Rosanne Keen

Homicide

1known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: female
Country: USA
Location: Cumberland County, New Jersey, USA
Date of birth: 1827
Age at first offence: 16
Characteristics: poisoner, juvenile (16)
Victim profile: Enos Seeley ("her owner")
Method of murder: Poisoning (arsenic)
Date(s) of murder: November 1843
Years active: 1843
Date of arrest: —
Status: Executed
Executed by hanging in New Jersey on April 26, 1844

Case Summary

Background

Rosanne Keen was a 16-year-old African American domestic servant. She was described as “deficient in intellect”.

The offence

Rosanne Keen was hanged in New Jersey for murder. She poisoned her owner, Enos Seeley. Young Keen reportedly used arsenic borrowed from a neighbor, mixed it with butter, and served it to Seeley. Seeley succumbed to the poison.

Authorities believed Enos Seeley died of natural causes until suspicions escalated. A neighbor revealed that she had given the poison to young Keen. Officials exhumed Seeley’s body. Laboratory analysis confirmed Seeley died from arsenic poisoning.

Investigation

Investigators exhumed Enos Seeley’s body after a neighbor revealed that the neighbor had given the poison to young Keen. Laboratory analysis confirmed arsenic poisoning as the cause of death.

Trial

Rosanne Keen was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for the murder.

Sentencing

Rosanne Keen was sentenced to death.

Outcome

Local authorities hanged Keen in a jail yard in April 1844. She was executed by hanging in New Jersey on April 26, 1844.

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