Quick Synopsis (appears in most podcast apps)

In 1772 Portugal, an 18-year-old caregiver named Luísa de Jesus turned the era’s child-welfare “foundling wheel” into a murderous money scheme. Before authorities intervened, at least 33 abandoned infants lay buried on Monte Arroio or hidden beneath her cottage floorboards. We expose the systemic cracks, the killer’s psychology, and the reforms her crimes set in motion. 

Episode Breakdown

00:00 Opening scene on Monte Arroio

04:15 How foundling wheels worked—and failed

09:02 Luísa’s early life & public façade

15:30 The money trail: 600 réis per child

22:47 Forensic discoveries: graves & hidden clay pots

30:18 Confession to 28 murders

36:55 Trial, garrote, and public execution

43:20 Child-welfare reforms that followed

48:05 Today’s take-aways on safeguarding the vulnerable

Why This Case Still Resonates

• First female serial killer executed in Portugal—and the last woman ever put to death there.
• Exposed lethal flaws in 18th-century child-protection policy, triggering nationwide reform.
• Challenges myths that women “only poison”; Luísa strangled newborns for profit.
• A cautionary tale of how financial incentives plus lax oversight can weaponize charity.

Fast Facts

• Years active: 1771–1772
• Confirmed victims: 33 infants (one child remains unaccounted for) 
• Method: Strangulation or suffocation within days of state payout
• Motive: Collecting stipends meant for wet nurses
• Sentence: Hands severed, garroted; body burned, ashes scattered (1 July 1772)

Sources & Further Reading

• National Archives, “Casa da Roda” foundling-wheel records, 1760-1775
• António Barata, Infanticídio e Justiça em Portugal Setecentista (2018)
• Royal Chancellery of Coimbra trial transcripts, 1772–1773

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SEO Keywords

Luísa de Jesus, Foundling Wheel Killer, Coimbra infanticide, 18th-century serial killer, female serial killer history, child-welfare reform, Foul Play podcast

Myths & Malice illuminates truth with empathy. Thank you for listening.

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In the 18th century paradise of Jamaica, Lewis Hutchinson, an immigrant from Scotland, became the island's first documented serial killer.

Known as the Mad Master of Edinburgh Castle, Hutchinson's strategic property in Saint Ann Parish became a deathtrap for wealthy travellers. He would invite them into his home or shoot them from his gunports, dispose of their bodies in underground chambers, and proudly display their possessions.

His reign of terror ultimately resulted in a manhunt, arrest, and a sensational trial that exposed the flaws in colonial law enforcement. Hutchinson was sentenced to death in 1773, leaving a dark legacy in Jamaican history.

Support the Show:

Enjoying the series? Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform. Share with fellow history buffs and true crime fans—evil wears many faces, but together we shine the light on the darkest corners of the past.

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Beneath the chandeliers of Louis XIV’s Versailles, whispers of love and ambition turned lethal. Episode 2 of Serial Killers in History chronicles Catherine Monvoisin—La Voisin—the fortune-teller whose poison ring ensnared France’s elite and sparked the explosive Affair of the Poisons.

In this episode:

• How a Parisian herbalist built a criminal empire of black masses and murder-for-hire
• The secret pact with Madame de Montespan, the King’s mistress, to keep royal affection at any cost
• Gabriel de La Reynie’s investigation that unmasked 17th-century high-society corruption
• The Chambre ardente: France’s first special court for poison and witchcraft—and the 36 deaths it ordered
• Why La Voisin’s trial signaled the twilight of witchcraft fear and the dawn of Enlightenment scepticism

🔎  itsfoulplay.com

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Poison seeped through the marble corridors of ancient Rome—and one woman mixed every drop. In the Season 36 opener of Serial Killers in History, we track Locusta of Gaul, the herbalist-turned-assassin who helped Emperor Nero carve a blood-stained path to power.

What you’ll hear:

• How a captive chemist became the world’s first documented serial killer
• Deadly dinners: the mushroom that felled Emperor Claudius and the draught that doomed Britannicus
• The Senate’s panic and the birth of Rome’s anti-poison laws
• Modern forensic insights that finally decode Locusta’s toxic recipes

Stay to the end for a teaser of Episode 2—Paris’s infamous Affair of the Poisons.

🔍 Visit us online: http://foulplaypodcast.com/locusta

🎧 Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your true crime fix.

#FoulPlayPodcast #SerialKillersInHistory #LocustaOfGaul #TrueCrime #HistoryNerd

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In the final episode of our series on Charles and Jennifer Chia, we examine the known evidence and unanswered questions that continue to surround their tragic case. With insight from retired detectives Allan Fox and Ron Dreher, we revisit the timeline, key suspects, and overlooked details from the original 1989 investigation. From a mysterious ransom call to a suspicious shovel found near the burial site, every piece of information could be vital. If you remember anything—no matter how small—please come forward. This is a haunting, unsolved murder of two children that still cries out for justice.

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In this third installment of our series on Charles and Jennifer Chia, we delve into the discovery of their remains nine months after they vanished on October 18, 1989. Retired Detective Allan Fox and Retired Detective Ron Dreher share their firsthand experiences of this tragic case, describing the remote location where the children’s bodies were found and discussing the investigative steps that followed. We also explore how the authorities confirmed Charles and Jennifer’s identities and how the grisly discovery has shaped ongoing efforts to find their killer. Though more than three decades have passed, the children’s mother, Ann, is still seeking answers—and hoping that someone will come forward with information that could finally bring resolution.

Key Topics

• Recap of Charles and Jennifer’s Disappearance: A brief overview of the events leading to their disappearance and the efforts by law enforcement to locate them.
• Discovery of the Remains: How the children’s bodies were found by a Caltrans employee in a shallow grave near Highways 70 and 89, miles away from their Reno home.
• Insights from Law Enforcement: Commentary from Allan Fox and Ron Dreher on the crime scene, the surrounding area, and the significance of evidence (including a shovel found at the scene).
• Identification and Aftermath: Matching the children’s clothing to the descriptions from the day they went missing, and the grim confirmation via dental charts.
• Mother’s Plea for Justice: Ann Chia’s heartbreaking statement about her children and her call for anyone with information to speak up.

Why This Episode Matters

This episode underscores the profound impact of Charles and Jennifer’s tragic story and highlights the continued efforts to uncover what truly happened. By revisiting the scene and hearing directly from detectives who were there, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the challenges law enforcement faced—and the desperate need for any new leads that might finally solve this case.

Listener Discretion

While this episode does not include graphic forensic details, it addresses the sensitive topic of child abduction and murder. Some listeners may find parts of the discussion upsetting.

Call to Action

If you have any information regarding the disappearance or deaths of Charles and Jennifer Chia, please contact the Reno Police Department. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can reach out to us at itsfoulplay.com, and we will forward any tips to law enforcement.

Looking Ahead

In our fourth and final episode of this series, we will examine the evidence, publicly known suspects, and the open questions that linger decades after Charles and Jennifer were taken from their family. Be sure to tune in to learn how you can help keep their memories alive—and possibly move the case forward.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. Every detail, no matter how small, has the potential to help. If you’ve found this episode valuable, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with friends.

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In this episode, we continue our investigation into the heartbreaking case of Charles and Jennifer Chia, two young children who vanished in 1989. Retired Detectives Allan Fox and Ron Dreher help piece together the circumstances surrounding their disappearance, shedding light on key locations and witness accounts. As Shane retraces their last known steps, questions arise about how and when they went missing—did they board the school bus that day, or was something more sinister at play? Despite a busy neighborhood, no one reported anything unusual, leading investigators to believe the children may have known their abductor. Their mother, Ann, was still in Taiwan when they were reported missing, returning home to a nightmare no parent should endure. Join us as we explore the lingering mysteries of this unsolved case and the relentless pursuit of justice.

If you have any information, please contact the Reno Police Department or reach out anonymously through our website.

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In this episode of Foul Play, we delve into the heartbreaking and chilling unsolved case of the Chia children from Reno, Nevada. On October 18, 1989, Charles, 8, and his younger sister Jennifer, 6, vanished after a seemingly ordinary day, only for their tragic fate to unfold amid the media frenzy following a devastating earthquake. With firsthand accounts from retired detectives and a detailed look at the events surrounding their disappearance, we explore the lives of these kind, innocent children and the lingering questions that have haunted the community ever since. If you have any information about this case, please come forward, as even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this mystery.

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In this episode of Foul Play, Shane and Gemma are joined by Mike, an expert in detecting deception through body language, as they dive deep into the perplexing case of Sister Cathy. The trio scrutinizes the most promising suspects and unpacks intriguing visuals from The Keepers, shedding new light on evidence that has long baffled investigators. Combining detailed analysis with engaging discussion, they explore the nuances of witness behavior and the subtle cues that may reveal the truth behind the murder. Tune in for an insightful and suspenseful investigation that challenges everything you thought you knew about this cold case.

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In the final episode of Foul Play: Casey Anthony - Truth or Lies, we unravel the shocking verdict delivered after Casey Anthony's high-profile trial. The jury's decision to acquit Casey of murder, manslaughter, and child neglect leaves lingering questions about what truly happened to Caylee Anthony. Rob Dick shares his firsthand insights, highlighting the prosecution's challenges and the troubling details that suggest Casey’s potential culpability. This episode also examines Casey's life after the trial and the emotional impact on her family. What do you think happened to Caylee? Let us know your thoughts as we conclude this gripping series.

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