Sarah Jane Robinson

Serial Killer

Sarah Jane Robinson: The Infamous Poisoner

Introduction

Sarah Jane Robinson was a 19th-century serial killer known for poisoning multiple victims, including family members, in a calculated scheme to collect life insurance money. Her crimes took place in Boston, Massachusetts, during the late 1800s. Her actions shocked the public and led to one of the most notorious murder cases of the era.

Crimes and Victims

Sarah Jane Robinson used arsenic to poison her victims, carefully orchestrating their deaths to appear as natural or due to common illnesses of the time. Her crimes spanned several years and involved multiple close relatives and acquaintances.

• Thomas Robinson – Her husband, poisoned in 1881. Sarah collected insurance money following his death.
• William Robinson – Her brother-in-law, also poisoned in 1884 under suspicious circumstances.
• Annie Robinson – Her daughter, who died in 1885. Sarah’s greed for insurance payouts led to her own child’s murder.
• Mary Robinson – Her sister-in-law, another victim of Sarah’s poisoning in 1886.
• Thomas Freeman – A boarder in Sarah’s home who died in 1886 under similar conditions.

Arrest and Trial

Authorities became suspicious after noticing the pattern of deaths surrounding Sarah Jane Robinson. When investigations revealed traces of arsenic in the bodies of her victims, she was arrested in 1886. Her trial was highly publicized, with prosecutors presenting overwhelming evidence of her calculated poisoning spree. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (8)

Oliver Sleeper Age: (72), Date of Death: August 10, 1881

    ...View 7 additional victims

Early American Serial Killers | Headlines & Heroes

    ...View 10 additional sources