Jeanne Weber

Case identification

Jeanne Weber (born 7 October 1874) was a French child-care provider and serial killer.

Background

Weber was born in a small fishing village in northern France. She left home for Paris at age 14 and worked various menial jobs until her marriage in 1893.

Her husband was an alcoholic, and two of their three children died in 1905. By then, Weber was drinking heavily and resided in a seedy Paris tenement with her spouse and their seven-year-old son.

The offence

Between August 1905 and May 1908, Weber was accused of strangling children while they were in her care. She was credited with at least ten murders.

On 2 March 1905, Weber was babysitting for her sister-in-law when 18-month-old Georgette suddenly "fell ill" and died. Strange bruises on her neck were ignored by the examining physician, and Weber was welcomed back to babysit on 11 March.

Weber babysat again and 2-year-old Suzanne did not survive the visit. A doctor blamed the second death on unexplained "convulsions."

Weber was babysitting for her brother on 25 March when his daughter, seven-year-old Germaine, suffered a sudden attack of "choking" with red marks on her throat. Germaine survived that episode, but died the following day after Weber returned.

Diphtheria was blamed for Germaine’s death, and for that of Weber’s son, Marcel, who died four days later. Tell-tale marks of strangulation were again ignored.

On 5 April 1905, Weber invited two of her sisters-in-law to dinner and remained home with 10-year-old nephew Maurice while the other women went out shopping. When they returned prematurely, Maurice was gasping on the bed, with his throat mottled with bruises, and Weber was standing over him with a crazed expression on her face.

On 7 April 1907, a physician from the town of Villedieu was summoned to the home of peasant Bavouzet. The physician was greeted at the door by a babysitter named "Madame Moulinet," who led him to the cot where nine-year-old Auguste Bavouzet lay dead with his throat badly bruised. The cause of death was listed as "convulsions," but the doctor changed his opinion on 4 May when "Madame Moulinet" was identified as Jeanne Weber.

After being released in December following a trial-related holding, Weber worked as an orderly at a children’s hospital in Faucombault. She then moved to the Children’s Home in Orgeville, run by friends who sought to "make up for the wrongs that justice has inflicted upon an innocent woman."

Working under the name "Marie Lemoine," Weber had been on the job for less than a week when she was caught strangling a child in the home. The owners dismissed her and the incident was covered up.

Back in Paris, Weber was arrested for vagrancy and briefly confined to the asylum at Nanterre. Doctors pronounced her sane and set her free. She drifted into prostitution and picked up a common-law husband.

On 8 May 1908, Weber and the common-law husband settled at an inn in Commercy. A short time later, Weber was found strangling the innkeeper’s son, 10-year-old Marcel Poirot, with a bloody handkerchief. The father had to punch her three times in the face before she would release the lifeless body.

Investigation and identifications

A physician from the town of Villedieu was summoned on 7 April 1907. The physician was led to the dead nine-year-old Auguste Bavouzet by "Madame Moulinet." The cause of death was listed as "convulsions," but the doctor changed his opinion on 4 May when "Madame Moulinet" was identified as Jeanne Weber.

For the death of Marcel Poirot, the police were called and searched the room. They found in the bed three bloodstained handkerchiefs twisted into knots and found bloodstains on the floor, but an attempt had been made to wash these out.

One of the four doctors who examined the child’s body declared that, in his opinion, the child died at the hands of a human vampire, of the kind described in fiction and very rarely occurring in actual life.

Arrest and custody

Weber was arrested for vagrancy and briefly confined to the asylum at Nanterre; doctors there pronounced her sane and set her free.

Weber was later held for trial on murder charges and was declared insane on October 25, 1908. She was packed off to the asylum at Mareville.

Trial

Weber was tried multiple times on charges of killing children.

She faced accusations in 1905, 1906, 1908, and again in 1908 for the murder of Marcel Poirot.

A report described her as having been tried and acquitted three times on strangling charges.

Sentencing and status

Lunatic asylum consignment followed medical expert opinions on responsibility for her actions.

Weber was declared insane on October 25, 1908, and was packed off to the asylum at Mareville.

Outcome

A report in November 1908 stated that medical experts regarded her as not responsible for her actions and that she was consigned to a lunatic asylum.

Aftermath

Weber survived two years in captivity and died on July 5, 1918.

Timeline

• 1893 — Weber married.
• 1905 — Weber’s husband was an alcoholic; two of their three children died.
• 2 March 1905 — Weber babysat for her sister-in-law; 18-month-old Georgette "fell ill" and died.
• 11 March — Weber was welcomed back to babysit.
• 25 March 1905 — Weber babysat her brother’s seven-year-old daughter Germaine; she suffered a sudden attack of "choking."
• 4 days after — Marcel (Weber’s son) died after diphtheria was blamed.
• 5 April 1905 — Maurice gasped on the bed with his throat mottled with bruises; Weber stood over him with a crazed expression.
• 29 January 1906 — Weber’s trial opened.
• 6 February 1906 — Weber was acquitted.
• 7 April 1907 — A physician was summoned to the home of peasant Bavouzet after nine-year-old Auguste Bavouzet was found dead.
• 4 May (year as given by narrative) — The doctor changed his opinion when "Madame Moulinet" was identified as Jeanne Weber.
• December (year as given by narrative) — Weber was released after a second autopsy.
• 7 April 1907 — A physician was summoned; "Madame Moulinet" led him to the cot.
• 8 May 1908 — Weber and her common-law husband settled at an inn in Commercy.
• 25 October 1908 — Weber was declared insane and packed off to the asylum at Mareville.
• May 11, 1908 — A report described her history and noted she had been tried and acquitted several times.
• November 29, 1908 — A report stated she had been found guilty of strangling several children and consigned to a lunatic asylum.
• July 5, 1918 — Weber died.

Other details

Charges alleged across proceedings

During the trial opened on 29 January 1906, the prosecution alleged eight murders, including all three of Weber’s own children and two others — Lucie Aleandre and Marcel Poyatos — who had died while in her care.

Name used while working

Weber worked as "Marie Lemoine" during her time at the Children’s Home in Orgeville.

Witness statement regarding the Marcel Poirot death

Mme. Guirlet gave the following quoted account:

“About eleven o’clock,” Mme. Guirlet says. “I heard strange sobs and smothered screams from the next room. I got up quickly and went to M. and Mme. Poirot and told them that something was wrong. “We all went together to Jeanne Weber’s room and opened the door. The little boy lay dead in the bed, with his head thrown back and his eyes protruding. His tongue was bitten and had been bleeding. “Jeanne Weber lay sound asleep, with one arm round the corpse and with bloodstains on her night attire. The screams and lamentations of M. and Mme. Poirot aroused the sleeper, who gazed at the dead boy in a sodden, stupefied manner, and when accused of killing him said she did not know what had happened.”

Verbatim excerpts from contemporary reports

From Paris Daily Mail, The Daily Mail (London, England) May 11, 1908:

“‘The Fatal Woman.’ - Mystery Of Seven Infants’ Deaths.”

A report said:

“A seventh child has died in the arms of Jeanne Weber, the ‘ogress,’ who has thrice been tried and thrice acquitted on charges of strangling infants.”

It also stated:

“This time, according to all reports, there is no doubt that the boy Poirot met a violent death.”

From Lloyd’s Weekly News (London, England) Nov. 29, 1908:

“Ogress’s Fate - Murderess of Many Children Sent to a Lunatic Asylum.”

The report said:

“The woman Jeanne Weber, whom some months ago acquired a sinister notoriety as ‘The Ogress,’ has been found guilty of strangling several children, but as the medical experts regard her as not responsible for her actions she will be consigned to a lunatic asylum.”

It also stated:

“Jeanne Weber has since August, 1905, been accused of murdering no fewer than seven children, and has three times been acquitted.”

And:

“The boy Marcel Poirot, aged seven, of whose murder she has now been convicted, was killed with great cruelty.”