Who Is Belle Gunness A Successful Murderer In Illinois?

Belle Gunness, one of the most successful murderers in Illinois. She murdered over 40 people between 1884 and 1908 (1). At the age of 22, she immigrated to Chicago, Illinois in 1881.She murdered over 40 people including two of her husbands and about 4 of her children. She got away without a trace and it’s still a mystery as to where she went today.

Brynhild Paulsdatter Storseth (11) was born on November 22nd in 1859 (8). As a child she lived in Selbu, Norway (1). She immigrated to America in 1881 (1) at the age of 22, she moved in with her sister in Chicago where she changed her name to Belle (5). She came to America in search of wealth (11), but instead got insurance frauds and crimes (1). She married a man named Mads Albert Sorrenson (1).

Belle brought the two remaining children from her previous marriage. Shortly after the wedding, the two children died (4). One week later Peter’s infant daughter died while being alone with Belle (5). Eight months later, her husband was found dead (5). In December 1902, Mr. Gunness was murdered. A meat chopper fell on his head. The foster child Jennie arrived at the scene and saw Belle standing over Peter’s body (4).At school, Jennie was heard saying “My mama killed my papa. She hit him with a meat cleaver and he died. Don’t tell a soul.” Belle claimed that Peter died while he was searching for his slippers next to a kitchen stove and was burnt with a brine (11). She applied for insurance money the day after her husband’s funeral. And collected $8,500. She later used that money to buy a farm house outside of La Porte (10). Belle convinced the police that she didn’t kill Peter because she was pregnant at the time and used it as an excuse. She got $3,000 (about $81,000 today) from Mr. Gunness’s insurance policy (4). Family members thought the deaths of her many children and husbands were beginning to be suspicious

She hired Lamphere to do extra work on her farm. Ray was in love with Belle and got jealous of the many suitors coming to her farm (11). Belle drugged these victims that responded to the ad and cut them up like she did to her hogs (3). Ray helped Belle bury the bodies she butchered under the hog pen (11). Because Ray Lamphere was in love with Belle, Belle contacted the police and told them that he was stalking her (11). Ray was fired by Belle on February 3rd 1908. Belle went to the courthouse and said that Ray was not in his right mind. Ray was held in a sanity hearing. He was later found sane and was released (11). After he was released he would continuously stop by and make small threats to Belle (11). Belle told the sheriff that Ray trespassed and that he threatened her family and had him arrested for trespassing (11). Belle’s new hired help, Joe Maxson moved in in February 1908 (11). One the night of April 28, 1908, Joe Maxon woke up to the house in flames. He yelled for Belle and her children but no answer (11). He jumped from his second story window. When he left the house, it was immediately destroyed (5). Local farmers passing by claimed to have seen Ray Lamphere running from the burning house (11). Later, four dead bodies were found in the basement. Three of the bodies were her children (Ages 5, 9, and 11). The fourth was assumed to be Belle Gunness (5). On May 22nd, 1908, Ray Lamphere was found guilty of