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Belle Gunness

What is belle gunness?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Born November 11, 1859, in Selbu, Norway[1]
Active 1884–1908[1]
Alias Hell's Belle[1]
Victim count At least 14; possibly as many as 40 or more[1]

Belle Gunness was a Norwegian-American serial killer active in Illinois and Indiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for luring men to her Indiana farm through personal advertisements and for a body count of at least 14 and possibly as many as 40 or more [1].

Context

Belle Gunness, born Brynhild Paulsdatter Størseth, was a Norwegian-American serial killer active in Illinois and Indiana from 1884 to 1908 [1]. She used personal advertisements to entice men to visit her rural Indiana property, where she murdered them [1]. Her crimes were discovered at her burnt-out pig farm in 1908, after a house fire on April 28, 1908, in LaPorte, Indiana [3][4]. She seemingly died in that fire, but her actual fate remains unconfirmed [1]. Authorities found remains of over 40 victims on her property [2]. She is considered one of the most prolific female serial killers in history [1].

Documented claims

  • Belle Gunness is considered one of the most prolific female serial killers in history [1].
  • Authorities found remains of over 40 victims on her property [2].
  • She was called a murderer for profit [3].

Questions and answers

How many victims did Belle Gunness have?

Sources describe her body count as at least 14 and possibly as high as 40 or more [1]. Authorities found remains of over 40 victims on her property [2].

What happened to Belle Gunness?

She seemingly died in a fire in 1908, but her actual fate is unconfirmed [1]. The house fire occurred on April 28, 1908, in LaPorte, Indiana [4].

Where did Belle Gunness commit her crimes?

She was active in Illinois and Indiana, and lured men to her rural Indiana farm through personal advertisements [1].

Sources

  1. Belle Gunness Murder Farm: Topics in Chronicling America — guides.loc.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Belle Gunness: Biography, Serial Killer, Facts, Life & Victims — biography.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Belle Gunness: The Early 20th Century Female Serial Killer ... — aetv.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Belle Gunness: America's Most Ruthless Female Killer - ClassX — classx.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in People