The Black Widow of La Porte
Belle Gunnes "The Black Widow of La Porte"
Active 1884-1908
La Porte, Indiana
Born in Norway, 1859. Immigrated to the U.S., settling in Illinois, then Indiana.
Married twice, both husbands died under suspicious circumstances.
Gunnes lured wealthy suitors through personal ads promising marriage and a prosperous farm life, then murdered them for their money. Victims were often killed shortly after arriving, typically with blunt force trauma or poisoning. The bodies were then dismembered and buried in her hog pen or around her property. Bodies were discovered buried around her farmhouse in 1908 after a suspicious fire. Gunness herself vanished, believed to have faked her death.
Her Victims included suitors, farmhands, and her own children: Myrtle, Lucy, and Philip. Their remains were found mutilated and buried on her property.
At least 14 confirmed bodies were recovered from the farm,
Authorities estimated as many as 40 victims based on personal ad correspondences and human remains.
Known Victims
Myrtle Sorenson (foster daughter) - Age 11, Blunt force trauma. Killed in 1908 house fire;
Lucy Sorenson (foster daughter) - Age 9, Blunt force trauma. Killed in 1908 house fire;
Phillip Gunness (son) - Age 5, Blunt force trauma. Killed in 1908 house fire;
Jennie Olsen (adopted daughter) - Age 16, Likely poisoning or blunt force. Disappeared in December 1906; body found on farm in 1908.
Mads Sorenson (husband) - Age 40s, Poisoning (suspected strychnine). Died on the only day two insurance policies overlapped, 1900 in Chicago.
Ole Budsberg - Age 60, Blunt force trauma. Missing April 1907; remains found on the farm.
Andrew Helgelien - Age 51, Blunt force trauma. Body found buried on the farm, identified by his brother due to dental work.
Olaf Lindblom - Age Unknown Blunt force trauma Reported missing after visiting Belle. Body found on the farm.
Henry Gurholt - Age Unknown Blunt force trauma Last seen at Belle’s farm; body believed found but not conclusively identified.
John Moe - Age Unknown Blunt force trauma Answered her personal ad, went missing. Body likely found on the property.
George Anderson - Age Unknown Survived Fled after waking to find Belle looming over him with a candle and grim expression. His escape possibly saved his life.
