[1] Lamphere also asserted that the body thought to be Gunness's was in fact a murder victim, chosen and planted to mislead investigators. There, Gunness met her first known victim: her husband, Mads Ditlev Anton Sorenson, whom she married in 1884. On the morning of April 27, 1908, the farmhand on a lonely property outside La Porte, Indiana, woke to the smell of smoke. She immigrated to the United States, where she lured her victims to her remote farm in Indiana. Belle Gunness, born Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth (November 11, 1859[3] possibly April 28, 1908), nicknamed Hell's Belle,[1] was a Norwegian-American serial killer who was active in Illinois and Indiana between 1884 and 1908. On April 28, 1908, a fire destroyed a family farm near La Porte, Indiana. Whether Gunness died in that fire remains unclear. The next thing she knew, her husband was dead. Little is known about her early life. Belle Gunness was born Brynhild Paulsdatter Storset on November 11, 1859, in Selbu, Norway. And did Gunness really die in the farmhouse disaster? [7], Peter died eight months later due to a skull injury. As she was preparing to move from Chicago to LaPorte, she became re-acquainted with a recent widower named Peter Gunness, also from Norway. My mama killed my papa, Olsen allegedly told her schoolmates. Belle with three of her children, likely Myrtle, Lucy, and Philip. At the time, forensics was in its infancy, and the bodies had been so mutilated that there was little hope of identifying them. From 1884 to 1908, it's believed that Belle Gunness killed, at least, 14 people. She suggested that maybe Andrew Helgelien had gone to Chicago or perhaps back to Norway. On April 28, 1908, a fire destroyed a family farm near La Porte, Indiana. Then, the farm became something of a tourist attraction, with thousands of gawkers turning up and in some cases, taking souvenirs, according to The New York Post. But Asle Helgelien didnt seem to be falling for it. On April 27, 1908, Belle Gunness went to see an attorney in La Porte. It was initially hoped that a sealed envelope flap on a letter found at the victims farm would contain enough DNA to be compared to that of the body. But as was the case with the candy store, Gunness and Sorenson were able to pocket the insurance money. The investigators had previously checked her bank accounts, and though a small amount was remaining in one of her savings accounts, the money in all other accounts had been completely withdrawn shortly before the fire, suggesting that the evil woman had created a great hoax and evaded the law. Little is known about her early life. He had brought more than $1,000 with him to pay off her mortgage, or so he told neighbors, to whom Gunness introduced him as her cousin. Belle Gunness was one of the first "Black Widows" and became a prolific serial killer. One man who helped her move in later claimed that he saw her lift a 300-pound piano all by herself. Another victim of the widow . Belle wore the finest clothing on those occasions, and her hair was adorned in the latest style. La Porte County Historical Society Museum. Maybe Belle Gunness needed money. Gunness collected money from both the expiring life insurance policy, and the one that went into effect that day, making a total of $5,000. He moved to La Porte, Indiana on January 3, 1908 to be with Belle Gunness. Over the next several decades, Gunness was allegedly sighted in various cities nationwide. In the early 20th century, Belle Gunness killed scores of men for their money. Then, Joe Maxson came forward with information that could not be ignored. Or perhaps she simply wanted to be free to kill again. Belle Gunness BrynhildPaulsdatterStrseth, later known as Belle Gunness, was born on November 11, 1859, in Selbu, Norway and died April 28, 1908 in La Porte, Indiana. Feeling terrified and uncomfortable, Anderson believed that Gunness intended to murder him. Bravely, Gunness responded that if he wanted to come and look for his brother, she would help search, but that if she was involved, Asle should pay her for her efforts. Her birth name was Brynhild Paulsdatter Storset. A series of suspicious fires and deaths (mostly resulting in insurance awards) followed. Ole B. Budsberg of Iola, Wisconsin, vanished in May 1907. Where was Belle Gunness born? He died there of tuberculosis on December 30, 1909. Gunness, the youngest of 8 children, grew up on a cotter's farm in Innbygda, Selbu. In June 1908, his widow was able to identify his remains from La Portes Paupers cemetery by the contour of his skull and three missing teeth. Belle had anywhere from 13 to 42 victims. By now, Gunness had purchased a farm in La Porte, Indiana. She murdered over 40 people between 1884 and 1908 (1). [26], In 2017, true crime podcast My Favorite Murder performed and later released a live episode detailing Gunness' crimes. Then, I did the planting.. He later stated that the expression on her face was so sinister and murderous that he let out a loud yell, and she immediately ran from the room without uttering a single word. Gunness, according to Lamphere, had drugged the woman, then bashed in her head. Next, Belle presented herself to a lawyer in La Porte named M.E. In May 1908, after fire destroyed a LaPorte farmhouse, police made a gruesome discovery. Can you conceive of anything nicer? . At the age of 22, she immigrated to Chicago, Illinois in 1881.She murdered over 40 people including two of her husbands and about 4 of her children. Caroline and Axel died as infants from acute colitis, the symptoms of which nausea, fever, diarrhea, and lower abdominal pain and cramping are also symptoms of many forms of poisoning. Then, in December 1907, Andrew Helgelien, a bachelor farmer from Aberdeen, South Dakota, wrote to her and was warmly received. Biography.com She likely . Billed as "based on a true story," Tom Logan is directing the film, which stars Traci Lords cast as the murderous Belle Gunness. Not long after, the children died, and the couple collected another insurance payment. The will was completed, leaving her estate to her children. Belle Gunness was born Brynhild Paulsdatter Storset on November 11, 1859, in Selbu, Norway. Elliot Leyton. [6] When she was processed by immigration at Castle Garden, she changed her first name to Belle, then travelled to Chicago to join her sister, Nellie, who had immigrated several years earlier. Belle Gunness, born Brynhild Paulsdatter Storseth, was not the typical Norwegian immigrant who came to the United States. Usually accompanied by a handsome man, she was unrecognizable from the rough farm woman the locals were used to seeing. Over 40 victims had been found, including lovers, her husbands, and even her own children. Most famous serial killers are men, but Belle was a woman. Pennsylvania's most well-known serial killer is Harvey Miguel Robinson, who is known for being one of the youngest serial killers reported in the U.S. Her adopted daughter Jennie's body would also be found on Belle's property. He confided to a neighboring farmer on one occasion: Helgelien wont bother me no more. The story of Indiana's first documented serial killer, Belle Gunness. Had Belle Gunness committed . He raced to town to get help, but by the time it arrived, the house was already in smoking ruins. According to Harold Schechter, a true-crime author who wrote Hells Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men, Gunness knew exactly how to lure her victims onto her farm. As they began turning the earth, they found four bodies- skillfully sliced apart and wrapped in oilcloth. Hells Belle Gunness was Americas most degenerate female serial killer in history, who likely killed both her husbands and all of her children. [13] The brother of one victim had warned Gunness that he might arrive at the farm shortly to investigate his brother's disappearance. He was jealous of the many men who arrived at court his employer and had endured most of these attentive strangers up to this time. An unknown man and woman are alleged to have disappeared in September 1906, the same night Jennie Olson went missing. YouTubeRay Lamphere, the ex-handyman of Belle Gunness. But, for one reason or another, Gunness decided to emigrate from Selbu to Chicago in 1881. Next came George Anderson from Tarkio, Missouri, who said he would pay the mortgage off if they decided to wed. Late that night, while sleeping in the guest room, Anderson awoke startled to see Belle standing over him, peering into his eyes and holding a candle in her hand. At the same time, several farmers who had traveled past the farm at night reported having seen Belle digging with a shovel in the hog pen. While there, she was attacked by a man who kicked her in the abdomen, causing her to miscarry. She got away without a trace and it's still a mystery as to where she went today. Investigators search for more bodies on Belle Gunnesss farm after the initial discoveries in 1908. A hired man named George Bradley of Tuscola, Illinois is alleged to have gone to La Porte to meet a widow and three children in October 1907. Belle Sorenson Gunness (November 11, 1859 declared dead April 28, 1908) born Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth was a NorwegianAmerican serial killer. Some documented serial killers from history, we know very little about. Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated November 2022. Edward Bechly, a journalist, was given a secret assignment to acquire access to a confession and publish it, thus bringing a second, inconsistent Lamphere account to light. . But they could identify Jennie Olsen Gunness foster daughter who had left for California. And it soon became clear that Gunness was behind some horrific crimes. The coroner described the incident as a little queer but believed that it was an accident. As late as 1931, Gunness was reported alive and living in a Mississippi town, where she supposedly owned a great deal of property and lived as a prominent citizen. To their horror, they ended up finding Andrew Helgeliens head, hands, and feet, stuffed into an oozing gunny sack. Bert Chase of Mishawaka, Indiana, sold his butcher shop and told friends of a wealthy widow and that he was going to look her up; his brother received a telegram supposedly from Aberdeen, South Dakota, claiming Bert had been killed in a train wreck; his brother investigated and found the telegram was fictitious. Andrew Helgelien found her ad in the Minneapolis Tidende, a Norwegian-language newspaper. Frank Riedinger, a farmer of Waukesha, Wisconsin, came to Indiana in 1907 to marry and never returned. In 1884 Belle Gunness married Mads Albert Sorenson. . The former handyman also stated that Belle had become a very rich woman. After they had corresponded for several months, Moe travelled to La Porte and withdrew a large amount of cash. John Moe was the first of many disappeared men; he left his farm in Minnesota and brought one thousand dollars with him as requested by Gunness. The couple claimed the insurance money for both. [21], After Gunness' crimes came to light, the Gunness farm became a tourist attraction. Come prepared to stay forever.. Several middle-aged men of means responded to Gunness ads, and within no time, Belle was often seen going for carriage rides with strangers on Sunday afternoons. Then, in 1881, following her sisters example, who had emigrated to America earlier, Brynhild moved to the United States, where she assumed a more American-style name. In the smoldering ruins workmen discovered four skeletons. Three years later she would find her first victim, a man named Mads Sorenson. Second husband, Peter (Peder) Gunness. It remains unconfirmed when and where Belle Gunness actually died. In response to her letter, Helgelien rushed to her side in January 1908. When they finally discovered his destination, they wrote to her, and she promptly responded, saying she had never seen their father. Gunness left her attorneys office. 2. But, when the coroner looked at the body, he allegedly muttered: This is a case of murder.. Prairie Ghosts What followed were a series of insurance frauds and crimes, escalating in size and danger. Initially, authorities found the remains of an adult woman and three children and quickly concluded that they belonged to the homeowner, a Norwegian immigrant known as Belle Gunness and her three foster children. Budsbergs sons had no idea their father had gone off to visit Gunness. Standing six feet tall (183 cm) and weighing over 200 pounds (91 kg), she was a physically strong woman. They then found the small bodies of two unidentified children. [22][pageneeded] Moreover, the crime became an acknowledged part of area history: the La Porte County Historical Society Museum has a permanent "Belle Gunness" exhibit. Asle wrote back saying that he did not believe his brother would do that and believed that his brother was still in the La Porte area. Belle Gunness. Some of these were most undoubtedly additional victims, though they were never proven. That man is out to get me, Gunness told the attorney. No replies by letter considered unless sender is willing to follow answer with a personal visit. Christie Hilkven of Dovre, Wisconsin, sold his farm and came to La Porte in 1906. ; Man-Eater: The Life and Legend of an American . Her parents had eight children; she was the youngest. How did Belle Gunness Kill Her Victims? Olaf Jensen, a Norwegian immigrant from Carroll. Shortly after dispensing with Lamphere, she presented herself at the La Porte County courthouse, declaring that her former employee was not in his right mind and was a menace to the public. Then, on July 30, 1900, tragedy struck again. Strangely, tragedy seemed to return to Belle Gunness doorstep yet again. But he awoke one night to a terrifying sight Gunness leaning over his bed as he slept. She was never tracked down and her death has never been confirmed. Triflers need not apply.. Then, Sorensen died, not at all suspiciously on the day that one life insurance policy was set to expire and another had just come into effect. In the end, Ray Lamphere was charged with arson but not murder. In 1877, Gunness attended a country dance while pregnant. Before long, news of the gruesome discovery spread throughout the nation. One of her ads was answered by a Wisconsin farmhand, Henry Gurholt. Though the coroner ruled that the kids had died of colitis, their symptoms were also consistent with poisoning. One of the bodies belonged to Andrew Hegelian. No replies by letter considered unless sender is willing to follow answer with personal visit. Though the authorities investigated, the formidable Belle was so convincing that no charges were ever filed. We shall be so happy when you once get here, Gunness purred in one letter. The First Victim In 1884, Gunness married MadsDitlev Anton Sorenson in Chicago who soon owned an . After murdering her two husbands, the Norwegian-American woman posted ads in the paper looking for men to invest in her farm. Thomas Lindboe had left Chicago and had gone to work as a hired man for Gunness three years earlier. She was a big woman. Four bodies were found at the Gunness farm. [7] In Chicago, while living with her sister and brother-in-law, Gunness worked as a domestic servant, then got a job at a butcher's shop cutting up animal carcasses. When first interrogated as to his whereabouts on the night of the fire, Lamphere claimed that he was in the company of an [African-American woman] named Mrs. Elizabeth Smith until 4 a.m., or one-half hour after the fire started, but he subsequently confessed that he burned the . Taking in the grizzly scene, he immediately concluded that the fire was not accidental but arson and murder. He showed up in hopes of finding his brother. Another report in 1931 suggested that she may have been a woman known as Esther Carlson, who was arrested in Los Angeles, California, for poisoning August Lindstrom, a Norwegian-American man, on February 9, 1931, for his money. Soon after, Sorenson died of heart failure on the one day his two life insurance policies overlapped. Her family lived as tenants on a small farm owned by the Storseth family. DESCRIPTION: "Belle Gunness was a lady fair In Indiana State, She weighed about 300 pounds, And that is quite some weight." "Her favorite occupation Was a-butchering of men." "Now some say Belle killed only ten, And some say 42." At last she vanishes with the cash AUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1958 (Burt-AmericanMurderBallads) Of the remains found at the murder site, the bodies of Belles three children and several of her suitors were identified. Story by Thomas Duke, 1910 . She was raised on a small farm in Innbygda, Norway, and grew up to be a physically very strong woman, standing 5 9 tall and weighing over 200 pounds. Standing six feet tall and weighing over 200 pounds, she was a physically strong woman. Belle Gunness, one of the most successful murderers in Illinois. A short time later, the man who had kicked her died of what was said to be stomach cancer. Soon enough, Gunness was depositing checks brought by her suitors, while the lovelorn men were never heard from again. She wanted the ground made level, so he filled in the depressions. [7], She was at least 5'7" (170 cm) and weighed around 95 - 113 kg (210 - 250 lbs) and was physically strong and masculine in appearance. [7] She moved to the United States in 1881. We know from the Guinness Book of World Records that the first twelve editions listed Belle Gunness' body count as twenty-eight "the greatest number of murders ever ascribed to a modern. An unnamed man from Montana told people at a resort he was going to sell Gunness his horse and buggy, which were found with several other horses and buggies at the farm. It was claimed that her head was decapitated and her home set on fire. As the investigation was ongoing, Asle Helgelien arrived in La Porte from South Dakota and told Sheriff Smutzer that he believed his brother, Andrew, had met with foul play at Gunnesss hands. General Information Sex Female Race White Number of victims 16 further plus 12 possible equals 28 The headless adult female corpse was never positively identified. These filled-in holes, Gunness had told Maxson, contained rubbish. Authorities couldnt identify all the bodies. For a while, Helgelien assisted police as they sorted through the rubble. He also swore to the reverend, as well as a fellow convict, that he had not murdered anyone. Although the police found a set of teeth among the ruins, there was still some debate as to whether or not they belonged to Belle Gunness. Bell Gunness killed more than ___ people over several decades. His widow, Gunness, collected on both policies $150,000 in todays dollars which she could have only done on that day. Triflers need not apply. And some estimate that she may have killed as many as 40 victims. Soon afterward, Olsen vanished. On May 22, 1908, Ray Lamphere was tried for murder and arson. He was last seen alive at the La Porte Savings Bank on April 6, 1907, when he mortgaged his Wisconsin land there, signed over a deed, and obtained several thousand dollars in cash. Though estimates vary widely, Belle Gunness is believed to have killed at least a dozen people (and possibly upwards of 40) between 1884 and . [7], Belle married Peter Gunness on April 1, 1902. One of these men was John Moe, who arrived from Elbow Lake, Minnesota. (Eerily, the symptoms of this disease were quite similar to poisoning.). The pair had four children: Caroline, Axel, Myrtle, and Lucy. (Darron Cummings/AP) As the tale of the "Murder Farm" fanned across the country, investigators were joined by. A year later, Peters brother, Gust, took Peters older daughter, Swanhild, to Wisconsin. [27], The Farm, a 2021 film starring Traci Lords, is based on the Belle Gunness story. Gunness married her first husband shortly after moving to America, but he died under suspicious circumstances, leaving behind a sizable life insurance policy. These were lonely Norwegian bachelors, many completely cut off from their families. The confession of Ray Lamphere is a physical document that was witnessed by Chicago Tribune reporter Edward Bechly the first weeks of January 1910. A watch corresponding to one belonging to Gurholdt was found with a body. In 1907, she employed a farmhand, Ray Lamphere, to help with chores. [6], After the fire at the Gunness homestead led to the discovery of bodies believed to be Gunness and her children, La Porte police authorities were contacted by Asle Helgelien, who had found correspondence between his brother, Andrew Helgelien, and Gunness; the letters included petitions for him to relocate to La Porte, to bring money, and to keep the move a secret. Several other middle-aged men appeared and disappeared in brief visits to the Gunness farm throughout 1907. She was the only child to have survived to live with Belle. The 100-Year Mystery Of "Lady Bluebeard". Belle Gunness was born Brynhild Paulsdatter Storset on November 11, 1859, in Selbu, Norway. Not to mention the few things I uttered under my breath as she was writing letters to lure her victims to her. He slammed the door and then, in his underwear, leaped from the second-story window, barely surviving the fire that was closing in around him. Belle Gunness, birth name Brynhild Paulsdatter Strset, was born in Selbu, Sr-Trndelag, Norway, on November 11, 1859. Jennie Olsen's death certificate. A different man came nearly every week to stay at the house. Those that could be identified included: The unidentified bodies and unsolved mysteries that would emerge from these ruins would make headlines across the Midwest. Come prepared to stay forever.. Sure, I worked for Mrs. Gunness for a time, but I didnt see her kill anybody, and I didnt know she had killed anybody., But on his deathbed, Lamphere changed his tune. Leliter, telling him she feared for her life and her children. [29], In the Garden of Spite: A Novel of the Black Widow of LaPorte is a US-published 2021 novel by Camilla Bruce with elements of "Norwegian noir and true crime" based on the life of Belle Gunness. [9] In November 1908, Lamphere was convicted of arson in connection with the fire at Gunness' house. Belle Gunness was one of the first "Black Widows" and became a prolific serial killer. Several more unexplained deaths followed, including the infant daughter of her new husband, Peter Gunness, followed by Peter Gunness himself. Before long, Gunness and Helgelien began exchanging romantic letters. Although her farmhouse burned down in April 1908, seemingly with her inside, some believe that Gunness slipped away perhaps to kill again. If you're curious to learn more about her, read on to discover the . Belle Gunness was born as Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth in Selbu, Sr-Trndelag, Norway on November 11, 1859. The story of Belle Gunness makes you wonder if some people don't really need motivation, some people . [7], Her criminal activities came to light in April 1908, when the Gunness farmhouse in La Porte, Indiana burned to But many couldnt help but notice that she bore a striking resemblance to Gunness and even had a photograph of kids who looked a lot like Gunness children. We fixed him for keeps.. Belle Gunness was born Brynhild Paulsdatter Storseth in Selbu, Norway on November 11, 1859. Belles husbands death netted her another $3,000 (about $81,000 today). In 1906, Belle Gunness connected with her final victim. This is a story that will shock you more than most, because of t .more Get A Copy Kindle Unlimited $0.00 Amazon Stores Standing six feet tall (183cm) and weighing over 200 pounds (91kg), she was a physically strong woman. But no one at the time chalked it up to anything but a tragic coincidence. Gunness had a system. Helgelien became even more convinced of foul play when he went out to the ruins of Belles home and watched as the men digging for her head turned up eight mens watches, assorted bones, and human teeth instead. In 1881, at the age of 21, Brynhild left Norway and settled in Chicago. Although no one ever saw Moe again, a carpenter who did occasional work for Gunness observed that Moe's trunk remained in her house, along with more than a dozen others. The district coroner reviewed the case, unequivocally announced that he had been murdered, and convened a coroners jury to look into the matter. By 1886, she was married to a man named Mads Sorensen, had somehow wound up with an unknown number of children (although whether they were the couple's natural children or foster children remains unclear), and the family was running a failing candy shop. Gunness received men visitors all the time, one of her farmhands later told the New York Tribune. She is responsible for so many deaths that detectives have ceased counting the number of bodies discovered on her premises. In his statement, he revealed the details of Gunness crimes and swore she was still alive. Together, they owned and operated a confectionary store and before long, had four children: Caroline, Axel, Myrtle, and Lucy. [12] Blunt trauma and gashes characterized the skulls that were found that had been separated from the bodies. Two people who had known Gunness claimed to recognize her from photographs in her possession, but the identification was never proved. The April 28, 1908, fire at Gunness' farm seems to have shut the book on the Norwegian immigrant's murder spree, inasmuch as she was never heard from again and was, initially at least, presumed dead. All of them told of lonesome brothers, uncles, and cousins answering Belles matrimonial ads and traveling hopefully to La Porte with their life savings stuffed in their pockets. 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