Elfriede Blauensteiner (1931-2003)
Elfriede Blauensteiner, also known as the Black Widow, was an Austrian serial killer who poisoned at least 3 victims, in each case inheriting the wealth of her victim. On March 7, 1997, Blauensteiner was found guilty of the murder of 77-year-old Alois Pichler and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Harald Schmidt, her former lawyer, was jailed for 7 years for being an accomplice to grievous bodily harm and for forging the will of the victim. Blauensteiner was a gambling addict and is believed to have dated rich elderly men and poisoned them, before gambling with the money she gained from their fake wills. 4 years later, she was found guilty of killing 64-year-old husband Friedrick Doecker and 84-year-old female neighbour Franziska Koebert. Although only being convicted of 3 murders, Austrian authorities believe she may be responsible for the deaths of at least 10. After serving less than 7 years of her life sentence, Blauensteiner died as the result of a brain tumour on November 18, 2003. She was cremated at Feurhalle Simmering, where her ashes were buried.
