Bodenfelde Black Widows Explained

The Bodenfelde Black Widows were two German serial killers, who committed four murders from 1994 to 2000 in the Bodenfelde municipality.^{[1] [2] [3]} Bodenfelde is in the state of Lower Saxony, Germany.

Murderers

The couple were Lydia L., a former prostitute born in 1939, and her assistant, Siegmund S. Lydia invited older men to live with her in a relationship or as care for the elderly. She later murdered the men with Siegmund S.'s help. However, a turnaround occurred when her aide himself reported the crimes to the police, confessing his participation in them as well.

Victims

The following relationships were assigned to Lydia L.:

• Ludwig G. from Biebertal. In 1983, he met the woman at the age of 82. In September 1985, he appointed Lydia his sole heir. He died in a hospital on 5 January 1986.
• Wilhelm S., a master mason from the Sauerland.
• Paul P., who died at the age of 83 in February 1991.
• Alois M.
• Günter S., 74, strangled in June 1994.
• Adolf B. from Melsungen, was suffocated with a pillow in September 1994.
• Paul G., first stunned by Lydia L. and then strangled by Siegmund S., in April 1995.
• Gerhard G., smothered with a plastic bag by the two offenders in his house in Völksen, near Hanover, on 13 July 2000.

Trial

The court recognized the last four cases as murders.^[4] Lydia L. was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009 by the District Court of Göttingen, and she is now serving in Vechta Prison. A revision submitted by her was unsuccessful.^[5]

Siegmund S. was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, which he served in the Rosdorf correctional facility. By his own account, he said that he had been afraid of being poisoned.^[6]

In 2014, Lydia L. sued the new owner of her house, who was said to have disposed of personal belongings without her permission.^[7] The claim was dismissed by the court.^[8]

See also

• List of serial killers by country

External links

• Christian Saehrendt, Steen T. Kittl: All Bluff! How we become imposters without wanting to. Or maybe yes?. Heyne Verlag, 2011

Notes and References

1. Web site: Murder cases in Bodenfelde: Near Höxter: "Black Widow" lured victims into death trap by ads. Focus Online. 12 May 2016. 2 May 2016. German.
2. Web site: Crime: The Black Widow. Spiegel Online. 12 May 2016. Jürgen Dahlkamp and Michael Fröhlingsdorf. 28 January 2008. German.
3. News: Lifelong imprisonment for "Black Widow". FAZ.net. 12 May 2016. 3 June 2008. German.
4. News: Confessions in the "Black Widow" process. Die Welt . welt.de. 12 May 2016. 19 February 2009. German.
5. Web site: Press release No. 14/09 of January 19, 2009. juris.bundesgerichtshof.de. 12 May 2016. 19 February 2009. German.
6. Web site: "Bodenfelde Black Widows" - Her helper was afraid of herself. sueddeutsche.de. 12 May 2016. 11 May 2005. German.
7. Web site: "Black Widow" from Bodenfelde demands damages. haz.de. 12 May 2016. Heidi Niemann. 28 March 2014. German.
8. Web site: Black widow: Buyer of her house does not have to pay damages. hna.de. 12 May 2016. 15 April 2014. German.