In the summer of 1952 in Atlanta, Georgia, the Reverend William M. Elder, a 47-year-old Black man who worked as a construction worker by day, fell violently ill at his job after eating a meal of bananas and cheese packed by his wife, Roberta. He was taken to his home at 1328 Eason Street, where he was tended to by Roberta. A doctor was called and, unable to find a specific cause for his illness, prescribed some medicine and instructed the family to call if his condition worsened.
Despite this, the doctor was not summoned again until William was already dying on August 21, 1952. Roberta mentioned she had given him Milk of Magnesia to ease his symptoms. The attending physician was immediately suspicious, noticing the ruddy and emaciated appearance of Reverend Elder's body, and refused to sign the death certificate. This decision would unravel a horrifying series of events.
The doctor's suspicion was amplified by the fact that two of Reverend Elder's daughters had also died in the preceding years under similar circumstances, with both deaths attributed to pneumonia. An autopsy was ordered for William Elder, which revealed he had ingested enough arsenic to kill three men. This shocking discovery led to a police investigation and the exhumation of his daughters, nine-year-old Annie Pearl and fifteen-year-old Fannie Mae. Autopsies on their bodies also revealed fatal doses of arsenic. The investigation soon centered on one person: Roberta Elder, William's wife and the stepmother of the deceased girls. It was discovered that Roberta had taken out life insurance policies on her husband and stepdaughters, with herself as the beneficiary. The amounts ranged from $50 to $550.
Roberta Elder was arrested and, in 1953, stood trial for the murder of her husband. The prosecution presented evidence that bottles of Milk of Magnesia found in the Elder home were laced with arsenic. Surviving children testified that Roberta had given the same remedy to their father and sisters. Although authorities could never prove that she had purchased the arsenic, the circumstantial evidence was compelling. A jury found Roberta Elder guilty of the murder of Reverend William M. Elder and, due to a recommendation of mercy, she was sentenced to life in prison. While she was only tried for her husband's murder, police suspected her of being responsible for as many as 14 deaths over 14 years, including her own children, another husband, and other relatives, often for small insurance payouts. This case presented a chilling narrative of a woman who methodically used poison to eliminate those in her care for financial gain, a tale of betrayal that came to light only after the untimely and agonizing death of the Reverend.
