Why Women Kill: Truth, Lies and Labels

Elizabeth Bathory murdered 600 servants and bathed in their blood. At least, that’s how the story goes. In the final episode of “Why Women Kill: Truth, Lies and Labels,” we explore “Bloodthirsty Babes,” the women who kill just for the thrill of it. What makes this kind of story particularly attention-grabbing? Why are we especially shocked and fascinated by women who seem to enjoy their crimes? Join the true crime writer Tori Telfer and notable guests as they unpack the intrigue, psychology...

Raymond Fernandez was a con artist, charming women out of their savings and then disappearing. But when he met Martha Beck, she joined him on his crime spree, and the cons became deadly. Today, we might compare this kind of lethal couple with Bonnie and Clyde, but does that truly explain the dynamic between them? And what causes a woman to become one half of a deadly duo? Join the true crime writer Tori Telfer and notable guests as they unpack the intrigue, psychology and history of the...

Mary Pearcey was deeply in love with her flame Frank Hogg. But Frank? He ended up marrying his steady girlfriend, Phoebe. Mary’s jealousy overcame her. Before long, Mary killed Frank’s wife and child. Stories of “Jealous Lovers” occupy pop culture, but what does this story archetype tell us about the real crimes that occur by women in love triangles? Join the true crime writer Tori Telfer and notable guests as they unpack the intrigue, psychology and history of the “Jealous Lover,” presented...

Amy Archer-Gilligan ran a nursing home — or as it came to be known, a murder factory. Those under her care rarely made it out alive. Today, we’d label Gilligan an “Angel of Death.” But does a label like that truly explain away her motivations? Join the true crime writer Tori Telfer and notable guests as they unpack the intrigue, psychology and history of the “Angel of Death,” presented by CBS All Access. M. William Phelps is an investigative journalist and author of The Devil’s Rooming...

The song goes, “Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother 40 whacks,” but how much truth is behind the tune? Although she was never convicted, Borden’s alleged crimes — murdering her stepmother and father — continue to haunt us. Was she an ordinary girl caught in an extraordinary situation? Or was she what society labeled her: a “Woman Who Snapped”? In this episode, the true crime writer Tori Telfer and notable guests unpack the intrigue, psychology and history behind the “Woman Who...

She killed her husband for his insurance payout. Then she killed her next husband. And the next. And the next. Eventually, Belle Gunness received the label “Black Widow,” a name given to a woman driven to kill her lovers for financial gain. But to what extent does the “Black Widow” archetype capture the bloody details of the Gunness story? Join the true crime writer Tori Telfer and notable guests as they unpack the intrigue, psychology and history of “Black Widow” killers, presented by CBS...

What drives a woman to kill? And why are female killers often labeled as “The Black Widow,” “Jealous Lover” or Bonnie to someone’s Clyde? Join the true crime writer Tori Telfer as she explores the truth behind homicides perpetrated by women. Welcome to “Why Women Kill: Truth, Lies and Labels,” presented by CBS All Access.