Ep 5. Lady Serial Killers

Becoming Evil: Serial Killers is a true crime documentary series that delves into the psychology and motives behind some of the most notorious serial killers in modern history. In season 1, episode 5 titled "Lady Serial Killers," the focus shifts to female offenders who have committed heinous crimes.

The episode opens with a chilling account of Aileen Wuornos, the infamous female serial killer who murdered seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. Through archival footage and interviews with law enforcement officials and psychologists, the audience is given a glimpse into Wuornos's troubled past, her relationship with her partner Tyria Moore, and the events that led to her gruesome murders.

The episode then delves into the cases of other female serial killers throughout history, including Belle Gunness, who is believed to have killed up to 40 people in the early 1900s, and Nannie Doss, who killed four of her husbands and at least two of her children in the 1950s.

Psychologists and criminologists weigh in on why female serial killers are often overlooked or dismissed as anomalies, and the unique motivations that drive women to commit these heinous acts. The episode explores the role of societal expectations and gender norms in shaping these women's behaviors, and the ways in which they were able to manipulate their victims and evade capture for years.

The latter half of the episode focuses on the case of Dorothea Puente, who ran a boarding house for elderly and disabled people in Sacramento, California in the 1980s. Puente was eventually convicted of murdering several of her tenants and burying their bodies in her backyard. Using interviews with detectives who worked the case, as well as Puente's own chilling confessions, the episode examines the intricacies of her crimes and the ways in which she preyed on those who were vulnerable and isolated.

Throughout the episode, the audience is left with a haunting question: what drives a woman to become a serial killer? Is it trauma, abuse, mental illness, or some combination of these factors? The episode does not provide easy answers, but instead offers a nuanced and thought-provoking exploration of a topic that is often shrouded in stereotypes and misconceptions.

In the final moments of the episode, the audience is left with a sobering message: that the line between good and evil is sometimes much more tenuous than we care to admit. Becoming Evil: Serial Killers, season 1, episode 5, "Lady Serial Killers," is a must-watch for anyone interested in true crime and the darker aspects of the human psyche.