Lavinia Fisher who was born in 1793 is believed to be the first American woman serial killer. Along with her husband John operated a boarding house in Charleston South Carolina named the ” Six Mile Wayfarer House ” in the early 1800’s. They preyed upon their guests killing many of them. The boarding house was located six miles north of Charleston and that is why it was called the Six Mile Wayfarer House. Lavinia was a very beautiful woman and she used her charms to help her husband to kill and rob many male travelers. Over the years in the early 1800’s many reports were filed saying that the last time the person was seen was in Charleston South Carolina. And the reports were many. It is believed that the Fishers killed several hundred travelers and most were killed for money or other trade goods they were carrying. If the Fishers saw you with a large sum of money you did not leave the Six Mile Wayfarer House alive. After their arrest by the Sheriff of Charleston the Six Mile Wayfarer House was searched and the grounds were dug up. The Sheriff said the house had many hidden passages and the only way into the attic was by a hidden passage. It was in the attic that the Sheriff reported finding items that could be traced to over a hundred travelers that the Fishers had killed. In the basement and grounds of the house over a hundred sets of remains were found.
The couple was tried in Charleston South Carolina and found guilty of multiple murders and robberies. John Fisher accepted the consul of a local priest and is said to have begged the priest to save his soul if not his life but Lavinia Fisher would have nothing to do with the priest. On the morning of February 18th 1820 the Fishers were hung on the gallows just behind the Charleston Jail. John Fisher went quietly praying with the priest. Lavinia had made the request that she be hung and buried in her wedding dress and she was allowed to wear the dress but she had to be picked up and carried to the gallows. She screamed and yelled as she was being prepared to be hung. When she was asked if she had any last words she said “Hell give me your words and I’ll carry them straight to the devil.” And with that she leaped off the gallows actually hanging herself. It is now widely accepted that Lavinia Fisher was the first female serial killer in America. Though most people don’t even know that she existed.
