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Amy Archer-GilliganHospital owner and serial killer
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Biography of Amy Archer-Gilligan
- Early Life
- Nursing Home Business
- Marriage to Michael Gilligan
- Suspicion and Arrest
- Later Life and Legacy
Biography of Amy Archer-Gilligan
Amy Archer-Gilligan was the owner of a private nursing home and a serial killer who systematically murdered at least five people using poison. One of her victims was her second husband, Michael Gilligan, while the rest were residents of her private nursing home for the elderly and disabled. It is possible that she was involved in even more crimes, as authorities discovered a total of 48 deaths in her nursing home.
Early Life
Amy Archer-Gilligan was born in 1873. Very little is known about her early life, but in 1896, she married James Archer. They had a daughter named Mary E. Archer in 1900.
Nursing Home Business
The Archer family began caring for the elderly in 1901 when they took on their first job, providing care for widower John Seymour in Newington, Connecticut. Seymour passed away in 1904, and since his heirs were living in a pension, the Archers were allowed to stay in the house. They continued to care for elderly individuals for a fee and named their nursing home "Sister Amy's Nursing Home for the Elderly."
In 1907, Seymour's heirs decided to sell the house, and the Archers moved to Windsor, Connecticut, using their savings to purchase their own property. They soon opened their own business, the "Archer Home for the Elderly and Infirm." James Archer passed away in 1910 due to a documented illness, and luckily, Amy had taken out an insurance policy on him a few weeks before his death, allowing her to continue working at the nursing home.
Marriage to Michael Gilligan
Amy Archer-Gilligan married Michael Gilligan in 1913. He was a wealthy widower who was interested in both Amy and investing in her private nursing home. Just three months after their marriage, Michael suddenly died, officially due to acute gallstone attack, which was another term for a severe stomach disorder. Once again, Archer-Gilligan found herself financially secure as her late husband left her all of his properties according to his will.
Suspicion and Arrest
Between 1907 and 1917, a total of 60 individuals passed away at "Sister Amy's Nursing Home." The increasing number of deaths raised suspicions among the relatives, as too many elderly clients under Amy's care were dying. From 1907 to 1910, 12 clients died, and between 1911 and 1916, 48 more deaths occurred. Among them was Franklin R. Andrews, who was seemingly healthy. He died on May 29, 1914, from a stomach ulcer. His sister, Nellie Pierce, inherited his estate and claimed that Archer-Gilligan had pressured her for money.
When the deaths continued, Pierce turned to the district attorney, who initially ignored her. Pierce then shared her story in "The Hartford Courant" newspaper. The first article in a series titled "The Murder Factory" was published on May 9, 1916. Several months later, the police began a thorough investigation. The investigation lasted almost a year, but it was worth it. The bodies of Gilligan, Andrews, and three other pensioners were exhumed, all of whom had died from either cyanide or strychnine poisoning. Local merchants mentioned that Archer-Gilligan had bought a large amount of poison, supposedly to "kill rats." Furthermore, it was discovered that Gilligan's will was a forgery, written by Archer-Gilligan herself.
Archer-Gilligan was arrested and convicted of murder, initially facing five counts of charges. Eventually, her defense attorney managed to reduce the charges to the murder of Franklin R. Andrews. Nevertheless, on June 18, 1917, she was found guilty and sentenced to death. Archer-Gilligan filed an appeal, and a new trial began in 1919. This time, her defense strategy was centered around pleading insanity. Her daughter, Mary E. Archer, claimed that her mother had developed an addiction to morphine. Ultimately, the appellate court found Archer-Gilligan guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced her to life imprisonment.
Later Life and Legacy
There are reports that Archer-Gilligan, now a model prisoner, was declared mentally incompetent and transferred to a psychiatric hospital. She passed away in 1962. Her story inspired the creation of the play "Arsenic and Old Lace" and later the film adaptation in 1944.
