mother with whom Angerstein has a difficult relationship. Angerstein, who by all accounts doted on his wife, is distraught as his wife’s medical condition worsens.  His already poor relationship with his mother-in-law worsens.  

Simultaneously, the company have discovered his embezzlement and confront him. What unfolds is a horrific slaying of family, servants and company personnel with Angerstein initially stating that the slaughter was the work of 25 robbers who had escaped into the woods. 

We look at the buildup, the crime and the capture of Germany’s Eight-Fold murderer in today’s episode of Serial Killer Saturdays. We hope you enjoy the show! 

The Female Bluebeard - Serial Killer Saturdays 

 News of the Times Episode 249 | 1843 

This story from 1843 was considered shocking in its time. Sarah Dazley (Daiseley) was attractive, flirtatious, and strong willed.  Having seen her mother use her own charms with men to get ahead, it would seem that Sarah had learned by example. As was usual at the time, Sarah married young and had a child with him.  And then the series of mysterious deaths begins. 

Sarah’s case is not helped in that she seems to move to another husband very shortly after who also conveniently dies.  She is on potential husband number three when she is caught. We take a look at this famous case and the woman the press dubbed “The Female Bluebeard” in today’s episode of Serial Killer Saturdays.

Doctors of Death - History Compilation

News of the Times Episode 53 | 1840 

 In today’s history compilation, we look at four doctors of death: 

Dr William Palmer -the “Prince of Poisoners” 1855.  Referenced by Sherlock Holmes, Dr Palmer loved to gamble thereby requiring large amounts of money.  Palmer worked his way through acquaintances unfortunate to have been waylaid onto his path, friends who he watched die excruciatingly, and several family members. 

Dr Smethurst 1859.  Married Dr Smethurst starts an intimacy with a woman of independent means.  Bigamously marrying her, her health starts to fail almost immediately, but not before she conveniently signs over all her possessions before dying. 

Dr Pritchard 1863. Pritchard, referenced as the “Scottish Palmer” was always in search of women and money.  Mysterious fires, with insurance claims, and even more mysterious deaths followed hiim. 

 Buck Ruckston 1935.  Ruckston, historically referred to as the “Jigsaw Murderer”, was popular with his patients and was an extremely jealous man.  One day, he just snaps.  What evolves is a bloodbath as he attempts to dispose of bodies.  This case featured some very m0odern, in its day, forensic investigation. 

Child Mass Murderer - Marcel Redureau

News of the Times Episode 244 | 1913 

In today’s episode of Serial Killer Saturdays, a small village near Nantes is shaken to its core in 1913 with the wholesale slaughter of a family.  All but one member of the household are systematically slaughtered – the mother being 8 months pregnant. The culprit rapidly confesses – a 15 year old lad who had been taken on as farm help a few months before as was the norm at the time. We take a look at the crime, the investigations and the mind of the 15 year old killer in today’s episode of Serial Killer Saturdays.