Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"The black widow subset of serial killers falls mostly under the hedonist comfort killer category. These women kill mostly for profit, usually a sizeable life insurance policy, although some admit to getting off on it just a little bit." — Marcus Parks
"Technically, HLN has made their entire network about black widows. Basically, it's all forensic files, which is just like, you have some Gatorade in no way, is it?" — Henry Zabraski
"And then finally in 1921, Tillie decided it was Frank's time to go. She predicted he would die within two weeks, but this time she decided she'd have a little fun with it." — Ben Kissel
The episode begins by introducing the concept of "Black Widows," female serial killers who often target their spouses and lovers for financial gain, typically through life insurance policies. The hosts discuss how these offenders are often categorized as "hedonist comfort killers," deriving satisfaction from both the profit and, in some cases, the act of killing itself. They contrast this with male serial killers, noting that Black Widows are unique in that they often personally know their victims. The discussion highlights historical cases, including Nanny Doss, dubbed "The Giggling Grandma," and Mary Ann Cotton, who is believed to have killed numerous children for insurance money.
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the case of Tillie Klemick, "The Polish Prognosticator." Klemick was known for predicting the deaths of neighborhood dogs before poisoning them, a pattern she later extended to her husbands, whom she married through matchmaking services. The hosts detail her series of marriages and the subsequent deaths of her husbands, often attributed to "heart problems" or other natural causes, with Klemick collecting life insurance payouts each time. The use of arsenic-laced rat poison is identified as her primary method, and the episode touches upon the availability and characteristics of arsenic in the early 20th century.
The discussion then shifts to Mary Elizabeth Wilson, "The Mary Widow of Windy Nook," who used beetle poison to kill four husbands. The hosts note that while poison has historically been considered a "woman's weapon," the methods of female serial killers evolved over time, with guns and strangulation becoming more common. The episode also explores the FBI's serial killer classification system, suggesting it may be flawed in its understanding of female offenders, as it was largely developed from studies of male criminals. The case of Betty Lou Beats, "Trailer Park Betty," is presented as an example of a more physically violent Black Widow, detailing her marriages, attempted murders, and eventual conviction for the murder of her fourth husband.