Tillie Klimek Polish-American serial killer, poisoner Country: USA

Biography of Tilly Klimek: The Polish-American Serial Killer

Tilly Klimek was a Polish-American serial killer and poisoner who operated actively in Chicago. She initially posed as a psychic and fortune-teller, accurately predicting the death dates of her future victims. Tilly married John Mitkiewicz in 1890 and began to share with friends in 1919 about her dreams of her husband's imminent death, even naming the exact date. When the predicted day arrived, Mitkiewicz started experiencing health problems and eventually passed away by nightfall.

A few months later, Tilly remarried to John Ruskowski, a healthy laborer, but soon her "dreams" started foretelling his death as well. True to her prediction, Ruskowski died after the predetermined time. Tilly's marriage to Frank Kupszcyk, her third husband, lasted only six months before ending in accordance with her prophetic dreams. The same fate awaited Joseph Guszkowski, her fourth spouse, whose marriage with Tilly lasted only a year.

After burying her fourth husband, Tilly gained a sinister reputation in the community. She regularly mourned her cursed visions and perpetual misfortune. Eventually, Tilly's prophetic dreams extended beyond her husbands. She predicted the plague in a neighboring family, and soon all three children in that family died agonizing deaths.

By 1921, the entire district was aware that marrying Tilly was essentially a sophisticated form of suicide. However, Anton Klimek defied local superstitions and married Tilly. Anton laughed in the face of all the local gossip, but his health quickly deteriorated after the wedding. Anton's relatives insisted on immediate hospitalization, and doctors discovered that he had been poisoned. Tilly was arrested almost immediately and her motive was clear to all – the death of each husband meant a substantial sum from the terms of their wills and insurance policies.

While Tilly admitted to attempting to poison Klimek, she vehemently denied all other episodes. The Illinois court found Tilly guilty and sentenced her to life imprisonment. She eventually died in prison.