Introduction: The “Occult” Label in Criminology

The association between crime and the occult is a long-standing one, often fueled by fear and misunderstanding. When a crime is particularly brutal, bizarre, or seemingly inexplicable, there’s a tendency to reach for supernatural explanations. This is especially true when the perpetrator is female, as it challenges traditional gender roles and expectations. However, it’s essential to distinguish between genuine occult practices, mental illness, and societal biases that might lead to mislabeling.

Categories of “Occult” Connection

The cases listed can be broadly categorized based on the type of alleged occult involvement:

1. Witchcraft and Traditional Magic

This category includes cases where the accused was labeled a “witch” or practiced some form of traditional magic. It’s important to remember that “witchcraft” has a complex history, often associated with marginalized groups and persecuted by religious authorities.

• 1679 – Marie Bosse, Catherine Deshayes, Lavigoreaux, Catherine Trianon (Paris, France): These women were involved in the “Affair of the Poisons,” a major scandal in the court of Louis XIV. They were accused of providing poisons and participating in black masses. While some elements of their practices might be considered “magic” in a historical context, the accusations were heavily intertwined with political intrigue and court rivalries. [Source: Anne Somerset, The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide, and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV]
• 1809 – Mary Bateman (Leeds, England): Known as the “Yorkshire Witch,” Bateman was a fortune teller and alleged poisoner. She used “magic” charms and potions to defraud and ultimately murder her victims. Her case reflects a blend of folk magic and criminal deception. [Source: The Newgate Calendar]
• 1928 – Anujka de Poshtonja (Panchova, Serbia): Known as the “Witch of Vladimirovac,” Anujka was a traditional healer who also sold “magic love potions” that turned out to be deadly poisons. Her case highlights the blurred lines between folk medicine and criminal activity. [Source: Difficult to find reliable sources; often sensationalized]
• 1932 – Anna Allas, Mary Chalfa & Gizella Young (Munhall, Pennsylvania): This case involved accusations of witchcraft within an immigrant community. The details are scarce and often sensationalized, making it difficult to determine the extent of genuine occult practices.
• 1935 – Julianna Nagy (Debreczen, Hungary): Described as a fortune teller, details on this case are limited and require further research to verify the “occult” connection.
• 1941- Leonarda Cianciulli (Correggio, Emilia-Romagna, Italy): Known as the “Soap-Maker of Correggio”. Made soap and teacakes from the remains of her victims. Told her victims she would help them get married or find jobs. Claimed she was a fortune teller.

2. Spiritualism and Seances

This category involves cases where the perpetrators were associated with the Spiritualist movement, which was popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Spiritualism involved communicating with the dead through mediums and seances.

• 1873 – Kate Bender (Cherry Vale, Kansas): The Bender family, including Kate, were infamous for running a roadside inn where numerous travelers disappeared. While Kate was portrayed as a “spiritualist healer,” the occult connection is largely based on speculation and sensationalized accounts. [Source: Hell’s Half-Acre: The Untold Story of the Benders, a Serial Killer Family on the American Frontier]
• 1912 – Frieda Trost (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania): Described as a spiritualist, details on this case are limited and require further research to verify the “occult” connection.
• 1912 – Louisa Lindloff (Chicago, Illinois): Described as a seeress.

3. Voodoo and Related Traditions

This category includes cases linked to Voodoo (Vodou), a syncretic religion originating in Haiti, and related traditions like Palo Mayombe. It’s crucial to understand that Voodoo is a complex and legitimate religion, often misrepresented and demonized in popular culture.

• 1910 – Esteis Liberis (Barahona, Haiti): Details on this case are scarce and require further research. The “Voodoo” label needs careful examination to avoid perpetuating stereotypes.
• 1911 – Clementine Barnabet (Lafayette, Louisiana): Barnabet was associated with a “Voodoo-related cult” and confessed to numerous murders. However, the extent of genuine Voodoo practices versus sensationalized accounts is debated. [Source: The Human Sacrifice Cult in Louisiana, 1912]
• 1939 – Philadelphia “Arsenic Incorporated” (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania): This case involved a group of Italian immigrants accused of using “Voodoo” curses and poison to murder their husbands for insurance money. The “Voodoo” connection is questionable and likely reflects cultural biases of the time.
• 1958 – Anjette Donovan Lyles (Macon, Georgia): Lyles was accused of poisoning her family members. The “Voodoo” connection is based on rumors and speculation, with little concrete evidence.
• 1989 – Geraldine Parrish (Baltimore, Maryland): Details on this case are limited and require further research to verify the “Voodoo” connection.
• 2002 – Josephine Gray (Baltimore, Maryland): Details on this case are limited and require further research to verify the “Voodoo” connection.

4. Human Sacrifice Cults

This is perhaps the most sensationalized category, often involving exaggerated or fabricated claims of ritualistic killings. It’s crucial to approach these cases with extreme caution and rely on verified evidence.

• 1885 – Rachel Ostrovoskafa (Odessa, Ukraine): Accused of involvement in a “child sacrifice cult (Nazarene sect).” The Nazarenes were a Christian sect, and the “child sacrifice” accusation is likely rooted in anti-Semitic and anti-sectarian prejudice.
• 1887 – Frau Romanyi (Csoka, Serbia): Similar to the Ostrovoskafa case, this involves accusations of child sacrifice within a “Nazarene sect.” Again, this likely reflects religious prejudice rather than genuine occult practices.
• 1963 – Magdalena Solis (Villagran, Mexico): Solis was the leader of a bizarre cult that engaged in blood rituals and possibly human sacrifice. However, the extent of genuine “occult” beliefs versus her own manipulative and psychotic behavior is debatable. [Source: Difficult to find
• 1989 – Sara Maria Aldrete (Matamoros, Mexico): Aldrete was involved with Adolfo Constanzo, a cult leader who practiced a distorted version of Palo Mayombe, incorporating elements of Aztec religion and drug trafficking. The cult engaged in ritualistic killings, believing it would grant them supernatural protection. [Source: Buried Secrets: A True Story of Drug Running, Black Magic, and Human Sacrifice]
• 1989 – Maria Teresa Quintana (Mexico): Linked to a Palo Mayombe cult, but details are scarce and require further research to verify the specific nature of her involvement.
• 1995 – Filita Mashilipa (Zambia): Accused of witchcraft and cannibalistic human sacrifice. This case highlights the intersection of traditional beliefs, accusations of witchcraft, and potential criminal activity in certain cultural contexts.
• 2000 – Priscilla Souza Ferreira (Vitoria da Conquista, Brazil): Suspected of involvement in sorcery and child sacrifice. Details are limited and require further research.
• 2012 – Silvia Meraz (Nacozari, Mexico): Meraz was involved in a cult that committed ritualistic killings, believing it would appease Santa Muerte, a folk saint associated with death. [Source: News reports and articles on the Nacozari cult]

5. Idiosyncratic and Pseudo-Religious Cults

This category includes cases where the perpetrators were involved in cults with unique, often bizarre, belief systems that don’t fit neatly into established religious categories.

• 1980 – Robin Murphy (Fall River, Massachusetts, USA): Murphy was involved in a “Satanic cult” that committed ritualistic killings. However, the “Satanic” label is often applied loosely to any group engaging in bizarre or violent behavior, and may not reflect genuine Satanic beliefs or practices.
• 1983 – Suzan Barnes Carson (San Francisco, California): Carson and her husband formed a pseudo-Muslim cult with idiosyncratic beliefs. They committed murders, claiming they were targeting “witches.” This case highlights the dangers of extremist ideologies and the potential for violence within cults.
• 1995 – Sachiko Eto (Sukagawa, Japan): Eto was a cult leader who performed “exorcisms” that resulted in the deaths of her followers. This case illustrates the dangers of unchecked power and the potential for abuse within cults.
• 2000 – Dawn Susann Godman (Martinez, California, USA): Involved in the “Children of Thunder” cult. Details are limited, and further research is needed.
• 2000 – Credonia Mwerinde (Kanungu, Uganda): Mwerinde was a leader of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, a doomsday cult that culminated in a mass murder-suicide. This case is a tragic example of the destructive potential of cult dynamics. [Source: The Uganda Cult Tragedy: A Private Investigation]
• 2003 – Valentina de Andrade (Altamira, Brazil): Leader of the Superior Universal Alignment, a UFO cult. Details are limited, and further research is needed.
• 2010 – Elizabeth Wambui (Kiambu, Kenya)
• 2012 – Isabel Cristina Pires da Silveira & Bruna Oliveira da Silveira (Garanhuns, Brazil): Involved in a cannibalistic cult with a bizarre ideology focused on depopulation. [Source: News reports and articles on the Garanhuns cannibal case]
• 2016 – Cecilia Steyn & Marinda Steyn (Krugersdorf, South Africa): The Steyns were part of a group called “Electus per Deus” (Chosen by God) that committed a series of murders, claiming they were targeting Satanists. However, the motivations appear to be more complex, involving financial gain and personal vendettas. [Source: News reports and articles on the Krugersdorp murders]
• 2017 – Anna Young (Micanopy, Alachua County, Florida): Young was the leader of a religious cult called the “House of Prayer” where she abused and murdered children. [Source: News reports and court documents]
• 2020 – Lori Vallow Daybell (Rexburg, Idaho, USA & Arizona): Vallow Daybell was involved in a “doomsday cult” with her husband, Chad Daybell. They are accused of murdering her children. This case highlights the dangers of extremist beliefs and the potential for violence within cults. [Source: News reports and court documents]
• 2022 – Laila Singh (Elanthoor, Kerala, India)

6. Other/Unspecified “Occult” Connections

This category includes cases where the “occult” connection is vague, unspecified, or based on limited information.

• 1895 – Gaetana Stimoli (Adeno, Catania, Sicily): Limited information available; requires further research.
• 1903 – Elisabeth Wiese (Hamburg, Germany): Limited information available; requires further research.
• 1924 – Anastasia Permiakova (Perm, Russia): Described as a “Gipsy clairvoyant.” The connection to her crimes is unclear and requires further research.
• 1936 – Tiza Lublinitsch (Lublimech) (Novi Pazar (Navibazar), Serbia): Limited information available; requires further research.
• 1944 – Carmen Matamoros de Tejeda (Panzacola, Tehuantepec Dist, Oaxaca, Mexico)
• 1950 – Mariam Soulakiotis (Keratea, Greece): Associated with a “Calendrist sect.” This likely refers to a schismatic group within the Greek Orthodox Church. The connection to her crimes requires further investigation.
• 1998 – María Concepción Ladino Gutiérrez (Bogota, Colombia): Limited information available; requires further research.
• 1998 – Alma Cleotilde Grand Perez (Tegucigalpa, Honduras): Limited information available; requires further research.
• 1999 – “Kwazulu-Natal S. Africa Serial Killer” (Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa): Limited information available; requires further research.
• 2001 – Jummai Hassan (Maiduguri, Nigeria): Accused of witchcraft and human sacrifice. This case, like the Mashilipa case, highlights the intersection of traditional beliefs and criminal accusations.
• 2001 – Brookey Lee West (Las Vegas, Nevada): Associated with Satanism and witchcraft. The details of her crimes and the extent of her genuine involvement in these practices require further investigation.
• 2018 – Mariam Abiola (Ilasamaja, Lagos, Nigeria): Limited information available; requires further research.