Belle Gunness
Hell's Belle, Brynhild Paulsdatter Størseth
Active for 9 years
(1900-1908) in United States
13
CONFIRMED
VICTIMS
40
POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
- Summary
- Serial Killer Profile
- Serial Killer Type
- General Information
- Characteristics
- Childhood
- Cognitive Ability
- Incarceration
- Death
- 7 Timeline Events
- Serial Killers Active During Spree
- Boolean Statistical Questions
- 16 Books Written About Belle Gunness
- 8 External References
- Internal References
Belle Gunness born (Brynhild Paulsdatter Størseth) changed name to Belle Sorenson Gunness after migrating to America. Gunness, a six foot tall 200 pounds physically strong woman, was a Norwegian-born murder-for-profit serial killer who murdered her suitors and others to collect life insurance and other valuables. Gunness was suspected of killing both husbands and all of her children. Could have faked her own death in the fire that destroyed her home in 1908. Her children had died of strychnine poisoning before the fire, and the woman's body found next to them was decapitated and, reportedly, smaller than Gunness' own.
Belle Gunness Serial Killer Profile
Serial Killer Belle Gunness (aka) Hell's Belle, Brynhild Paulsdatter Størseth, was active for 9 years between 1900-1908, known to have ( 13 confirmed / 40 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: United States
Belle Gunness was born on November 11th 1859 in Selbu, Norway. She was born 8th of 8 children and raised by both parents. Gunness was raised as a youngest child and had seven brothers or sisters. Her father, Paul Pedersen Størset, a stonemason. Her mother, Berit Olsdatter, a homemaker.
Gunness a heterosexual female citizen of Norway. Gunness married twice. She had six total, five maternal and one adopted.
Prior to her spree she had commited crimes.
In 1900 (Age 40/41) Belle Gunness started her killing spree, during her crimes as a serial killer she was known to rob, mutilate, murder her victims. She was known to kill victims at her own home. At the time of her crimes she was living with multiple suitors, husbands and children, where Gunness was known to work as a criminal, agriculturer.
Belle Gunness died on April 28th 1908 (Age 48), cause of death: burned in fire (unverified) may have faked death at La Porte, Indiana, United States.
Profile Completeness: 90%
serial killers by profile completenessBelle Gunness has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.
Belle Gunness a known:
Belle Gunness
Serial Killer Profile:
Updated: 2018-12-28 Collected by Killer.Cloud
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Belle Gunness |
| Nickname: | Hell's Belle, Brynhild Paulsdatter Størseth |
| Victims: | 13 - 40 |
| Years Active: | 1900 - 1908 |
| Ages Active: | 40/41 - 48/49 |
| Active Countries: | United States |
| Life Span: | 1859 - 1908 |
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Female |
| Citizenship: | Norway |
| Sexual Preference: | heterosexual |
| Astrological Sign: | ♏ Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 22 |
| Birth Month: | November |
| Marital Status: | married twice |
| Children: | six total, five maternal and one adopted |
| Living With: | multiple suitors, husbands and children |
| Occupation: | criminal, agriculturer |
| Childhood Information | |
|---|---|
| D.O.B.: | Nov 11, 1859 |
| Native Name: | Belle Sorenson Gunness |
| Family Name: | Gunness |
| Given Name: | Belle |
| Birth Location: | Selbu, Norway |
| Birth Order: | 8th of 8 |
| Siblings: | seven brothers or sisters |
| Raised By: | both parents |
| Birth Category: | youngest child |
| Mother: | Berit Olsdatter, a homemaker |
| Father: | Paul Pedersen Størset, a stonemason |
| Cognitive Ability | |
|---|---|
| IQ: | N/A |
| Highest School: | N/A |
| Highest Degree: | |
| Incarceration | |
|---|---|
| Arrested: | N/A |
| Convicted: | N/A |
| Sentence: | never tried or convicted |
| Prison Location: | N/A |
| Executed: | N/A |
| Previous Crimes: | TRUE |
| Previous Jail: | FALSE |
| Previous Prison: | FALSE |
| Death Information | |
|---|---|
| Death Date: | Apr 28, 1908 (Age 48) |
| Cause of Death: | burned in fire (unverified) may have faked death |
| Death Location: | La Porte, Indiana, United States |
| Killed In Prison: | FALSE |
| Suicide: | FALSE |
7 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Belle Gunness
The 7 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Belle Gunness. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.
| Date | Event Description |
|---|---|
| Nov 11 1859 | Belle Gunness was born in Selbu, Norway. #18591111 |
| Nov 11 1879 (Age 20) | 20th Birthday |
| Nov 11 1889 (Age 30) | 30th Birthday |
| Nov 11 1899 (Age 40) | 40th Birthday |
| 1900 (Age 40/41) | Belle Gunness started her serial killing spree. #1900 |
| 1908 (Age 48/49) | Belle Gunness ended her serial killing spree. #1908 |
| Apr 28 1908 (Age 48) | Belle Gunnessdied.cause of death:burned in fire (unverified) may have faked deathat La Porte, Indiana, United States. #19080428 |
Back to top Serial Killers Active During
The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Belle Gunness (1900-1908).
Serial Killers By Active Year
| 37 / 40 ANSWEREDSerial Killer Boolean Questions: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killer Question | Killer Answer | Total Answered | ||
| living with children | TRUE | 268 | ||
| previous crimes | TRUE | 367 | ||
| kill at killers home | TRUE | 320 | ||
| used weapon | TRUE | 453 | ||
| mutilated | TRUE | 447 | ||
| robbed | TRUE | 418 | ||
| suicide | FALSE | 225 | ||
| killed in prison | FALSE | 218 | ||
| father drug abuse | FALSE | 192 | ||
| mother drug abuse | FALSE | 195 | ||
| xyy | FALSE | 81 | ||
| physically defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| speach defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| head injury | FALSE | 299 | ||
| physically abused | FALSE | 231 | ||
| psychologically abused | FALSE | 224 | ||
| sexually abused | FALSE | 226 | ||
| drug abuse | FALSE | 226 | ||
| alcohol abuse | FALSE | 226 | ||
| psychologist | FALSE | 258 | ||
| forensic hospital | FALSE | 257 | ||
| previous jail | FALSE | 352 | ||
| previous prision | FALSE | 336 | ||
| kill at victims home | FALSE | 323 | ||
| 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 | ||
| ate part of body | FALSE | 451 | ||
| drank blood | FALSE | 442 | ||
| posed body | FALSE | 365 | ||
| totem body part | FALSE | 365 | ||
| totem personal item | FALSE | 354 | ||
Books that Mention Belle Gunness
Harold Schechter
Hell's Princess
Harold Schechter
Hell's Princess
Peter Vronsky
Female Serial Killers
Harold Schechter
Fiend
Harold Schechter
Psycho USA
Ann Jones
Women Who Kill
Harold Schechter
Savage Pastimes
Jack Rosewood
Belle Gunness
16 Books that mention Serial Killer
Belle Gunness
Belle Gunness was a Norwegian-American serial killer. Gunness is thought to have killed at least 14 people (and may have killed as many as 40) between the years 1884 and 1908.
External References
- Belle Gunness on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
- Juan Ignacio Blanco, Belle Gunness on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
- Jenna McAlpine, Iris Dickerson, Belle Gunness on maamodt.asp.radford.edu, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
- Library of Congress, Crittenden record-press. (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, May 28, 1908, (Page 3) on chroniclingamerica.loc.gov, Retrieved on Sep 15, 2018.
- Library of Congress, Palestine daily herald. (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, May 06, 1908, (Page 1) on chroniclingamerica.loc.gov, Retrieved on Sep 15, 2018.
- Library of Congress, The Topeka state journal. (Topeka, Kan.) 1892-1980, May 11, 1908, LAST EDITION, (Page 8) on chroniclingamerica.loc.gov, Retrieved on Sep 15, 2018.
- Q269709 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 9, 2018.
- Belle Gunness on www.biography.com, Retrieved on Dec 14, 2018.
Internal References
Belle Gunness is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database
- #6 of 75[ Page 1 ] of Female Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #8 of 43[ Page 1 ] of Scorpio Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #9 of 51[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in November
- #42 of 327[ Page 3 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
- #126 of 651[ Page 9 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #143 of 651[ Page 10 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
- #186 of 651[ Page 13 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
- #221 of 651[ Page 15 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
- Statistics:
- Serial Killers Statistics, charts Belle Gunness 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, Birth Category, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
- Years Active: