In the annals of American criminal history, few names evoke as much terror and fascination as Belle Gunness. Known as the “Lady Bluebeard” and “Hell’s Belle,” this Norwegian-American serial killer left a trail of death and destruction across the Midwest in the early 20th century. Her gruesome exploits on her farm in La Porte, Indiana, earned her a place among the most notorious murderers in U.S. history, captivating the public imagination for over a century.
This article delves into the dark and twisted life of Belle Gunness, exploring her journey from a Norwegian immigrant to one of America’s most prolific female serial killers. We’ll look at her early years in Chicago, the start of her murderous career, and the infamous “murder farm” in La Porte. The piece also covers her mysterious disappearance and the lasting impact of her crimes on true crime enthusiasts and researchers alike.
Early Life and Immigration to America
Birth in Norway
Belle Gunness, born as Brynhild Paulsdatter Storseth on November 11, 1859, in Selbu, Norway, emerged from humble beginnings 1. As the youngest of eight children in the Størseth family, she grew up in a rural setting where her family worked as tenants on a small farm 2. Her father, a stonemason by trade, provided a modest living for the family 3.
Life in 19th-century Norway was challenging, especially for those from working-class backgrounds. Young Brynhild’s early years were likely shaped by the harsh realities of rural life and the limited opportunities available to her. These circumstances may have planted the seeds of ambition that would later drive her actions in America.
Move to Chicago
At the tender age of 14, Brynhild began working on neighboring farms, taking on tasks such as milking cows and herding cattle 1. Her goal was clear: to save enough money for the journey to New York City. This early display of determination and work ethic foreshadowed the single-minded pursuit of her objectives that would characterize her later life.
In 1881, at the age of 21, Brynhild’s dream of immigrating to America finally materialized 1. She left behind the familiar landscapes of Norway and set sail for the United States, joining countless other Europeans seeking new opportunities across the Atlantic. Her destination was Chicago, where her sister Nellie had already established herself several years earlier 1.
Name Change and Early Jobs
Upon arrival at Castle Garden, the main immigration processing center in New York at the time, Brynhild made a significant decision that marked the beginning of her new American identity. She changed her first name to Belle 1, a choice that would become infamous in the annals of American crime history.
After her processing, Belle made her way to Chicago to join her sister and brother-in-law 1. The bustling city, with its rapidly growing immigrant population and expanding industries, offered a stark contrast to her rural Norwegian upbringing. Belle’s initial years in Chicago were marked by hard work and adaptation to her new environment.
Her first job in America was as a domestic servant, a common occupation for many immigrant women of the time 1. This position likely provided Belle with insights into American household customs and social norms, knowledge that would prove useful in her future endeavors.
However, Belle’s career path took an intriguing turn when she secured a position at a butcher’s shop 1. Her duties included cutting up animal carcasses, a task that required physical strength and a certain level of desensitization to blood and gore. This experience, while seemingly mundane, would later be viewed in a more sinister light given her future actions.
In 1884, Belle took another significant step in her American journey by marrying Mads Sorensen, a fellow Norwegian immigrant from Drammen 2. This marriage marked the beginning of a new chapter in Belle’s life, one that would see her transition from an immigrant seeking opportunity to a figure of notoriety in American criminal history.
The Beginning of a Dark Path
Marriage to Mads Sorensen
Belle Gunness’s path to infamy began with her marriage to Mads Ditlev Anton Sorenson in 1884 2. The couple settled in Chicago, where they opened a candy store, marking the start of their life together. However, this seemingly ordinary beginning would soon take a sinister turn, setting the stage for a series of tragic events that would come to define Gunness’s dark legacy.
Suspicious fires and insurance claims
The first signs of trouble emerged when the Sorensons’ candy store mysteriously caught fire and burned to the ground. This incident, while unfortunate, resulted in a substantial insurance payout for the couple 2. Not long after, their home also fell victim to a fire, leading to another insurance claim 2. These events, while initially viewed as mere misfortune, would later be scrutinized in light of Gunness’s subsequent actions.
The pattern of suspicious fires and insurance claims continued throughout their marriage. In 1900, tragedy struck again when the Sorensons’ home burned down once more 4. As before, the couple was able to collect on the insurance policy, further padding their finances 4. This recurring theme of destruction followed by financial gain would become a hallmark of Gunness’s modus operandi.
Deaths of foster children
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this period was the fate that befell the children in Gunness’s care. Two babies living in the Gunness home died from inflammation of the large intestine, a condition that can result from poisoning 1. Suspiciously, Gunness had insured both children and collected substantial insurance payouts after each death 1.
Adding to the intrigue, neighbors gossiped about the fact that Gunness never appeared to be pregnant, raising questions about the origins of these children 1. It’s believed that the couple had produced two children whom Gunness poisoned in infancy for the insurance money 3. The diagnosis for both deaths was acute colitis, a cause covered by the family’s life insurance 5. Experts would later point out that colitis shares symptoms with poisoning, including nausea, fever, diarrhea, and abdominal pain 5.
The culmination of this dark period came on July 30, 1900, when Mads Sorenson died suddenly of what was reported as a cerebral hemorrhage 2. Gunness explained that he had come home with a headache, and she had given him quinine powder for the pain. Later, when she checked on him, he was dead 2. Suspiciously, Sorenson’s death occurred on the one day when his two life insurance policies overlapped, allowing Gunness to collect on both policies 4. This timing granted her a total payout of $5,000, equivalent to approximately $150,000 in today’s currency 2 4.
With this substantial sum in hand, Gunness left Chicago and purchased a 48-acre pig farm in La Porte, Indiana 1. This move marked the end of one chapter in her life and the beginning of another, even more sinister one. As she settled into her new home with her daughters Myrtle and Lucy, along with a foster daughter named Jennie Olsen, few could have predicted the horrors that would unfold on this seemingly idyllic farm in the years to come.
The La Porte Murder Farm
Move to Indiana
After the suspicious death of her first husband, Mads Sorenson, Belle Gunness used the insurance money to purchase a 48-acre pig farm in La Porte, Indiana 1. This move marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life, one that would become infamous in American criminal history. The farm, which seemed like an idyllic rural property, would soon become the site of numerous gruesome murders.
Peter Gunness and his mysterious death
On April 1, 1902, Belle married Peter Gunness, her second husband 1. However, their marriage was short-lived and marked by tragedy. Just a week after their wedding, while Peter was away, his infant daughter died under Belle’s care 1. This incident foreshadowed the dark events to come.
Eight months into their marriage, Peter Gunness met a suspicious end. Belle claimed that he had reached for something on a high shelf when a meat grinder fell, smashing his skull 1. Despite the district coroner’s suspicions and the convening of a coroner’s jury, no charges were brought against Belle 1. Once again, she collected a substantial insurance payout, this time amounting to $3,000 1.
Luring wealthy suitors
Following Peter’s death, Belle Gunness embarked on a sinister scheme to lure wealthy men to her farm. In 1905, she began placing marriage advertisements in Chicago newspapers 1. These ads were carefully crafted to attract potential suitors with promises of a comfortable life on a valuable farm. One such ad read: “A woman who owns a beautifully located and valuable farm in first class condition, wants a good and reliable man as partner in same. Some little cash is required and will be furnished first class security” 6.
Despite her plain appearance and large stature – standing 5-foot-8 and weighing up to 280 pounds – Belle’s letters to potential suitors were described as eloquent and encouraging 6. She painted a picture of a lovely life in La Porte, enticing men to visit her farm 6.
Many men responded to these ads, often bringing substantial sums of money or valuable possessions. Henry Gurholt, a Wisconsin farmhand, was one such victim. After visiting La Porte, he wrote to his family about liking the farm and being in good health. However, when they didn’t hear from him again, Belle claimed he had left with horse traders for Chicago 1.
Another victim was John Moe from Minnesota, who corresponded with Belle for several months before visiting La Porte in 1906. He withdrew a large amount of cash before his visit, but was never seen again 1. A carpenter working for Belle noticed that Moe’s trunk, along with more than a dozen others, remained in her house 1.
Belle’s modus operandi became clear: she would lure men to her farm, convince them to bring their wealth, and then they would mysteriously disappear. Neighbors reported seeing Belle digging in her hog pen at night, raising suspicions about the fate of her visitors 5.
The true extent of Belle Gunness’s crimes would only be revealed after a suspicious fire at her farmhouse, leading to the discovery of numerous bodies buried on the property 7. The “Murder Farm” of La Porte had claimed the lives of over 40 wealthy suitors, making Belle Gunness one of the most prolific serial killers in American history 7.
The Final Act and Disappearance
Andrew Hegelien Investigation
In March 1908, Belle Gunness’s murderous scheme began to unravel when Asle Helgelien, a South Dakota farmer, started inquiring about his missing brother, Andrew. Andrew had informed Asle that he would return home “in a week away surely,” but he never did 8. Correspondence discovered later suggested a romantic relationship between Andrew and Belle 8.
When Asle wrote to Belle about his brother’s whereabouts, she responded evasively, claiming she would like to know where Andrew was but found it “almost impossible to give a definite answer” 8. This cryptic response only fueled Asle’s suspicions and set in motion the events that would lead to the exposure of Belle’s heinous crimes.
Farmhouse Fire
On April 28, 1908, a suspicious fire engulfed Belle Gunness’s farmhouse in La Porte, Indiana 7. The blaze, which occurred in the middle of the night, claimed the lives of Belle’s three children 7. Investigators discovered four bodies in the smoldering ruins: three identified as her foster children and a fourth, headless corpse believed to be Belle herself 3.
The circumstances surrounding the fire raised immediate suspicions. Belle had purchased a large can of kerosene the night before the incident, suggesting she might have started the fire herself 9. However, her handyman, Ray Lamphere, was seen suspiciously close to the house when the fire broke out, adding another layer of mystery to the case 9.
Discovery of Victims
The fire’s aftermath transformed Belle’s farm into a macabre spectacle. As news spread of potential foul play, thousands of curiosity-seekers flocked to the site, joined by relatives of missing men 8. The investigation took a gruesome turn when authorities began searching the property.
On May 3, 1908, Asle Helgelien arrived at the farm. By this time, ten bodies had already been uncovered 8. Noticing a soft spot in the soil, Asle insisted on further digging. His persistence led to a horrifying discovery – a sack containing the dismembered remains of his brother, Andrew 8.
As the investigation continued, more bodies were unearthed from shallow graves around the farm. In total, the remains of over forty men and children were exhumed 3. The majority of the victims were male, but one set of remains belonged to an unidentified adult woman 10.
Belle’s Vanishing Act
The discovery of the headless female corpse in the farmhouse ruins initially led investigators to believe Belle had perished in the fire. However, doubts quickly arose. The body was much smaller than Belle’s known stature, and the missing head made identification challenging 9.
Adding to the mystery, Belle’s dentist identified a dental bridge found at the scene as one he had created for her 9. Yet, this evidence was not conclusive, as some speculated Belle could have planted the bridgework to mislead investigators 9.
As the investigation progressed, a startling theory emerged – Belle Gunness might have staged her own death and escaped. This theory gained traction when it was discovered that she had withdrawn most of her money from her bank accounts before the fire 3.
Conclusion
The chilling tale of Belle Gunness serves as a stark reminder of the dark depths of human nature. Her reign of terror, which claimed the lives of over 40 victims, has left an indelible mark on American criminal history. The mystery surrounding her disappearance continues to fascinate true crime enthusiasts, sparking debates and theories that persist to this day.
Belle Gunness’s story highlights the need for vigilance in our communities and the importance of thorough investigations. Her ability to evade justice for so long raises questions about the limitations of law enforcement during that era. In the end, the La Porte murder farm stands as a grim testament to the horrors that can unfold when greed and malice go unchecked, leaving a legacy that continues to haunt the annals of true crime.
References
[1] – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Gunness
[2] – https://laportecountyhistory.org/exhibits/belle-gunness/
[3] – https://www.biography.com/crime/belle-gunness
[4] – https://allthatsinteresting.com/belle-gunness
[5] – https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/triflers-need-not-apply-the-story-of-deadly-belle-gunness
[6] – https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-100-year-mystery-of-lady-bluebeard/
[7] – https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-belle-gunness-murder-farm
[8] – https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/04/23/belle-gunness-the-la-porte-ghoul-whose-siren-song-led-lonely-farmers-to-an-untimely-demise/
[9] – https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/belle-gunness-murders-serial-killer-mystery-butcher-of-men-hells-princess
[10] – https://www.crimelibrary.org/criminal_mind/forensics/psych_autopsy/9.html
