Vanessa Richardson

For just a moment, her vision blurred. The only way she knew she was still alive and standing there was the sound of her heart battering away in her throat. That's why Typhoid followed her like a shadow? It had been her fault the whole time? It couldn't be, she thought to herself, terrified and bemused. Then her expression hardened. Her vision cleared. No, it definitely couldn't be.

For just a moment, her vision blurred. The only way she knew she was still alive and standing there was the sound of her heart battering away in her throat. That's why Typhoid followed her like a shadow? It had been her fault the whole time? It couldn't be, she thought to herself, terrified and bemused. Then her expression hardened. Her vision cleared. No, it definitely couldn't be.

George Soper had to be wrong. But before she could speak up in protest, Soper added insult to injury. He needed definitive proof so the New York Health Department could take proper steps. To complete his investigation, Soper required her cooperation. This complete stranger demanded, point blank, that she give him samples of her blood, urine, and feces right here, right now. What?

George Soper had to be wrong. But before she could speak up in protest, Soper added insult to injury. He needed definitive proof so the New York Health Department could take proper steps. To complete his investigation, Soper required her cooperation. This complete stranger demanded, point blank, that she give him samples of her blood, urine, and feces right here, right now. What?

Mary was horrified. Reading the disgusted look on her face, Soper assured her that the samples would just need to be sent to a lab for testing. He expected nothing more than her happy and willing compliance. Mary could hardly believe her ears. Who was this man, this complete stranger, to burst into her house and say these awful things about her?

Mary was horrified. Reading the disgusted look on her face, Soper assured her that the samples would just need to be sent to a lab for testing. He expected nothing more than her happy and willing compliance. Mary could hardly believe her ears. Who was this man, this complete stranger, to burst into her house and say these awful things about her?

And why would she do anything to help him support his ridiculous and offensive accusations? Meanwhile, George Soper paused to take a breath. He knew he had her cornered. With all of modern science supporting him, Mary wouldn't dare deny his claims. She simply had to do what he said. She had no way out. And this was true both literally and figuratively.

And why would she do anything to help him support his ridiculous and offensive accusations? Meanwhile, George Soper paused to take a breath. He knew he had her cornered. With all of modern science supporting him, Mary wouldn't dare deny his claims. She simply had to do what he said. She had no way out. And this was true both literally and figuratively.

While he was talking, George Soper had backed Mary into a corner of her kitchen. So Mary reacted as any cornered creature might. She fought back. A cook knows her kitchen as well as anything. So here, Mary relied on pure reflex. In one smooth motion, she reached over her sink and pulled out her largest carving fork. Mary Mallon hissed at George Soper to get out.

While he was talking, George Soper had backed Mary into a corner of her kitchen. So Mary reacted as any cornered creature might. She fought back. A cook knows her kitchen as well as anything. So here, Mary relied on pure reflex. In one smooth motion, she reached over her sink and pulled out her largest carving fork. Mary Mallon hissed at George Soper to get out.

The look on her face and the tone of her voice were of complete calm. She planted her feet and did not move them. But Soper wouldn't relent. He told her he couldn't leave without the samples. So with the fork clutched tightly and expertly in her fist, Mary Mallon advanced on George Soper, getting closer and closer until Soper turned and fled.

The look on her face and the tone of her voice were of complete calm. She planted her feet and did not move them. But Soper wouldn't relent. He told her he couldn't leave without the samples. So with the fork clutched tightly and expertly in her fist, Mary Mallon advanced on George Soper, getting closer and closer until Soper turned and fled.

Any thought that Soper had that Mary might be a reasonable person vanished. He warned that anyone trying to reason with Mary Mallon should be prepared to become quite aggressive. She had resisted, so Mary was now to be taken by force. But it would take more than force to stop typhoid Mary Mallon. Thanks for tuning in to Serial Killers, a Spotify podcast. We'll be back Monday with another episode.

Any thought that Soper had that Mary might be a reasonable person vanished. He warned that anyone trying to reason with Mary Mallon should be prepared to become quite aggressive. She had resisted, so Mary was now to be taken by force. But it would take more than force to stop typhoid Mary Mallon. Thanks for tuning in to Serial Killers, a Spotify podcast. We'll be back Monday with another episode.

For more information on Typhoid Mary Mallon, among the many sources we used, we found Typhoid Mary, Captive to the Public's Health by Judith Leavitt, extremely helpful to our research. Stay safe out there.

For more information on Typhoid Mary Mallon, among the many sources we used, we found Typhoid Mary, Captive to the Public's Health by Judith Leavitt, extremely helpful to our research. Stay safe out there.

This episode was written by Emily Duggan, edited by Joel Callen, fact-checked by Anya Baerle, researched by Mickey Taylor and Chelsea Wood, and sound designed by Kelly Geary, with production assistance by Ron Shapiro, Trent Williamson, Carly Madden, and Bruce Kitovich.

This episode was written by Emily Duggan, edited by Joel Callen, fact-checked by Anya Baerle, researched by Mickey Taylor and Chelsea Wood, and sound designed by Kelly Geary, with production assistance by Ron Shapiro, Trent Williamson, Carly Madden, and Bruce Kitovich.

Our head of programming is Julien Boireau, our head of production is Nick Johnson, and Spencer Howard is our post-production supervisor. I'm your host, Vanessa Richardson.

Our head of programming is Julien Boireau, our head of production is Nick Johnson, and Spencer Howard is our post-production supervisor. I'm your host, Vanessa Richardson.