Lizzie Halliday is often called America’s first female serial killer, but long before she made headlines, she was already leaving a trail of chaos behind her. In this episode, we look at her early years—from her family’s immigration from Ireland to her first marriages and the, let’s say, unfortunate fates of the men in her life. Lizzie had a habit of marrying quickly, fighting dirty, and possibly poisoning anyone who got in her way. With lawsuits, accusations, and more than a few suspicious deaths, it’s clear that Lizzie was not your average 19th-century housewife.

Lizzie Halliday, serial killer, true crime, 19th-century crime, historical murder, female killers, New York history, Irish immigrants, Victorian crime, marriage scams, arsenic, Nellie Bly, Fresh Hell Podcast