Countess Elizabeth Bathory

Elizabeth Bathory is known as the most famous and gruesome female serial killer in history.  She was accused of murdering more than 600 women and children.

Elizabeth Bathory came from a very distinguished family in Hungary.  She was married by the age of 15 to Count Nadasdy.  She was alone a great deal of their marriage and had no children.  She had a nurse, Ilona Joo, who was considered a black witch.  As time passed by she became more and more curious about the black arts.  After several years, she kept company with alchemists and witches.  She eventually had four children.  Her husband was killed when she was 41 years old and through the midst of her grief she began to devote all her time to the black arts.

As time went by Bathory began behaving even worse.  There were reports of lesbian orgies, torture, kidnapping young women and various sexual acts considered perverse.  Many people referred to her later on as the “Blood Countess”.  The fascination with blood began with a servant girl who served Bathory.  Feeling that she was disrespected, Bathory slapped the servant in the face.  The slap was so hard she drew blood.  She later noticed that her skin was more smooth and vibrant where the blood has landed on her hand.  She consulted Ilona Joo about the way the blood seemed to rejuvenate her skin and they came to the conclusion that virgin blood was needed.  Now comes the roller coaster ride…

Her little horror group began kidnapping and tricking young women and children into the castle.  Bathory had chains and such put up in the dungeons to keep them locked up tight.  Bathory tortured and bled them to death.  Rumors began to fly about the tortures these girls endured.  It is said they were hung upside down and bled to death, bitten, used in sexual acts and their bones were used in rituals.  After a few years she was unhappy with the results so she set up a type of boarding school for the noblewomen.  She felt that the blood of the upper-class would better suit her road to perfect beauty and immortality.

Within a short time frame the rumors reached the royal court.  The Prime Minister, her cousin, had no choice but to investigate the matter.  The castle was raided and taken by surprise.  Bathory was supposedly found in mid orgy with dozens and dozens of dead girls lying all around the castle.  Most were drained of blood and some were still shackled to walls bleeding out.  Bathory’s entourage was arrested and tortured until they confessed.  They were charged with the murders of the 80 victims actually found dead inside the castle walls.  Ilona Joo was burned at the stake and many of the others were beheaded within a short time.  Bathory was accused of murdering over 600 girls.  Due to her title, death was not handed out as her punishment.  She was bricked up in a small room at the top of the castle.  There were small holes for air and one for food to be passed through, but that was it.  They estimate her death as August 21, 1614.  Food trays from that date were not touched which led them to believe she had passed away the night before or that morning.