Mary Ann Cotton was born on October 31, 1832, in England. She experienced a tragic childhood when her father died in a mine shaft accident in Murton, England when she was just eight years old. This loss had a profound impact on her life and may have contributed to the dark path she would eventually take.
Mary Ann was married three times and had close to a dozen children. Unfortunately, most of her children, husbands, lover, mother, and even several children under her care met untimely deaths, many under mysterious circumstances.
Mary Ann's criminal activities came to light after the death of her stepson, Charles Cotton. The boy's doctor discovered traces of arsenic in medical samples taken from the victim's body. This revelation led to a further investigation into Mary Ann's actions.
It was uncovered that Mary Ann may have been responsible for murdering her own children, as well as poisoning as many as twenty-one individuals in total. Her crimes shocked the community and earned her a place in history as one of the most notorious serial killers of her time.
Mary Ann Cotton's story continues to fascinate and horrify people to this day. She is often compared to other infamous serial killers, such as Rosemary West, who committed heinous crimes that shook society to its core.
In the end, Mary Ann Cotton faced the ultimate punishment for her crimes. She was convicted of murder and sentenced to be hanged. On March 24, 1873, in Durham, England, she met her fate on the gallows, bringing an end to a life filled with darkness and despair.
Though Mary Ann Cotton's name lives on in infamy, it is important to remember the innocent lives she took. Her victims, cut down in the prime of their lives, deserve to be honored and remembered for the tragedy that befell them at the hands of a cold-hearted killer.