20 Chilling European Serial Killers 19th Century: A Dark History Revealed

Sophie Ursinus was one of the earliest documented poisoners of the 19th century. Living in Germany, her murderous spree began in 1800 and lasted until 1803. She meticulously used arsenic poisoning to dispatch at least three victims: her husband, her aunt, and an attempt on her servant. Her method was insidious, making her victims suffer lingering illnesses that appeared to be natural ailments. It was only the astute observations of her servant and later, medical professionals, that led to suspicion.

Ursinus was eventually caught, and her case became notable for contributing to early forensic toxicology, helping to establish methods for detecting arsenic in the body. Despite the horrific nature of her crimes, she spent the rest of her life in prison, often living in relative comfort due to her social standing, a stark reminder of the social inequalities even in the face of grave crimes.

Known as “The Yorkshire Witch,” Mary Bateman was a fascinating and terrifying figure in early 19th-century England. Her crimes spanned from 1803 to 1808, combining fraud, con artistry, and murder. Bateman often preyed on the superstitious beliefs of her victims, promising cures or magical assistance before slowly poisoning them with arsenic.

While she was only formally convicted of one murder, it’s widely believed she was responsible for between one and four deaths. Her public execution in 1809 was a huge spectacle, drawing thousands, and her body was later dissected, with parts of her skin reportedly used to bind books – a gruesome testament to the public’s fascination and horror with such historical true crime.

Hailing from Germany, Anna Maria Zwanziger was another infamous arsenic poisoner. Active between 1808 and 1809, she developed a chilling pattern. Employed as a housekeeper, she would poison her employers and then, with feigned concern, “nurse” them during their agonizing decline, often recommending “remedies” that further exacerbated their suffering.

Her victims included four individuals, one of whom was a baby. Her motive seemed to be a twisted desire for attention and control, combined with resentment. Zwanziger was eventually caught and, in a public display of justice, was beheaded in 1811. She infamously referred to arsenic as “her truest friend,” highlighting her deep psychological disturbance. womenslibrary

In 1811, the Netherlands saw the horrifying case of Hester Nepping. She used arsenic poisoning to eliminate three individuals: her boarder, her elderly father, and her husband. Her motive was clearly financial, as she sought to inherit money and possessions from her victims. Nepping’s cunning in administering the poison, often in food or drink, made her difficult to detect initially.

However, suspicions eventually mounted, leading to her arrest. She was found guilty and, in a rare public execution for the time, was guillotined in Amsterdam in 1812. Her case underscored the danger lurking in seemingly ordinary domestic settings and the ease with which poison could be misused.

Perhaps one of the most prolific female poisoners in European history, Gesche Gottfried, known as the “Angel of Bremen,” terrorized Germany from 1813 to 1827. Over 14 years, she systematically poisoned 15 people, including her own children, parents, and two husbands. Gottfried maintained a facade of caring grief, attending to her victims during their slow, agonizing deaths from arsenic.

Her motives were complex, ranging from escaping difficult marriages to a desire for attention and financial gain. Her crimes went undetected for an astonishingly long time due to her manipulative nature and the lack of advanced forensic techniques. Gottfried was eventually caught and became the last person to be publicly executed in Bremen, beheaded in 1831, a grim end to a long and horrifying spree of 19th century crime.

Hélène Jégado, a French domestic servant, earned the chilling nickname “The Female Landru of Brittany” for her prolific poisoning spree that lasted nearly two decades, from 1833 to 1851. She moved from household to household, leaving a trail of death from arsenic and antimony poisoning. While convicted of 23 murders, she is suspected of killing as many as 36 people, often those who employed her or lived in her vicinity.

Her motives remain somewhat unclear, but it seems she derived a perverse satisfaction from the power she wielded over life and death. Jégado was illiterate and appeared outwardly unremarkable, making her crimes even more unsettling. Her trial in Rennes in 1851 drew significant attention, highlighting the growing public fear of these “invisible” killers. She was guillotined in 1852. Her case is a prime example of the pervasive danger of arsenic poisoners in the 19th century.

While detailed information on Ferdinand Wittmann is scarce in readily available English records, he is documented as a German serial killer active between 1860 and 1865, responsible for six deaths. His method was arsenic poisoning, placing him firmly in the category of the silent killers who plagued the era. The limited information suggests his crimes, like many poisonings, were likely discreet and difficult to trace, emphasizing the challenges faced by law enforcement in tracking down such elusive Victorian era murderers.

In 1864, Sweden witnessed the grim actions of Anders Lindbäck, a priest who committed three murders through poisoning. His method was particularly disturbing: he used poisoned communion wine to kill his victims. The sacred context of his crimes made them all the more shocking. His case is a rare example of a clergyman engaging in such heinous acts, further highlighting the diverse backgrounds of European serial killers 19th century.

Andreas Bichel, often referred to as “The Bavarian Ripper,” terrorized Bavaria between 1806 and 1808. His methods were extraordinarily brutal, involving blunt force trauma, stabbing, and dismemberment. While the exact number of victims is debated, estimates range from 2 to over 50, showcasing the scale of his potential atrocities. What makes Bichel particularly disturbing is the apparent lack of clear motive for his extreme violence and the grotesque mutilation of his victims’ bodies. His crimes predate those of Jack the Ripper by decades but share a similar element of seemingly motiveless, extreme violence that left investigators baffled and the public horrified, setting a grim precedent for Victorian era murderers.

John Williams was responsible for the infamous “Ratcliff Highway murders” in London in December 1811, a series of killings that shocked Georgian England. In two separate attacks, Williams brutally murdered seven individuals. His weapon of choice was a hammer for bludgeoning, followed by slitting throats. The first attack targeted the Marr family, wiping out the entire household, including a baby. Days later, he attacked the Williamson family.

Williams was quickly identified as the prime suspect, but he committed suicide in prison before he could be brought to trial. Despite his death, he was publicly declared guilty after the fact, and his body was paraded through the streets before being buried with a stake through his heart, reflecting the intense public outrage and the desire for justice in this brutal 19th century crime.

Manuel Blanco Romasanta, known as “The Werewolf of Allariz,” was an infamous Spanish serial killer active from 1844 to 1852. He was convicted of nine murders, though suspected of as many as 14. His methods involved killing and robbing his victims. The chilling aspect of his case, and what earned him his nickname, was his claim to suffer from lycanthropy, stating he transformed into a wolf to commit the killings and that he had even made soap from the fat of his victims. While his defense was eventually dismissed, his case remains a bizarre and morbid footnote in historical true crime, illustrating the intersection of folklore, superstition, and brutal reality in 19th century crime.

Juhani Aataminpoika, a Finnish serial killer active around 1849, was responsible for 12 deaths through various violent attacks. His crimes were marked by their brutality, reflecting a pattern of indiscriminate and lethal assaults. While details of his life and capture might be less widely known outside of Finnish historical records, his documented body count places him among the most prolific European serial killers 19th century.

Antonio Boggia, an Italian serial killer from Milan, committed four murders between 1849 and 1859. His preferred method was stabbing and dismemberment with an axe. Boggia was known for his cold and calculating nature. His crimes were often motivated by financial gain, as he would lure victims to his home, kill them, and then dispose of their bodies by burying them in his cellar or garden. His meticulous efforts to conceal his crimes and the chilling nature of his dismemberment make him a notable figure among Victorian era murderers.

Martin Dumollard was a French serial killer active from 1855 to 1861. He was convicted of three murders but is suspected of having many more victims, possibly over 30. His modus operandi involved luring young women, often domestic servants, under false pretenses of employment, only to rob and murder them. His crimes were particularly frightening as they targeted vulnerable women seeking work, preying on their hopes for a better life. Dumollard’s case highlighted the dangers faced by working-class women in 19th-century France and became a sensationalized topic of discussion.

Ane Andersdatter was a Danish serial killer whose victims were tragically her own newborn children. Between 1853 and 1861, she committed at least three infanticides by drowning her infants shortly after birth. Such cases, though heartbreaking, were not uncommon in the 19th century due to extreme poverty, social stigma, and lack of support for unmarried mothers. Her actions, while a desperate response to dire circumstances, still fall under the grim category of serial murder, marking a dark side of 19th century crime.