Discover the most interesting New Zealand true crime cases in history, plus the best podcasts to listen to learn more.
I have recently had the delight to be working with my partner on her website www.wildlovelyworld.com
We write mostly about travelling and working abroad, with a big focus on our three years in New Zealand (2020–2023).
While living there during the pandemic, I got hooked on true crime (very 2020, right?). Last month, I wrote about some fascinating cases from New Zealand’s seemingly idyllic paradise. I even created a killer illustration to go with it!
Here’s a little taste of the article. Please check out the rest of the site especially if you love travel, and don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter
I’ll be sharing more articles soon (at least until I land a "real" job).
The Case of Minnie Dean (1895) - Baby Farmer Only Woman To Be Hanged In New Zealand
One of the more interesting cases in New Zealand’s history and the oldest I will cover here, is the infanticide that was committed by the Notorious Minnie Dean. As a result of her crimes, Minnie Dean became the very first and last woman to be hanged in New Zealand.
Minnie Dean was born in 1844 in Greenock, Scotland, and arrived in New Zealand in the late 1850s. In 1872 she married an innkeeper by the name of Charles Dean.Minnie and Charles ran an Inn in Southland and later began pig farming.
But after the gold rush ended and times became tougher economically, Minnie and Charles took up ‘child farming’ - the practice of taking in unwanted children for a fee.
Minnie and Charles had about 9 children in their care at any one time. An estimated 28 children passed through their hands one way or another during the length of their crimes.
In 1894 Minnie attracted suspicion due to the mysterious deaths of 2 children in her care. But a coroner's inquest would find her not responsible for these initial deaths.
Suspicions of Minnie grew deeper in 1895 when she purchased a baby from an unwed mother and a small hat box on the same day. She was seen later that day boarding a train without the child.
Following her arrest they dug up her garden where the bodies of three children were found.
Minnie Dean was found guilty of murder and was then sentenced to death.
There was some considerable doubt regarding Minnie’s guilt as high infant mortality at the time was a significant issue at the time. In 1895 this figure was 126.63 deaths per 1,000 live births compared to 3.8 deaths per 1,000 today. Only Minnie was implicated and her husband Charles was never convicted of any crimes.He died in 1908 in a house fire. It seems he shared equal responsibility for the neglect but due to him not being present during the murders. Perhaps this was because child-rearing was considered solely a woman’s duty during that era.
Minnie claimed to have cared for a total 28 children. Of these, five were alive when she was arrested. Six children had died under her care, and one child had been reclaimed by her parents. That left about fourteen or so children unaccounted for.
On the 12th of August 1895, Minnie was hanged in Invercargill. Her body is buried in Winton.
Read the Rest of the article here with some great podcast reccomendations covering this and the other 10 cases I looked at.
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