First husband Charles "Fred" Brimkamp, died in 1896.
Second husband Charles Vermilya, died August 1909.
Both were poisoned with Arsenic by wife Louise.
This is the infamous "Black Widow" Louise Woolf Brinkamp (Broemmelkamp) Vermilya. She was accused of poisoning family members, roomers and acquaintances using arsenic. She inherited money on some deaths and had "Home Guards of America" insurance policies on some of her victims.
Apparently, Louise had a fascination with the happenings at her local morgue in two different areas that she lived. It appears that she was intending to poison a coroner that she had become involved with and took out a life insurance policy on him. They were to travel to Europe together (at her expense) but she became ill and he went without her. Police theorized that he switched their food around so she became ill and not him. He probably would not have made it back from Europe if they had gone together.
Her last known victim was a roomer at her home and a policeman, Arthur Bissonette. Arthur's father and brother became very ill after eating food served by Louise Vermilya. They survived but Arthur did not.
After she was caught, it was discovered that she ingested very small amounts of arsenic to appear sick. She did this to avoid jail and "recover" from illness at her home. She did not mind the jail hospital and also found ways to stay there instead of a cell. Louise hid her arsenic in a pepper container.
According to her sister-in-law, Louise had 3 children from her first marriage. Two daughters, Cora and Florence, died young and that the circumstances of their deaths should be looked into. Son Frank Brimkamp died Nov 2, 1910, arsenic poisoning.
To date, the only account of them was from the testimony of a coroner. That same coroner noted that after she became a widow and moved, the spelling of her last name changed from Broemmelkamp to Brinkamp/Brimkamp.
Louise was recently widowed when she would often travel to visit Charles Vermilya. However, he was married. His wife became sick and died. I wonder about her cause of death.
The cemetery does not have the date of death for Louise in their records. She purchased the lot where her son, Frank, is buried as well as herself.
Louise was acquitted of all charges in April 1915.
The following people died in the care of Louise. Many were reported as gasteritis.
Fred Brinkamp, first husband. She filed for divorce May 1892. He died about 1893- original cause of death: stomach gastritis
Cora Brinkamp, daughter, 8 years old. Died before 1900
Florence Brinkamp, daughter, 4-1/2 years old. Died before 1900 -
Harry G Vermilya, stepson, 35 years old. Died September 26, 1904.
Baby Brinkamp, step-grandchild, 10 days old. Died January 11, 1906.
Lillian Brinkamp, step daughter-in-law 26 years old. Died January 21, 1906.
Charles Vermilya, second husband, August 1, 1909.
Jayson Ruppert, visitor at her house on Jan 15. Died Jan 17, 1910 -stomach
Frank Brinkamp, son (son) 23 years old. Died October 30, 1910
Richard T. Smith, roomer/lover at her house. Died March 11, 1911-stomach
Arthur Bissonette, 26 years old, roomer at her house. Died Oct 26, 1911-stomach
There are at least 3 additional accounts of others becoming very ill after eating at her house.∼Classification: Serial killer
Characteristics: Poisoner - "Black Widow" - To collect insurance money
Second husband Charles Vermilya, died August 1909.
Both were poisoned with Arsenic by wife Louise.
This is the infamous "Black Widow" Louise Woolf Brinkamp (Broemmelkamp) Vermilya. She was accused of poisoning family members, roomers and acquaintances using arsenic. She inherited money on some deaths and had "Home Guards of America" insurance policies on some of her victims.
Apparently, Louise had a fascination with the happenings at her local morgue in two different areas that she lived. It appears that she was intending to poison a coroner that she had become involved with and took out a life insurance policy on him. They were to travel to Europe together (at her expense) but she became ill and he went without her. Police theorized that he switched their food around so she became ill and not him. He probably would not have made it back from Europe if they had gone together.
Her last known victim was a roomer at her home and a policeman, Arthur Bissonette. Arthur's father and brother became very ill after eating food served by Louise Vermilya. They survived but Arthur did not.
After she was caught, it was discovered that she ingested very small amounts of arsenic to appear sick. She did this to avoid jail and "recover" from illness at her home. She did not mind the jail hospital and also found ways to stay there instead of a cell. Louise hid her arsenic in a pepper container.
According to her sister-in-law, Louise had 3 children from her first marriage. Two daughters, Cora and Florence, died young and that the circumstances of their deaths should be looked into. Son Frank Brimkamp died Nov 2, 1910, arsenic poisoning.
To date, the only account of them was from the testimony of a coroner. That same coroner noted that after she became a widow and moved, the spelling of her last name changed from Broemmelkamp to Brinkamp/Brimkamp.
Louise was recently widowed when she would often travel to visit Charles Vermilya. However, he was married. His wife became sick and died. I wonder about her cause of death.
The cemetery does not have the date of death for Louise in their records. She purchased the lot where her son, Frank, is buried as well as herself.
Louise was acquitted of all charges in April 1915.
The following people died in the care of Louise. Many were reported as gasteritis.
Fred Brinkamp, first husband. She filed for divorce May 1892. He died about 1893- original cause of death: stomach gastritis
Cora Brinkamp, daughter, 8 years old. Died before 1900
Florence Brinkamp, daughter, 4-1/2 years old. Died before 1900 -
Harry G Vermilya, stepson, 35 years old. Died September 26, 1904.
Baby Brinkamp, step-grandchild, 10 days old. Died January 11, 1906.
Lillian Brinkamp, step daughter-in-law 26 years old. Died January 21, 1906.
Charles Vermilya, second husband, August 1, 1909.
Jayson Ruppert, visitor at her house on Jan 15. Died Jan 17, 1910 -stomach
Frank Brinkamp, son (son) 23 years old. Died October 30, 1910
Richard T. Smith, roomer/lover at her house. Died March 11, 1911-stomach
Arthur Bissonette, 26 years old, roomer at her house. Died Oct 26, 1911-stomach
There are at least 3 additional accounts of others becoming very ill after eating at her house.∼Classification: Serial killer
Characteristics: Poisoner - "Black Widow" - To collect insurance money
First husband Charles "Fred" Brimkamp, died in 1896.
Second husband Charles Vermilya, died August 1909.
Both were poisoned with Arsenic by wife Louise.
This is the infamous "Black Widow" Louise Woolf Brinkamp (Broemmelkamp) Vermilya. She was accused of poisoning family members, roomers and acquaintances using arsenic. She inherited money on some deaths and had "Home Guards of America" insurance policies on some of her victims.
Apparently, Louise had a fascination with the happenings at her local morgue in two different areas that she lived. It appears that she was intending to poison a coroner that she had become involved with and took out a life insurance policy on him. They were to travel to Europe together (at her expense) but she became ill and he went without her. Police theorized that he switched their food around so she became ill and not him. He probably would not have made it back from Europe if they had gone together.
Her last known victim was a roomer at her home and a policeman, Arthur Bissonette. Arthur's father and brother became very ill after eating food served by Louise Vermilya. They survived but Arthur did not.
After she was caught, it was discovered that she ingested very small amounts of arsenic to appear sick. She did this to avoid jail and "recover" from illness at her home. She did not mind the jail hospital and also found ways to stay there instead of a cell. Louise hid her arsenic in a pepper container.
According to her sister-in-law, Louise had 3 children from her first marriage. Two daughters, Cora and Florence, died young and that the circumstances of their deaths should be looked into. Son Frank Brimkamp died Nov 2, 1910, arsenic poisoning.
To date, the only account of them was from the testimony of a coroner. That same coroner noted that after she became a widow and moved, the spelling of her last name changed from Broemmelkamp to Brinkamp/Brimkamp.
Louise was recently widowed when she would often travel to visit Charles Vermilya. However, he was married. His wife became sick and died. I wonder about her cause of death.
The cemetery does not have the date of death for Louise in their records. She purchased the lot where her son, Frank, is buried as well as herself.
Louise was acquitted of all charges in April 1915.
The following people died in the care of Louise. Many were reported as gasteritis.
Fred Brinkamp, first husband. She filed for divorce May 1892. He died about 1893- original cause of death: stomach gastritis
Cora Brinkamp, daughter, 8 years old. Died before 1900
Florence Brinkamp, daughter, 4-1/2 years old. Died before 1900 -
Harry G Vermilya, stepson, 35 years old. Died September 26, 1904.
Baby Brinkamp, step-grandchild, 10 days old. Died January 11, 1906.
Lillian Brinkamp, step daughter-in-law 26 years old. Died January 21, 1906.
Charles Vermilya, second husband, August 1, 1909.
Jayson Ruppert, visitor at her house on Jan 15. Died Jan 17, 1910 -stomach
Frank Brinkamp, son (son) 23 years old. Died October 30, 1910
Richard T. Smith, roomer/lover at her house. Died March 11, 1911-stomach
Arthur Bissonette, 26 years old, roomer at her house. Died Oct 26, 1911-stomach
There are at least 3 additional accounts of others becoming very ill after eating at her house.∼Classification: Serial killer
Characteristics: Poisoner - "Black Widow" - To collect insurance money
Second husband Charles Vermilya, died August 1909.
Both were poisoned with Arsenic by wife Louise.
This is the infamous "Black Widow" Louise Woolf Brinkamp (Broemmelkamp) Vermilya. She was accused of poisoning family members, roomers and acquaintances using arsenic. She inherited money on some deaths and had "Home Guards of America" insurance policies on some of her victims.
Apparently, Louise had a fascination with the happenings at her local morgue in two different areas that she lived. It appears that she was intending to poison a coroner that she had become involved with and took out a life insurance policy on him. They were to travel to Europe together (at her expense) but she became ill and he went without her. Police theorized that he switched their food around so she became ill and not him. He probably would not have made it back from Europe if they had gone together.
Her last known victim was a roomer at her home and a policeman, Arthur Bissonette. Arthur's father and brother became very ill after eating food served by Louise Vermilya. They survived but Arthur did not.
After she was caught, it was discovered that she ingested very small amounts of arsenic to appear sick. She did this to avoid jail and "recover" from illness at her home. She did not mind the jail hospital and also found ways to stay there instead of a cell. Louise hid her arsenic in a pepper container.
According to her sister-in-law, Louise had 3 children from her first marriage. Two daughters, Cora and Florence, died young and that the circumstances of their deaths should be looked into. Son Frank Brimkamp died Nov 2, 1910, arsenic poisoning.
To date, the only account of them was from the testimony of a coroner. That same coroner noted that after she became a widow and moved, the spelling of her last name changed from Broemmelkamp to Brinkamp/Brimkamp.
Louise was recently widowed when she would often travel to visit Charles Vermilya. However, he was married. His wife became sick and died. I wonder about her cause of death.
The cemetery does not have the date of death for Louise in their records. She purchased the lot where her son, Frank, is buried as well as herself.
Louise was acquitted of all charges in April 1915.
The following people died in the care of Louise. Many were reported as gasteritis.
Fred Brinkamp, first husband. She filed for divorce May 1892. He died about 1893- original cause of death: stomach gastritis
Cora Brinkamp, daughter, 8 years old. Died before 1900
Florence Brinkamp, daughter, 4-1/2 years old. Died before 1900 -
Harry G Vermilya, stepson, 35 years old. Died September 26, 1904.
Baby Brinkamp, step-grandchild, 10 days old. Died January 11, 1906.
Lillian Brinkamp, step daughter-in-law 26 years old. Died January 21, 1906.
Charles Vermilya, second husband, August 1, 1909.
Jayson Ruppert, visitor at her house on Jan 15. Died Jan 17, 1910 -stomach
Frank Brinkamp, son (son) 23 years old. Died October 30, 1910
Richard T. Smith, roomer/lover at her house. Died March 11, 1911-stomach
Arthur Bissonette, 26 years old, roomer at her house. Died Oct 26, 1911-stomach
There are at least 3 additional accounts of others becoming very ill after eating at her house.∼Classification: Serial killer
Characteristics: Poisoner - "Black Widow" - To collect insurance money
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