What is Bertha Gifford's middle name?
Alice
What is Bertha Gifford's full name?
Bertha Alice Williams
Bertha Gifford nickname(s):
Bertha Alice Graham, Bertha Gifford, Bertha Alice Williams Graham Gifford
Bertha Gifford date of birth:
October 23, 1872
How old was Bertha Gifford when died?
78
Where was Bertha Gifford born?
Grubville, Missouri, USA
When did Bertha Gifford die?
August 20, 1951
Where did Bertha Gifford die?
Farmington, MO, USA
Bertha Gifford body shape:
Average
What color is Bertha Gifford's hair?
Brown - Dark
Is Bertha Gifford gay or straight?
Straight
What is Bertha Gifford's ethnicity?
White
What is Bertha Gifford nationality?
American
What is Bertha Gifford's occupation?
Serial Killer
Bertha Gifford claim to fame:
Serial Killer
Who is Bertha Gifford's father?
William Poindexter Williams
Who is Bertha Gifford's mother?
Matilda Caroline Williams (Nee Lee)
Bertha Gifford sister(s):
Lila Graham (Daughter), James Gifford (Son)
Short Biography
Bertha Gifford (October 1872 – August 20, 1951) was a farmwife in rural Catawissa, Missouri during the early 1900s who was accused of murdering 17 members of the local community. Some consider her to be America's third female serial killer, behind Lydia Sherman and Jane Toppan.Personal lifeBertha Alice Williams Graham Gifford was born in Grubville, Missouri, the daughter of William Poindexter Williams and his wife Matilda, née Lee. She was one of 10 children. She was married to Henry Graham and this union produced one daughter, Lila. Following Graham's death, she married Eugene Gifford and they had one child, James.CrimesIn 1928, Gifford — known in her community for her cooking skills and caring for sick neighbors and relatives — was arrested at Eureka, Missouri and charged with the murders of three people. Following the exhumation and post-mortem exams of Edward Brinley and Elmer and Lloyd Schamel, the men's bodies were found to contain large amounts of arsenic. Gifford was put on trial for their murders in Union, Missouri. Following the three-day trial, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to the Missouri State Hospital #4 (a mental institution) where she remained until her death in 1951.Although counts vary, most historians and family members agree that Gifford actually killed at least 17 people over a period of 21 years.