Martha Wise

Serial Killer

Martha Wise: The Poisoner of Hardscrabble

Background

Martha Wise, born Martha Hasel in 1883 in Hardscrabble, Ohio (a rural part of Medina County), became known as one of the most chilling and lesser-known American serial killers of the early 20th century. Her crimes shocked her tight-knit community, not only due to the sinister nature of the killings but also because of her method and motive: a blend of family resentment and obsession with funerals.

The Crimes

Wise was widowed in 1922 and began showing disturbing behavior following the death of her husband, Albert Wise. She developed an obsession with funerals, often attending them even when she had no known connection to the deceased. Her family grew concerned and eventually pressured her to stop seeing a younger man, Walter Johns, whom she had met shortly after becoming a widow. Angry and resentful, she turned to murder—using poison to eliminate those who interfered in her personal life.

Method

Martha Wise used arsenic to poison several family members. She mixed the toxic substance into food and drink, targeting individuals she believed had wronged her or stood in the way of her romantic interests. The poison caused prolonged, agonizing illnesses that often led to death. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (3)

Fred Hasel , Date of Death: 1924-12-13

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Martha Wise - Wikipedia

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