Martha Rendell
The Rendell child murders
Active for 2 years
(1907-1908) in Australia
3
CONFIRMED
VICTIMS
3
POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
- Summary
- Serial Killer Profile
- Serial Killer Type
- General Information
- Characteristics
- Childhood
- Cognitive Ability
- Incarceration
- Death
- 8 Timeline Events
- Serial Killers Active During Spree
- Boolean Statistical Questions
- 8 Books Written About Martha Rendell
- 8 External References
- Internal References
Martha Rendell an Australian serial killer known as the The Rendell child murders. Rendell killed three stepchildren between 1907 and 1908. Rendell would kill by swabbing the mouths and throats of the children with hydrochloric acid. One surviving child ran away claiming that his step-mother had killed his siblings and was trying to poison him. The three children's bodies were exhumed and diluted hydrochloric acid was found on the throat tissue. Rendell was arrested and sentenced to death by hanging. In 1909, Rendell was executed by hanging at Fremantle Prison in Fremantle, Western Australia. Martha Rendell was the last woman to be hanged in Western Australia.
Martha Rendell Serial Killer Profile
Serial Killer Martha Rendell (aka) The Rendell child murders, was active for 2 years between 1907-1908, known to have ( 3 confirmed / 3 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: Australia
Martha Rendell was born on August 10th 1871 She was raised by both parents until (Age 11/12), her mother and step-father until adulthood. Her father, an unnamed man who died when Martha was (Age 11/12). Her mother, an unnamed woman who remarried after Martha's father died.
She never married, was living with Thomas Nicholls Morris. She had no biological children, four step-children.
In 1907 (Age 35/36) Martha Rendell started her killing spree, during her crimes as a serial killer she was known to murder her victims. She was known to kill at both her home and the home of the victim. At the time of her crimes she was living with her boyfriend Thomas Nicholls Morris and his four children.
She was arrested on July 3rd 1909 (Age 37), convicted on September 16th 1909 (Age 38), sentenced to death by hanging at the Fremantle Prison, former prison in Fremantle, Western Australia. She was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during her lifetime. Martha Rendell was executed on October 6th 1909 (Age 38).
Martha Rendell died on October 6th 1909 (Age 38), cause of death: capital punishment, executed by hanging at the Fremantle Prison, former prison in Fremantle, Western Australia. She is buried at Fremantle, port city in Western Australia.
Profile Completeness: 82%
serial killers by profile completenessMartha Rendell has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.
Martha Rendell a known:
Martha Rendell
Serial Killer Profile:
Updated: 2019-05-31 Collected by Killer.Cloud
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Martha Rendell |
| Nickname: | The Rendell child murders |
| Victims: | 3 - 3 |
| Years Active: | 1907 - 1908 |
| Ages Active: | 35/36 - 36/37 |
| Active Countries: | Australia |
| Convicted Of: | murder |
| Life Span: | 1871 - 1909 |
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Female |
| Sexual Preference: | heterosexual |
| Astrological Sign: | ♌ Leo Jul 23 - Aug 23 |
| Birth Month: | August |
| Marital Status: | never married, was living with Thomas Nicholls Morris |
| Children: | no biological children, four step-children |
| Living With: | her boyfriend Thomas Nicholls Morris and his four children |
| Childhood Information | |
|---|---|
| D.O.B.: | Aug 10, 1871 |
| Given Name: | Martha |
| Birth Location: | N/A |
| Birth Order: | N/A |
| Siblings: | N/A |
| Raised By: | both parents until (Age 11/12), her mother and step-father until adulthood |
| Birth Category: | N/A |
| Mother: | an unnamed woman who remarried after Martha's father died |
| Father: | an unnamed man who died when Martha was (Age 11/12) |
| Cognitive Ability | |
|---|---|
| IQ: | N/A |
| Highest School: | N/A |
| Highest Degree: | |
| Incarceration | |
|---|---|
| Arrested: | Jul 3, 1909 (Age 37) |
| Convicted: | Sep 16, 1909 (Age 38) |
| Sentence: | death by hanging |
| Prison Location: | the Fremantle Prison, former prison in Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Executed: | Oct 6, 1909 (Age 38) |
| Previous Crimes: | FALSE |
| Previous Jail: | FALSE |
| Previous Prison: | FALSE |
| Death Information | |
|---|---|
| Death Date: | Oct 6, 1909 (Age 38) |
| Manner of Death: | capital punishment |
| Cause of Death: | executed by hanging |
| Death Location: | the Fremantle Prison, former prison in Fremantle, Western Australia |
| Burial Location: | Fremantle, port city in Western Australia |
| Killed In Prison: | FALSE |
| Suicide: | FALSE |
8 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Martha Rendell
The 8 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Martha Rendell. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.
| Date | Event Description |
|---|---|
| Aug 10 1871 | birth of Martha Rendell #18710810 |
| Aug 10 1891 (Age 20) | 20th Birthday |
| Aug 10 1901 (Age 30) | 30th Birthday |
| 1907 (Age 35/36) | Martha Rendell started her serial killing spree. #1907 |
| 1908 (Age 36/37) | Martha Rendell ended her serial killing spree. #1908 |
| Jul 03 1909 (Age 37) | Martha Rendell arrested. #19090703 |
| Sep 16 1909 (Age 38) | Martha Rendell was convictedand sentenced to death by hanging at the Fremantle Prison, former prison in Fremantle, Western Australia. #19090916 |
| Oct 06 1909 (Age 38) | Martha Rendellwas executed.cause of death:capital punishment,executed by hangingat the Fremantle Prison, former prison in Fremantle, Western Australia.She is buried at Fremantle, port city in Western Australia. #19091006 |
Back to top Serial Killers Active During
The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Martha Rendell (1907-1908).
Serial Killers By Active Year
| 29 / 40 ANSWEREDSerial Killer Boolean Questions: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killer Question | Killer Answer | Total Answered | ||
| living with children | TRUE | 268 | ||
| kill at killers home | TRUE | 320 | ||
| kill at victims home | TRUE | 323 | ||
| suicide | FALSE | 225 | ||
| killed in prison | FALSE | 218 | ||
| xyy | FALSE | 81 | ||
| physically defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| speach defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| head injury | FALSE | 299 | ||
| previous crimes | FALSE | 367 | ||
| previous jail | FALSE | 352 | ||
| previous prision | FALSE | 336 | ||
| previous killed | FALSE | 208 | ||
| used weapon | FALSE | 453 | ||
| used gun | FALSE | 451 | ||
| rape | FALSE | 453 | ||
| torture | FALSE | 426 | ||
| stalk | FALSE | 418 | ||
| blindfold | FALSE | 363 | ||
| bound | FALSE | 406 | ||
| strangle | FALSE | 443 | ||
| sex with body | FALSE | 430 | ||
| mutilated | FALSE | 447 | ||
| ate part of body | FALSE | 451 | ||
| drank blood | FALSE | 442 | ||
| posed body | FALSE | 365 | ||
| totem body part | FALSE | 365 | ||
| totem personal item | FALSE | 354 | ||
| robbed | FALSE | 418 | ||
Books that Mention Martha Rendell
Ruth Rendell
The Lake of Darkness
Thomas J. Craughwell
Busted
Thomas J. Craughwell
Busted
Simon Adams
The Unforgiving Rope
Anna Haebich
Murdering Stepmothers
Bronwen Ann Levy
Story/telling
Jacqueline Z. Wilson
Prison
Lesley Thomson
The Detective's Secret
8 Books that mention Serial Killer
Martha Rendell
| ISBN10 | Book Title | Author | Killers Mentioned | Killers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0307557294 | The Lake of Darkness | Ruth Rendell | Martha Rendell | 1 |
| 1579128653 | Busted | Thomas J. Craughwell | 4 Total Including Sataro Fukiage | 4 |
| 1603762698 | Busted | Thomas J. Craughwell | 6 Total Including William Bonin | 6 |
| 1921401222 | The Unforgiving Rope | Simon Adams | Martha Rendell | 1 |
| 1921401451 | Murdering Stepmothers | Anna Haebich | Martha Rendell | 1 |
| 0702232025 | Story/telling | Bronwen Ann Levy | Martha Rendell | 1 |
| 143310279x | Prison | Jacqueline Z. Wilson | Martha Rendell | 1 |
| 1781857695 | The Detective's Secret | Lesley Thomson | Martha Rendell | 1 |
Martha Rendell (10 August 1871 – 6 October 1909) was the last woman to be hanged in Western Australia. She was convicted of murdering her de facto husband's son, Arthur Morris, in 1908. She was also suspected of killing his two daughters, Annie and Olive, by swabbing their throats with hydrochloric acid.
External References
- Q6774529 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on May 31, 2019.
- Martha Rendell on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on May 31, 2019.
- Juan Ignacio Blanco, Martha RENDELL on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on May 31, 2019.
- Peter Skehan, Martha Rendell Child Murders - 1909 on policewahistory.org.au, Retrieved on May 31, 2019.
- Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954) Sun 19 Sep 1909 Page 1 on trove.nla.gov.au, Retrieved on May 31, 2019.
- The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Thu 30 Sep 1909 Page 7 on trove.nla.gov.au, Retrieved on May 31, 2019.
- The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950) Tue 5 Oct 1909 Page 4 on trove.nla.gov.au, Retrieved on May 31, 2019.
- Kalgoorlie Western Argus (WA : 1896 - 1916) Tue 12 Oct 1909 Page 32 on trove.nla.gov.au, Retrieved on May 31, 2019.
Internal References
Martha Rendell is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database
- #18 of 21[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killers active in Australia
- #32 of 40[ Page 3 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in August
- #39 of 46[ Page 3 ] of Leo Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #57 of 75[ Page 4 ] of Female Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #206 of 651[ Page 14 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
- #439 of 651[ Page 30 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
- #493 of 651[ Page 33 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
- #555 of 651[ Page 37 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- Statistics:
- Serial Killers Statistics, charts Martha Rendell is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Sexual Preference, Mannor of Death, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
- Years Active: