CONTEXTUAL STUDY: FEMALE SERIAL KILLERS

As the narrative of our thriller production depicts a female antagonist, I decided to carry out some research into real female serial killers.

FEMALE SERIAL KILLERS

Female serial killers are rare compared to their male counterparts, whereas Other sources state that female serial killers historically represent nearly one in every six known serial murderers in the United States between 1800 and 2004 (64 females from a total of 416 known offenders): over 15% of all known American serial killers have been women, with a collective number of victims between 427-612. In the U.S., 51% of all female serial killers murdered at least one woman and 31% murdered at

least one child. The methods they use for murder are frequently covert or low-profile, such as
murder by poison. They commit killings in specific places, such as their home or a health-care facility, or at different locations within the same city or state. Other methods used by female serial killers include shootings (used by 20%), suffocation (16%), stabbing (11%), and drowning (5%). Although female serial killers are often reported as murdering for money or other material gain, others frequently do it for attention, as an addiction, or as a result of psychopathological behavioural factors.

FEMALE SERIAL KILLERS CONTINUED

A new study by Eric W. Hickey (2010) of 64 female serial killers in the United States indicated that sex was one of several motives in 10% of the cases, enjoyment in 11% and control in 14%. In some cases, women have been involved as an accomplice with a male serial killer as a part of a serial killing "team".

Kelleher and Kelleher (1998) created several categories to describe female serial
killers. They used the classifications of black widow, angel of death, sexual predator, revenge, profit or crime, team killer, question of sanity, unexplained and unsolved. In using these categories, they observed that most women fell into the categories of black widow and team killer.

MYRA HINDLEY
Myra Hindley was an English serial killer. In partnership with Ian Brady, she committed the rapes and murders of five small children.

Hindley's 17-year-old brother-in-law tipped her

off to the police. Hindley plead not guilty to all of the murders. She was found guilty of three murders and was jailed for life. She was never

released, and died in prison in 2002.

BONNIE PARKER (BONNIE & CLYDE)

After meeting Clyde Barrow in 1930, Bonnie Parker entered a world of crime. Robbing banks

and small businesses with Clyde, she became one

of America's most famous outlaws of the '30s. The couple's 21-month crime spree spanned Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Missouri,

where they killed at least 13 people and escaped

from police. Bonnie and Clyde were killed at a roadblock near Gibsland, Louisiana, on May 23.

BELLE GUNNESS
Norwegian born Belle Gunness immigrated to the U.S. in 1881. A series of suspicious fires and deaths (mostly resulting in insurance awards)

followed. Belle also began posting notices in

lovelorn columns to entice wealthy men to her farm, after which they were never seen again. Authorities eventually found the remains of over 40 victims on her property, but Belle disappeared without a trace.

JANE TOPPAN
Jane Toppan (18571938), born Honora Kelley, was an American serial killer. She confessed to 31 murders in 1901. She is quoted as saying that her ambition was "to have killed more people helpless people than any other man or woman who ever lived...".