Female Criminals
Female Criminals investigates the shocking cases of women who made headlines and uncovers the dark motives, hidden psychology, and jaw-dropping twists behind their crimes. Join Law&Crime's Elizabeth Millner in reexamining the complex and often misunderstood world of Female Criminals. Watch free, only on Spotify.
76
"Typhoid Mary" Mary Mallon Pt. 1
In the late 1800s, an Irish immigrant in New York City made ends meet by working as a cook for wealthy families. But wherever Mary Mallon went, typhoid fever followed.
33 min
77
“The Cannibal Cook” Katherine Knight Pt. 2
Katherine Knight was in her last relationship. Of that she was sure. Because if one more man left her, she was going to lose it.
44 min
78
“The Cannibal Cook” Katherine Knight Pt. 1
In Australia, a young Katherine Knight had a volatile childhood marked by parental abuse and a short fuse. Things didn't improve as she got older.
41 min
79
“Queen of Fences” Marm Mandelbaum Pt. 2
By 1875, the Queen of Thieves was wealthy, fashionable, and nearly untouchable. But New York was changing.
42 min
80
“Queen of Fences” Marm Mandelbaum Pt. 1
One of New York’s shrewdest criminals in the late 19th century was a German Jewish immigrant with a knack for buying and reselling stolen goods.
43 min
81
"The Murder Farm" Belle Gunness Pt. 2
There's still so much mystery surrounding the fate of Belle Gunness, and what exactly happened on her now-infamous murder farm.
37 min
82
"The Murder Farm" Belle Gunness Pt. 1
Belle Gunness never wanted much from her life: a fresh start in the USA, a nice husband, and maybe some children.
39 min
83
“The Guru's Secretary” Sheela Birnstiel Pt. 2
With her relationship with Bhagwan strained and her power slipping away, Sheela Birnstiel knew she had to do something drastic to make him happy and gain it all back.
45 min
84
“The Guru's Secretary” Sheela Birnstiel Pt. 1
She first met the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh as a teenager and was instantly enamored.
44 min
85
“The Maid of Orléans” Joan of Arc Pt. 2
Following God’s orders led Joan of Arc into battle against the English, and into an audience with the king.
43 min
86
“The Maid of Orléans” Joan of Arc Pt. 1
Hero. Martyr. Feminist. Witch. Who really was Joan of Arc? And could she really speak to God, or were her visions something else entirely?
39 min
87
“Soho Grifter” Anna Sorokin Pt. 2
Anna Delvey wasn’t who she claimed to be. But despite mounting setbacks, she refused to temper her schemes.
37 min
88
“Soho Grifter” Anna Sorokin Pt. 1
A con artist storms New York’s social scene in the 2010s, cementing her place in high society as a German heiress worth millions.
38 min
89
“The Seamstress' Story” Edythe Klumpp Pt. 2
In November 1958, three young duck hunters came across a body near a remote lake in Ohio.
42 min
90
“The Seamstress' Story” Edythe Klumpp Pt. 1
Edythe Klumpp liked to have fun with the men in her life... even if that made her the "other woman."
37 min
91
“College Admissions Scandal” Lori Loughlin
Lori Loughlin had it all: a career as a beloved TV icon, a happy marriage, and two loving daughters. But in the world of the ultra-rich and famous, success seemed to rest on the wins your child netted.
40 min
92
“The Jewel Thief” Doris Payne Pt. 2
A particular caper in 1965 brought Doris uncomfortably close to law enforcement and the media.
39 min
93
“The Jewel Thief” Doris Payne Pt. 1
Born in 1930, Doris Payne realized early on that she had a taste for the finer things in life. She also realized she had a knack for putting people at ease — and it was a skill she could use to get exactly what she wanted.
40 min
94
“Taking Elizabeth Smart” Wanda Barzee Pt. 2
After abducting Elizabeth Smart in 2002, Barzee and Mitchell — known to each other as Hephzibah and Immanuel — fashioned her into a sister-wife, systematically abusing her into submission.
40 min
95
“Taking Elizabeth Smart” Wanda Barzee Pt. 1
All Wanda Barzee wanted in life was for someone to take care of her, and in return she promised complete devotion.
41 min
96
Femme Fatales Pt. 5: Mata Hari
She's perhaps the most famous femme fatale of the 20th century. And yet, Mata Hari's supposed crimes are shrouded in mystery.
45 min
97
Femme Fatales Pt. 4: Shi Pei Pu
In espionage terms, honeytraps are the stuff of legend: a beautiful temptress so seductive that she can convince even the most cunning of men to reveal state secrets.
44 min
98
Femme Fatales Pt. 3: KGB Sparrows
The beautiful Soviet seductress is a well-known figure of femme fatale lore. She's patriotic, irresistible, and deadly.
46 min
99
Femme Fatales Pt. 2: Catherine de Medici and He...
A cunning puppetmaster, Catherine de Medici is most vividly remembered as a one-time queen of France who dispatched beautiful women in her court to manipulate the men of France.
44 min
100
Femme Fatales Pt. 1: WWII and Origins
The term "femme fatale" conjures up noir vixens whose sole purpose is to bring the story's male hero to his knees.
40 min