Who Is Considered the First Female Serial Killer
The first widely documented female serial killer in modern criminal records is often identified as Lizzie Borden, whose case drew massive public attention in the late 19th century United States. While earlier cases exist, Borden became a defining reference point in true crime discussions about female perpetrators and is frequently cited in historical crime analyses by researchers and archives available on sites like Forbes.
Another early figure frequently mentioned alongside Borden is Amelia Dyer, a British baby farmer convicted of murdering infants in the Victorian era. Her crimes, uncovered in the late 1800s, revealed a pattern of repeated killing that predates some modern serial killer profiles, and her case is studied by historians and criminologists referencing sources such as Britannica.
Key Cases and Patterns of the First Female Serial Killers
Lizzie Borden was accused of murdering her father and stepmother with an axe in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892, a case that became a national sensation and remains a subject of criminological study. The trial highlighted issues of class, gender, and evidence handling, and is frequently referenced in legal and historical reviews available through History.com.
Amelia Dyer operated in England during the 1890s, luring young women into baby farming arrangements and then murdering the infants she was supposed to care for. Her arrest and execution exposed systemic vulnerabilities in social services and infant welfare, and her case is cited in studies on female criminal networks and Victorian-era justice systems by researchers linked to The Guardian.
Why the First Female Serial Killer Matters in True Crime
Examining the first known female serial killer helps researchers understand how gender biases shaped early criminal investigations and public perceptions of violence. Historically, female perpetrators were less likely to be suspected, and their crimes were often attributed to mental illness or temporary provocation rather than premeditated patterns.
Modern criminology uses these early cases to refine profiling methods and challenge stereotypes about who commits serial murders. The legacy of these first documented female offenders continues to influence true crime scholarship, forensic psychology, and criminal justice education worldwide.