S5E04 Tilly Klimek: The Black Widow of Little Poland

This week, Isla takes the lead in her first ever Switchblade Sisters case presentation! Brace yourself for a tale of murder, manipulation, and mushroom soup as we plunge into the poison-laced life of Polish-American serial killer Tilly Klimek.

Operating in Chicago’s Little Poland in the early 1900s, Tilly claimed to be clairvoyant, predicting the deaths of her husbands, neighbours, and even dogs, conveniently just before they were struck down by arsenic poisoning. What started as eerie foresight soon turned out to be cold-blooded calculation.

Isla walks us through Tilly’s many suspicious marriages, her poisoned candy campaigns, and her final downfall thanks to some suspicious garlic breath.

Things you will learn about:

• Why Chicago in the 1920s was apparently the place to get away with murder (especially if you were attractive)

• The history of arsenic, and why Victorian women loved it (and used it)

• The sociopolitical context behind poisoner-widows and the twisted, systemic forces at play

• Some unfair courtroom double standards ( if you're hot, you walk free)

• How Dee has too many tattoos planned and not enough body space

• Wiggles the Party Vulture 🦃
  

👩‍⚖️ The Ink-Quisition:

Submit your own tattoo for judgment, adoration, and possibly ridicule 💀💋

Sources

• Lady Killers by Tori Telfer

• She Kills Me by Jennifer Wright

• League of Lady Poisoners by Lisa Perrin

• A is for Arsenic by Kathryn Harkup

• ChicagoHistory.org

• Murderpedia
  

Want more murderous women, poisoned pastries, and dark history?Come find us at events in York and Harrogate this summer. Check out all upcoming live dates at Criminally Good Books.