Margaret Summers: The Fly Paper Murderess
Introduction
Margaret Summers, infamously known as "The Fly Paper Murderess," was a Chicago-based serial killer active in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Her modus operandi involved poisoning her victims with arsenic extracted from flypaper, primarily targeting close family members and boarders to claim life insurance benefits.
Crimes and Victims
Summers' criminal activities came to light following a series of suspicious deaths:
- Thomas Meyers: Her 17-year-old nephew, died around May 22, 1931. An autopsy revealed chronic arsenic poisoning.
- Thomas "Shags" Summers: Her husband, died on August 9, 1930, at age 37. He was insured for $3,000, with Summers as the beneficiary.
- William Reiman: A boarder in Summers' home, died under mysterious circumstances. He had a life insurance policy naming Summers as the beneficiary.
- Thomas Lanagan: Another boarder, also died suspiciously, with Summers as the beneficiary of his life insurance.
- Louis Meyers: Summers' brother, died in her residence. He had a life insurance policy benefiting Summers.
- John Meyers: Another brother, died within a week of attending Louis' funeral at Summers' home.
Investigation and Arrest
Authorities grew suspicious due to the pattern of deaths among Summers' acquaintances, all of whom had life insurance policies naming her as the beneficiary. Investigations revealed that she was the beneficiary of nineteen different policies taken out on ten different men.
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