“Jolly Jane” Toppan: Angel of Mercy (Part 2)
Morbid
05/06/24
•59m
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Considered among the first (and certainly the most prolific) American female serial killers and so-called angels of mercy, Jane Toppan’s killing spree went unnoticed for more than fifteen years, as she transitioned from one hospital to another, leaving an unprecedented trail of carnage in her wake. Jane was finally arrested in 1901, after killing the entire family of a man for whom she’d been hired to provide care. The arrest and trial were a sensation, as murder and cruelty were a direct contradiction of the norms and standards long relied upon to define American womanhood.
Thank you to the amazing Dave White of Bring me the Axe Podcast for research!
References
Boston Globe. 1902. "Agree that she's insane." Boston Globe, April 6: 1.
—. 1901. "Alden P. Davis' death due to another cause." Boston Globe, November 21: 1.
—. 1901. "Hint to watch Miss Toppan." Boston Globe, October 31: 5.
—. 1901. "Inquiry is under way." Boston Globe, August 31: 1.
—. 1902. "Is Miss Toppan sane." Boston Globe, March 26: 1.
—. 1904. "Jane Toppan an imbecile." Boston Globe, July 10: 6.
—. 1902. "Jane Toppan insane, found not guilty." Boston Globe, June 24: 1.
—. 1938. "Jane Toppan, poisoner of 31, dies in hospital at age pf 81." Boston Globe, August 18: 1.
—. 1901. "Marriage and money." Boston Globe, November 1: 1.
—. 1901. "Murder by poison." Boston Globe, October 31: 1.
—. 1901. "No cause for suspicion." Boston Globe, November 4: 2.
Lowell Historical Society. 2022. Lowell’s ties to “Jolly” Jane, Massachusetts’ Female Serial Killer. October 29. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.lowellhistoricalsociety.org/lowells-ties-to-jolly-jane-massachusetts-female-serial-killer/.
New York Times. 1904. "Jane Toppan, an extraordinary case of moral insanity." New York Times, October 23: A2.
—. 1938. "Miss Jane Toppan, 84, Mass poisoner, dies." New York Times, August 18: 15.
Schechter, Harold. 2012. Fatal: The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer. New York, NY: Pocket Books.
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Previous Episode
“Jolly Jane” Toppan: Angel of Mercy (Part 1)
May 2, 2024
•92m
When Jane Toppan began training to be a nurse at Cambridge Hospital in 1885, she was bright, eager, and well-liked by her peers and seemed to form easy bonds with the oldest and most vulnerable patients. What no one knew at the time was, once Jane managed to get time alone with her patients, she began conducting medical experiments by injecting them with various drugs and even going so far as to get into bed with them to hold them close to her as they died from the overdoses she’d administered.
Thank you to the amazing Dave White of Bring me the Axe Podcast for research!
References
Boston Globe. 1902. "Agree that she's insane." Boston Globe, April 6: 1.
—. 1901. "Alden P. Davis' death due to another cause." Boston Globe, November 21: 1.
—. 1901. "Hint to watch Miss Toppan." Boston Globe, October 31: 5.
—. 1901. "Inquiry is under way." Boston Globe, August 31: 1.
—. 1902. "Is Miss Toppan sane." Boston Globe, March 26: 1.
—. 1904. "Jane Toppan an imbecile." Boston Globe, July 10: 6.
—. 1902. "Jane Toppan insane, found not guilty." Boston Globe, June 24: 1.
—. 1938. "Jane Toppan, poisoner of 31, dies in hospital at age pf 81." Boston Globe, August 18: 1.
—. 1901. "Marriage and money." Boston Globe, November 1: 1.
—. 1901. "Murder by poison." Boston Globe, October 31: 1.
—. 1901. "No cause for suspicion." Boston Globe, November 4: 2.
Lowell Historical Society. 2022. Lowell’s ties to “Jolly” Jane, Massachusetts’ Female Serial Killer. October 29. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.lowellhistoricalsociety.org/lowells-ties-to-jolly-jane-massachusetts-female-serial-killer/.
New York Times. 1904. "Jane Toppan, an extraordinary case of moral insanity." New York Times, October 23: A2.
—. 1938. "Miss Jane Toppan, 84, Mass poisoner, dies." New York Times, August 18: 15.
Schechter, Harold. 2012. Fatal: The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer. New York, NY: Pocket Books.
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Next Episode
The Murder of Natalee Holloway
May 9, 2024
•90m
On the afternoon of May 30, 2005, the senior students from Mountain Brook High School gathered at the airport in Aruba to make their return flight to Alabama after their celebratory trip, when chaperones noticed that one of the students was missing. Eighteen-year-old Natalee Holloway was last seen around 1:30 am that morning, leaving a bar with a student from the local International School of Aruba, but no one had seen or heard from her since and when they checked the hotel, Natalee’s luggage and other belongings were still in her room.
It would take nearly twenty years before her killer was held responsible and the truth about her disappearance was brought to light.
Thank you to the wondrous Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for Research!
References
ABC News. 2006. Exclusive: van der Sloot talks about night out. February 22. Accessed March 26, 2024. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1648218.
Associated Press. 2005. "Three young suspects can be held in case of missing girl, judge rules." New York Times, June 12.
—. 2005. "Two suspects to be held in girl's case." New York Times, June 9.
—. 2012. "Natalee Holloway declared dead by judge six years after disappearance." The Guardian, January 12.
Burrough, Bryan. 2006. "Missing White Female." Vanity Fair, November 20.
Chandler, Kim. 2023. "Attorney describes Joran van der Sloot's confession." Montgomery Advertiser, November 11: 1.
CNN News. 2010. Interpol: Van der Sloot tried to extort Holloway's mother. June 9. Accessed March 27, 2024. http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/06/08/us.van.der.sloot.alabama/.
CNN Wire. 2012. Van der Sloot sentenced to 28 years for Peru murder . January 13. Accessed March 27, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2012/01/13/world/americas/peru-van-der-sloot-sentence.
Holloway, Beth. 2007. "My daughter disappeared." Good Housekeeping, November 1: 185.
Holloway, Dave, R. Stephanie Good, and Larry Garrison. 2023. Aruba: The Tragic Untold Story of Natalee Holloway and Corruption in Paradise. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishing.
Lybrand, Holmes, Jean Casarez, and Evan Perez. 2023. FBI details how van der Sloot’s confession in Natalee Holloway’s death came together. October 24. Accessed March 27, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/24/us/joran-van-der-sloot-holloway-plea-deal/index.html.
Lyman, Rick. 2005. "Missing woman's case spurs discussion of news coverage." New York Times, August 7.
NBC News. 2005. Aruban police again search landfill for Holloway. July 28. Accessed March 26, 2024. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8745217.
—. 2010. Van der Sloot admits Holloway family extortion plot: 'Why not?'. September 6. Accessed March 27, 2024. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39023617.
Nelson, Andrew. 2005. "Missing teen's friends, family continue hope." Birmingham Post-Herald, June 6: 24.
News, ABC. 2006. "Dutch teen tells Primetime about night with Natalee Holloway." ABC News, February 23.
Norton, Michael. 2005. "FBI answers mother's plea to aid search." Montgomery Advertiser, June 4: 1.
Robinson, Carol. 2023. Listen to Joran van der Sloot describe Natalee Holloway’s final moments in chilling confession. October 18. Accessed March 27, 2024. https://www.al.com/news/2023/10/listen-to-joran-van-der-sloot-describe-natalee-holloways-final-moments-in-chilling-confession.html.
Robinson, Carol, and Ivana Hrynkiw. 2023. Joran van der Sloot confesses to killing Natalee Holloway: ‘You terminated her dreams,’ mother says. October 18. Accessed March 27, 2024. https://www.al.com/news/2023/10/joran-van-der-sloot-expected-to-plead-guilty-in-natalee-holloway-extortion-case-today-latest-updates.html.
Robinson, Gene. 2005. "Missing white women and the media." Washington Post, June 14.
The Independent. 2010. "Sex, lies and a murder suspect with a story to sell." The Independent, June 23.
Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)
Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)
Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley
Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally
Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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