The story of Belle Gunness

AcIdBaTh · October 29th, 2009, 06:19 AM

Bed time story

Belle Gunness was born in Selbu, Norway in 1858, and emigrated to the United States about 1886. She married Mads Sorenson in 1893. They owned a Chicago store that only turned a profit after it burned and they collected the insurance. In 1900 Sorenson died of convulsions and Belle received about $8,000 from his life insurance.
By 1902 Belle was in La Porte. On April Fool's Day of that year she married Peter Gunness. They worked a farm on McClung Road. Peter died after a coffee grinder fell from a shelf and hit him on the head. The insurance company reluctantly paid on his policy. Belle began advertising in Norwegian language newspapers, "Widow, with mortgaged farm, seeks marriage. Triflers need not apply."

Apparently many answered her letters. Belle would introduce them as relatives. Belle's pretty, 18 year old niece, Jenny Olson, got suspicious because the suitors always left the farm during the night. Soon Jenny was away at school in California, according to Belle.

Andrew Helgelein was the last to answer one of Belle's advertisements. She urged him to sell all he had, and then bring the cash to La Porte. For good measure she included a four leaf clover in her letter. He arrived with $3,000 in 1908.

The lack of letters from Andrew prompted his brother, Asa, to write to Belle and inquire about the suitor's whereabouts. Belle's answers were insufficient and Asa came to La Porte. He was too late.

On the morning of April 28, 1908 the Gunness farmhouse burned. In the ashes were found the bodies of the Gunness children, and the headless body of a woman of a smaller stature than Belle's substantial size. Dental work, purported to be that of Belle, was found as well. When Asa arrived several days later he prompted the sheriff to investigate further. It was then that the full horror of the events at the Gunness farm began to emerge.

The body of Andrew Helgelein was the first to be uncovered in a shallow grave in the garden. Jenny Olson was discovered nearby. At least 12 other bodies were recovered, and some estimated that Belle had buried 40 men on the farm. Curious crowds, numbering in the thousands, visited the scene of the crime.

Ray Lamphere, Belle's hired hand, was eventually charged with murder and arson. He was convicted only on the later charge. Before dying in prison, he maintained that Belle had escaped. For years afterwards there were numerous sightings of the murderess across the country, but none were confirmed.

1-Belle and her children
Lucy, Myrtle and Phillip

2-Digging in Belle's basement
after the fire

3-Body of last victim
Andrew Helgelein

4-Decomposing head of
"Ole Budsberg",
poisoned by Belle

janine · October 29th, 2009, 07:28 AM

Damn that woman Belle was quite the serial killer I do believe she survived the fire and fled thank you AB for the great pics and the wonderful story to go along with it

Gogo · October 29th, 2009, 12:40 PM

What a lovely gal...

C_R · October 29th, 2009, 12:56 PM

Thanks Acid what a geat story and good pics too. Pretty cool the way she planned the whole thing out, and if she did flee, then that's just the icing on the cake!

usuaria · October 29th, 2009, 03:55 PM

i have her whole story in my serial killer's books but i've never seen the photos of the crime.interesting.

toxicity · November 1st, 2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usuaria

i have her whole story in my serial killer's books but i've never seen the photos of the crime.interesting.

I find it disappointing how they don't put photos in serial killer books. I have 3 myself and not one has pictures of the crimes. I understand why, but it would definitely be more awesome.

usuaria · November 1st, 2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxicity

I find it disappointing how they don't put photos in serial killer books. I have 3 myself and not one has pictures of the crimes. I understand why, but it would definitely be more awesome.

yep,i have three too...they use to show just crime scene's pictures,pictures of the killers and just one or two of the dead victims...but maybe because they are books that just talk about and study the cases,their investigation and veredict. they don't mean to be coroner's books...also,the family's victims would not allow publishing the photos...

AcIdBaTh · November 2nd, 2009, 08:20 AM

You're welcome Janine and C_R. Glad you liked the post.

LostnTheDarkness · November 2nd, 2009, 11:07 PM

Fascinating story...

slayerx · November 3rd, 2009, 12:12 AM

thanks

Jane · November 3rd, 2009, 01:29 AM

Damn, bitch!

biscuit53 · November 19th, 2009, 04:39 AM

serial killer
scary woman

October 29th, 2009, 06:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
AcIdBaTh I look Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,172	The story of Belle Gunness Bed time story Belle Gunness was born in Selbu, Norway in 1858, and emigrated to the United States about 1886. She married Mads Sorenson in 1893. They owned a Chicago store that only turned a profit after it burned and they collected the insurance. In 1900 Sorenson died of convulsions and Belle received about $8,000 from his life insurance. By 1902 Belle was in La Porte. On April Fool's Day of that year she married Peter Gunness. They worked a farm on McClung Road. Peter died after a coffee grinder fell from a shelf and hit him on the head. The insurance company reluctantly paid on his policy. Belle began advertising in Norwegian language newspapers, "Widow, with mortgaged farm, seeks marriage. Triflers need not apply." Apparently many answered her letters. Belle would introduce them as relatives. Belle's pretty, 18 year old niece, Jenny Olson, got suspicious because the suitors always left the farm during the night. Soon Jenny was away at school in California, according to Belle. Andrew Helgelein was the last to answer one of Belle's advertisements. She urged him to sell all he had, and then bring the cash to La Porte. For good measure she included a four leaf clover in her letter. He arrived with $3,000 in 1908. The lack of letters from Andrew prompted his brother, Asa, to write to Belle and inquire about the suitor's whereabouts. Belle's answers were insufficient and Asa came to La Porte. He was too late. On the morning of April 28, 1908 the Gunness farmhouse burned. In the ashes were found the bodies of the Gunness children, and the headless body of a woman of a smaller stature than Belle's substantial size. Dental work, purported to be that of Belle, was found as well. When Asa arrived several days later he prompted the sheriff to investigate further. It was then that the full horror of the events at the Gunness farm began to emerge. The body of Andrew Helgelein was the first to be uncovered in a shallow grave in the garden. Jenny Olson was discovered nearby. At least 12 other bodies were recovered, and some estimated that Belle had buried 40 men on the farm. Curious crowds, numbering in the thousands, visited the scene of the crime. Ray Lamphere, Belle's hired hand, was eventually charged with murder and arson. He was convicted only on the later charge. Before dying in prison, he maintained that Belle had escaped. For years afterwards there were numerous sightings of the murderess across the country, but none were confirmed. 1-Belle and her children Lucy, Myrtle and Phillip 2-Digging in Belle's basement after the fire 3-Body of last victim Andrew Helgelein 4-Decomposing head of "Ole Budsberg", poisoned by Belle Attached Thumbnails __________________ Tasteh.... Last edited by Gogo; October 29th, 2009 at 12:46 PM.. Reason: thumbnail added

October 29th, 2009, 07:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
janine Animal Liberation Front Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: out trail riding Posts: 1,647	Damn that woman Belle was quite the serial killer I do believe she survived the fire and fled thank you AB for the great pics and the wonderful story to go along with it __________________

October 29th, 2009, 12:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gogo Psycho Moderator Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: detox Posts: 1,319	What a lovely gal... __________________ blood blood gimme blood - bloody bloody bloody - bloody blood

October 29th, 2009, 12:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
C_R Rigor Mortis Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2,728	Thanks Acid what a geat story and good pics too. Pretty cool the way she planned the whole thing out, and if she did flee, then that's just the icing on the cake! __________________ Rod: Let’s get out of 'ere Bill, there’s six Stoke fans staring right at us. Bill: Right, which one's staring at me. Rod: The one with the burberry cap on. Please don't start Bill. Bill: Right see you you cunt, I'll cut you first. shit piss fuck cunt cocksucker motherfucker and tits.

October 29th, 2009, 03:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
usuaria kill the evil Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Rio de Janeiro,São Paulo,Europe etc... Posts: 423	i have her whole story in my serial killer's books but i've never seen the photos of the crime.interesting. __________________ HE will come,don't you never forget it

November 2nd, 2009, 08:20 AM	#8 (permalink)
AcIdBaTh I look Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,172	You're welcome Janine and C_R. Glad you liked the post. __________________ Tasteh....

November 2nd, 2009, 11:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
LostnTheDarkness Noob'ish Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 90	Fascinating story...

November 3rd, 2009, 12:12 AM	#10 (permalink)
slayerx Freakin' Noob Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 47	thanks

November 19th, 2009, 04:39 AM	#12 (permalink)
biscuit53 Freakin' Noob Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: jenn's heart Posts: 42	serial killer scary woman __________________ secret obsessions

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