Ep 10. Sadistic Souls

Deadly Women season 7 episode 10, titled "Sadistic Souls," is a chilling exploration of the minds and actions of some of history's most sadistic female killers. The episode features three distinct cases, each showcasing a different type of sadistic behavior.

The first story follows Susan Wright, a seemingly normal Texan housewife. However, when her husband Jeff becomes verbally and physically abusive, Susan decides to take matters into her own hands. In a shocking display of sadism, Susan ties Jeff to their bed and stabs him nearly 200 times before finally burying him in their backyard. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that Susan's behavior was anything but a spur-of-the-moment act of self-defense.

The second case involves Melanie McGuire, a nurse from New Jersey. In 2004, her husband Bill disappeared without a trace, and Melanie claimed that he had run off with another woman. But after a series of suspicious events, including Melanie's odd behavior and the discovery of his remains in three suitcases dumped in the Chesapeake Bay, Melanie is arrested and charged with first-degree murder. What follows is a shocking trial that reveals a sadistic streak in Melanie's personality, and a motive that was all-too-human.

The final story focuses on Tracey Wigginton, a woman from Australia who was obsessed with vampires and gothic subculture. In 1989, Tracey and her friends roamed the streets of Brisbane, looking for "blood sacrifices." When they came across a man named Edward Baldock, they lured him into their car, drank his blood, and then stabbed him to death. Tracey's trial was highly publicized, and her claims of being a vampire were dismissed as mental illness. She was sentenced to life in prison, where she remains to this day.

Throughout "Sadistic Souls," viewers are given a look into what makes these women tick, and how their sadistic tendencies led them down paths of murder and violence. We see how deeply ingrained patterns of abuse, trauma, and mental illness can affect one's behavior, and how these factors can combine to create killers who seem almost beyond redemption.

Despite the gruesome nature of the crimes depicted in this episode, fans of true crime will undoubtedly find it fascinating and compelling. The storytelling is tight and engaging, and the in-depth interviews with investigators, experts, and even some of the killers themselves offer unique perspectives on these horrific cases. "Sadistic Souls" is a must-watch for anyone interested in the darker corners of human nature, and the women who inhabit them.