On this date in 1918, Della Sorenson killed her first victim in Nebraska. Her first victim was her sister-in-law's infant daughter, Viola Cooper. Two years later, Wilhelmina Weldam, Sorenson's mother-in-law, was murdered by Della. Della then moved on to her immediate family killing her daughter, Minnie, and her own husband, Joe, during two weeks in September.
Over the next seven years, she continued to kill friends, relatives and even strangers who came into contact with her. She always used poison and liked to poison candy or cookies and give them to young children. Her list of victims and attempted victims include:
- Viola Cooper - sister-in-law's daughter - dead.
- Wilhelmina Weldam - mother-in-law - dead
- Minnie - daughter - dead
- Joe - husband - dead
- Clifford - infant son of former sister-in-law - dead
- Delia - one year old daughter from second husband. - dead
She was arrested after trying to poison her new husband and two children from the neighborhood with poisoned cookies. They all survived. She was arrested in 1925. When asked about why she did it, she said "I like to attend funerals. I'm happy when someone is dying."
She was locked up in a lunatic asylum for the rest of her life.
Over the next seven years, she continued to kill friends, relatives and even strangers who came into contact with her. She always used poison and liked to poison candy or cookies and give them to young children. Her list of victims and attempted victims include:
- Viola Cooper - sister-in-law's daughter - dead.
- Wilhelmina Weldam - mother-in-law - dead
- Minnie - daughter - dead
- Joe - husband - dead
- Clifford - infant son of former sister-in-law - dead
- Delia - one year old daughter from second husband. - dead
She was arrested after trying to poison her new husband and two children from the neighborhood with poisoned cookies. They all survived. She was arrested in 1925. When asked about why she did it, she said "I like to attend funerals. I'm happy when someone is dying."
She was locked up in a lunatic asylum for the rest of her life.