Episode Summary: "The Blackest Black Widow" | Ep. 40 of My Victorian Nightmare

Release Date: April 28, 2025
Host: Genevieve Manion

Introduction

In the 40th episode of My Victorian Nightmare, host Genevieve Manion delves deep into the dark underbelly of Victorian-era crime, exploring both the eerie ghostly apparitions and the sinister tales of female criminal masterminds. This episode, titled "The Blackest Black Widow," intertwines supernatural folklore with the chilling true story of Belle Gunness, one of history’s most notorious female serial killers.

Haunted Housekeeping

Genevieve opens the episode with a warm welcome and expresses gratitude to her listeners for their support and feedback. She acknowledges a correction from a listener, Erin Martin, regarding Grigori Rasputin’s alleged involvement with the Russian sex cult, the Callistes. Genevieve clarifies, “Rasputin was not a member, so I was wrong about that. Although... his sexual deviance is still very much debated.” [Time Stamp: 12:45]

She also introduces her new ghost sightings segment, "With Their Own Eyes," and thanks Helen Porter for providing valuable resources on historic ghost sightings from the Victorian era.

Ghost Sightings: A Headless Female Apparition

In this segment, Genevieve recounts a spine-tingling account from the English Illustrated Police News dated August 18, 1898, titled "A Headless Ghost in Buckinghamshire." The story details an encounter between a farmer, his friend, and a horrifying headless woman draped in a black sheet. Genevieve narrates:

“The apparition remained almost motionless. It was completely enveloped in a long black sheet and had the ghastly appearance of a headless woman.” [Time Stamp: 22:30]

The farmer’s futile attempts to communicate with the ghost and the horse’s terrified reaction add to the eerie atmosphere. Despite her desire for more information, Genevieve laments, “I am starving for more details here, but alas, we have far too many terrible things to discuss today.”

The 40 Elephants: Victorian All-Female Gang

Responding to listener interest, Genevieve introduces the story of the "40 Elephants," an all-female gang operating out of London's Elephant and Castle in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She provides an in-depth look into their criminal activities and evolution over the decades:

• Origins and Operations:
  “They ransacked department stores by smuggling clothes and jewelry in pockets that were sewn into their cloaks, their coats and bloomers.”

• Social Manipulation:
  “They'd approach a well-to-do gentleman on the street and ask them for directions. While the man would explain directions, other ladies would appear and accuse him of assault.”

• Transformation in the 1920s:
  “By the 20s, they became like Hollywood style gangsters. They were blackmailing, stealing higher value loot and living flamboyantly as bright young things.”

The gang's ability to evade capture is attributed to their upper-class status, which often resulted in lenient sentencing for their crimes.

Main Story: Belle Gunness – The Lady Bluebeard

The centerpiece of the episode is the harrowing tale of Belle Gunness, dubbed "Hell's Belle" and "the Lady Bluebeard." Genevieve meticulously traces Belle’s journey from her humble beginnings in Norway to her reign of terror in Indiana, highlighting her cunning manipulation, serial killings, and the subsequent investigation.

Early Life and Immigration

Belle Gunness was born Brynhild Paulstatter Storseth through in Norway on November 11, 1859. At 14, she worked various farm jobs to save money for immigration to the United States. In 1881, she arrived in Chicago, changed her name to Belle, and eventually settled in La Porte, Indiana.

Marriages and Murders

• First Marriage to Mads Sorensen:
  Belle and Mads opened a candy store, which burned down, providing them with insurance money. They adopted three girls, whose mysterious deaths from intestinal inflammation raised suspicions.

  “The farm was originally a brothel and neighbors were very happy to see the place bought by such an upstanding lady.” [Time Stamp: 35:10]

• Second Marriage to Peter Gunness:
  One week after marrying Peter, their infant daughter died under bizarre circumstances, followed by Peter’s sudden death from a cerebral hemorrhage—the latter likely induced by poisoning, though no autopsy was performed.

Genevieve explains the challenges in detecting arsenic poisoning at the time:

“Arsenic could actually be detected through toxicology tests, but it was also used in everything from wallpaper to medications... so finding traces was not uncommon.” [Time Stamp: 45:25]

Criminal Activities and Disappearances

Belle continued her spree by soliciting wealthy men through marriage ads, only to have them disappear after contributing financially. Notable disappearances include Henry Gerholt and John Moe, among others, whose remains were later found buried in her pig pen.

Genevieve narrates a dramatized account of Belle’s farm, describing night-time murders and the stifling atmosphere leading up to a climactic fire intended to stage her death:

“On the night of April 28, 1908, Joe Maxon, the new farmhand, woke up to the smell of smoke... by the time the fire brigade got to the home, it was reduced to nothing but smoking ruins with four charred bodies inside.” [Time Stamp: 1:10:50]

Investigation and Aftermath

The investigation revealed multiple bodies buried in the hog pen, including Belle’s remaining child. A key testimony from Ray Lampere, a disgruntled farmhand, implicated Belle in the murders. Despite his claims, Belle was never conclusively convicted, largely due to the limitations of forensic science at the time.

“In 2008, DNA scientists set out to prove if the headless body that was found was indeed Gunness. But sadly, they couldn't pull a high enough quality sample from the remains.” [Time Stamp: 1:25:30]

Memorials for Victims

Concluding the episode on a somber note, Genevieve highlights the efforts made to honor Belle Gunness’s victims. Initially, many lacked proper headstones, but in 2008, the La Porte County Historical Society Museum organized a memorial dedication:

“Stones were placed where Peter Gunness was buried, whose grave was originally unmarked, and Belle's foster daughter Jenny received a beautiful stone as well. One more lovely stone was placed in Pine Lake Cemetery dedicated to the unknown victims who were buried together there a hundred years earlier.” [Time Stamp: 1:30:15]

Notable Quotes

• Genevieve on Rasputin Correction:
  “I was wrong about that. Although... his sexual deviance is still very much debated.” [12:45]

• Ghost Story Description:
  “The apparition remained almost motionless. It was completely enveloped in a long black sheet and had the ghastly appearance of a headless woman.” [22:30]

• 40 Elephants Gang Operations:
  “They ransacked department stores by smuggling clothes and jewelry in pockets that were sewn into their cloaks, their coats and bloomers.” [28:10]

• Genevieve on Belle Gunness’s Style:
  “When she donned her ruffled silks and put her diamonds in her ears, men thought her well worth a second glance.” [37:50]

• On Investigative Limitations:
  “Testing for strychnine itself took a long time to yield results, if they yielded accurate results at all.” [1:05:40]

Conclusion

In "The Blackest Black Widow," Genevieve Manion masterfully intertwines tales of Victorian-era ghosts with the real-life horror of Belle Gunness’s criminal legacy. Through detailed storytelling and historical analysis, she paints a vivid picture of an era where elegance masked gruesome secrets. The episode not only recounts the chilling events but also pays homage to the victims, ensuring their stories are not forgotten.

Listeners eager for more spine-tingling history will find this episode both informative and deeply unsettling, perfectly encapsulating the essence of My Victorian Nightmare.

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