Lavinia Fisher; An innocent young girl who runs a boutique hotel with her husband, or a serial killer who seduces and kills men? An ordinary gang of robbers or a crime machine that goes further than theft?
Today to you; We will talk about Lavinia Fisher, who was born and lived in America in the 19th century, caused many secrets in the environment she lived in, and remained popular despite more than 200 years after her death.
Early life of Lavinia
Lavinia; He was born in 1793 in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Actually, that’s all the information we can share with you before Lavinia became Lavinia Fisher. There is no information about her maiden name, exact place of birth, family, childhood and education life.
marriage to John Fisher and boutique hotel
Lavinia married John Fisher at a very early age. Although there is no clear information on this subject, it is estimated that Lavinia Fisher married at the age of 16-17 and was raised by John Fisher.
The Fisher couple, together with their marriage, made a living from a hotel 6 miles (approximately 9.5 km) from the city of Charleston. This hotel, which they called the Six Mile Wayfaraer House (SMWH) because it is 6 miles from the city center, was a hotel that usually served people who were engaged in business or went on long journeys.
Increasing disappearance reports around SMWH
Many reports of missing persons came to the police station on different dates. One day, a detail in all these missing notices caught the attention of the police. The last stop of almost all of the disappeared was SMWH. Following this tip, SMWH was surrounded by the cops.
Data obtained from police pursuit
The police followed the SMWH and Fisher couple for a while because they did not have any evidence. Lavinia Fisher was a woman described by many as very beautiful and very attractive. She was a person who could convince almost any man with her sweet language and beauty.
According to the data obtained, Lavinia used her beauty to attract customers to the hotel, and sometimes stopped vehicles by waving at the roadside. The drivers in the stationary vehicle were robbed by John, but instead of this dangerous action, they generally preferred to attract customers to the hotel.
Cleaning up after robbery
The cops were aware of the Fisher couple’s heist, but the cops needed even more for the murder. According to the estimation of the police; customers entering the hotel were extorted by the Fisher couple and then completely wiped out. That’s why in missing reports, all arrows point to the Fisher couple’s hotel.
The Fisher couple’s strategy for inviting or voluntarily visiting guests was generally the same. Food and tea were served to the customer. In the meantime, the customers who were not willing to stay, succumbed to Lavinia’s charm and wanted to stay at the hotel even for one night, but they could not calculate that the tea they drank had sleeping pills in it.
This time they hit the ax against the stone
One day, John Peeples, a rich and respected merchant, comes to the Fisher couple’s hotel and is here at night because of his long journey. He says he wants to rest. Lavinia Fisher says they don’t have any vacant rooms right now, but she can offer her food and tea.
Peeples, who does not offend Lavinia, who is a very nice woman, eats her meal, but is disturbed by the gaze of John, who looks at her strangely throughout the meal. After dinner, Lavinia tells Peeples that a room is available and she can stay here, and offers tea. Peeples does not want to drink the tea because of John’s disturbing gaze, but because he does not want to offend the persistent Lavinia; finds an opportunity, pours the tea and pretends to drink it.
Peeples barely escaped
Peeples listens to the Fisher couple, whose voices are heard while they are resting in their room, while pretending to be asleep. John and Lavinia enter the room, open the tunnel hidden in the room. Peeples, noticing the tunnel, thinks that jumping out of the window will be his first and last opportunity, jumps down and immediately goes to the police station and tells what happened.
Looking for a spark to raid the hotel, the police find lots of sleeping pills and long tunnels during their search at the hotel. In addition, in some places where these tunnels extend, body parts are also found.
Fisher couple arrested
After what happened, Fisher couple and 2 staff members were arrested. While 2 personnel, who were determined to have nothing to do with the events, were released; John and Lavinia went to trial.
The Fisher couple, who went to court, wanted to be sentenced to death, but there was still no clear evidence that they had committed murder. Despite this, the court sentenced John and Lavinia Fisher to death for theft charges.
Even though she knew she would die, she did not leave her husband alone
The Fisher couple, waiting for the day of execution, prepared an escape plan from the prison where they stayed until the day of execution. One night, according to the plan, John managed to escape from prison, while Lavinia failed. John, on the other hand, did not want to leave his wife alone, so he voluntarily surrendered and returned to prison.
After this escape attempt, the Fisher couple were treated worse in prison. Lavinia, in particular, was subjected to violence and rape for days.
The expected day for the Fisher couple
On the day the death penalty would be imposed, a legal loophole was realized that could prevent Lavinia’s execution. Under the law, it was not possible for married women to be executed, but this legal loophole would end with John’s punishment first, because with John’s death Lavinia could no longer be married.
Although John declared that he was innocent until he came to the death stand to serve his sentence; When the rope was tied around his neck, all he said was “I’m sorry for what happened” and he passed away.
Lavinia, on the other hand, wanted to wear a wedding dress for some reason before the execution ceremony, and as her last word, she turned to the crowd and said, “If there is a message you want to convey to hell, tell me now, I will deliver it” and, acting before her executioner, kicked the chair under her feet. Lavinia, just 27 years old, was convicted as America’s first female serial killer.
What happened after the death of the Fisher couple
Although the Fisher couple were sentenced to death because they were thought to be murderers; Neither the bodies of the missing persons were found, nor any evidence that the Fisher couple was the murderer.
There have been many ghost reports in the area, especially after Lavinia’s execution, and many people say that Lavinia’s ghost is disturbing because she was executed despite her innocence.
The truth behind the ghost claim
Although many people claim that the ghost of Lavinia haunts the city, the biggest force behind this claim is that it brings many tourists to the region every year. tour companies. Many people visit the region who want to see the hotel, prison and place of execution of Lavinia, which has a particularly impressive story, and it is one of the most serious sources of income for the region’s economy.
While hundreds of documentaries, television programs and researches were made about the incident; Bruce Orr’s book Six Miles to Charleston: The True Story of John and Lavinia Fisher stands out as one of the most influential sources on the subject.
What do you guys think about Lavinia Fisher and what happened?
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