Vanessa Richardson

In early September 1803, 35-year-old Mary befriended the Kitchen family. There were three of them, a mother, who we'll call Dorothy, and her two maiden daughters, who we'll refer to as Eleanor and Isabel. The sisters ran a draper's shop, where people came to get fabrics for their homes tanned and dyed.

In early September 1803, 35-year-old Mary befriended the Kitchen family. There were three of them, a mother, who we'll call Dorothy, and her two maiden daughters, who we'll refer to as Eleanor and Isabel. The sisters ran a draper's shop, where people came to get fabrics for their homes tanned and dyed.

It's unclear how the women first met Mary, but she took to them like a leech to blood, frequenting the shop and soon helping them out with their business. For all intents and purposes, the time that Mary spent building a rapport with the Kitchens increased their likelihood of trusting her down the line. This may have been her plan all along.

It's unclear how the women first met Mary, but she took to them like a leech to blood, frequenting the shop and soon helping them out with their business. For all intents and purposes, the time that Mary spent building a rapport with the Kitchens increased their likelihood of trusting her down the line. This may have been her plan all along.

If so, it worked perfectly, because when Eleanor got sick that fall, she didn't question Mary's offer to nurse her back to health. If anything, the young woman was grateful she had such a tender companion. So when Mary told her that she knew a woman who could prescribe special treatments to make her healthy, Eleanor gratefully accepted.

If so, it worked perfectly, because when Eleanor got sick that fall, she didn't question Mary's offer to nurse her back to health. If anything, the young woman was grateful she had such a tender companion. So when Mary told her that she knew a woman who could prescribe special treatments to make her healthy, Eleanor gratefully accepted.

Unlike her past cons, Mary didn't make mention of her made-up helper, Mrs. Moore. Perhaps worried that the name had garnered a poor reputation in Leeds, Mary invented an entirely new character. This one was Miss Blythe. She wasn't the sacred seventh child of a seventh child, as Mrs. Moore had been, but she did have a convenient knack for miracle treatments.

Unlike her past cons, Mary didn't make mention of her made-up helper, Mrs. Moore. Perhaps worried that the name had garnered a poor reputation in Leeds, Mary invented an entirely new character. This one was Miss Blythe. She wasn't the sacred seventh child of a seventh child, as Mrs. Moore had been, but she did have a convenient knack for miracle treatments.

According to Mary, Miss Blythe could interpret the stars and fully predict the future as well. With these fibs, Mary convinced Eleanor that her health would soon improve. In the days that followed, Mary brought powders to the sick woman, claiming Miss Blythe had prescribed them. She administered the mystery medicines, but they didn't work.

According to Mary, Miss Blythe could interpret the stars and fully predict the future as well. With these fibs, Mary convinced Eleanor that her health would soon improve. In the days that followed, Mary brought powders to the sick woman, claiming Miss Blythe had prescribed them. She administered the mystery medicines, but they didn't work.

Instead of getting better, Eleanor felt a burning in her throat, nausea, and abdominal pain. And less than a week after accepting Mary's help, Eleanor Kitchen was dead. Naturally, Dorothy and Isabel were grief-stricken. Mary insisted on taking care of them while they mourned. Despite Eleanor's sudden and unexplained death, they didn't seem to suspect a thing. They trusted Mary completely.

Instead of getting better, Eleanor felt a burning in her throat, nausea, and abdominal pain. And less than a week after accepting Mary's help, Eleanor Kitchen was dead. Naturally, Dorothy and Isabel were grief-stricken. Mary insisted on taking care of them while they mourned. Despite Eleanor's sudden and unexplained death, they didn't seem to suspect a thing. They trusted Mary completely.

It was a grave mistake. Over the course of the next week, Dorothy and Isabel fell sick with the same symptoms Eleanor had suffered. As neighbors heard the news, they whispered how odd it was that both women had been in great health mere days earlier, and now they were desperately ill. No one seemed to guess that Mary was behind it all. The mother, Dorothy, was the next to die.

It was a grave mistake. Over the course of the next week, Dorothy and Isabel fell sick with the same symptoms Eleanor had suffered. As neighbors heard the news, they whispered how odd it was that both women had been in great health mere days earlier, and now they were desperately ill. No one seemed to guess that Mary was behind it all. The mother, Dorothy, was the next to die.

Then, not more than ten days after Eleanor had passed, her sister Isabel did too. The entire family had been wiped out in less than a fortnight, and no one could work out how. Doctors attributed their tragic ends to cholera morbus, a gastrointestinal disease that wasn't widely understood at the time. But Mary herself insisted that the Kitchens had died of the plague.

Then, not more than ten days after Eleanor had passed, her sister Isabel did too. The entire family had been wiped out in less than a fortnight, and no one could work out how. Doctors attributed their tragic ends to cholera morbus, a gastrointestinal disease that wasn't widely understood at the time. But Mary herself insisted that the Kitchens had died of the plague.

Though the last major outbreak had occurred in the mid 17th century, people still lived with fear that it might return at any time. However, one doctor didn't buy Mary's explanation and decided to investigate. He reasoned that the only logical explanation for the Kitchen family's sudden passing was poisoning.

Though the last major outbreak had occurred in the mid 17th century, people still lived with fear that it might return at any time. However, one doctor didn't buy Mary's explanation and decided to investigate. He reasoned that the only logical explanation for the Kitchen family's sudden passing was poisoning.

He told authorities that they needed to perform an autopsy to get to the bottom of things. If only he'd gone through with his plan, Mary surely would have been caught. But there was just one problem. Since no family member was alive to consent to the procedure, the bodies were buried without inspection, and any evidence of Mary's crimes along with them.

He told authorities that they needed to perform an autopsy to get to the bottom of things. If only he'd gone through with his plan, Mary surely would have been caught. But there was just one problem. Since no family member was alive to consent to the procedure, the bodies were buried without inspection, and any evidence of Mary's crimes along with them.