Yup, it’s true. If you look at history books, it’s mostly men making the headlines for causing trouble and spilling blood. And when it comes to serial killers, it’s mainly males dominating the scene.
But just because serial killers are mostly male, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any female killers out there. So, here are 7 female serial killers from across Asia that you might not have heard of.
1. Lao Rongzhi – China
China’s notorious female serial killer Lao Rongzhi had been on the run for 20 years after being involved in a string of crimes, including robbery, extortion, and the brutal murder of seven people, one of whom was a child, between 1996 and 1999.
Lao targeted entertainment venues for her crimes, while Fa (her boyfriend) killed them. She spent years using aliases to avoid capture until she was apprehended in Fujian province in 2019. In August 2020, she was charged with intentional homicide, robbery, and kidnapping. Lao Rongzhi was then executed by death penalty in Nanchang, East China’s Jiangxi Province.
2. Miyuki Ishikawa a.k.a. “The Demon Midwife” – Japan
Miyuki Ishikawa is believed to have been responsible for the deaths of more than 100 infants, potentially making her the deadliest female serial killer in history. During the 1940s, Miyuki Ishikawa served as a midwife in post-World War II Japan.
Miyuki Ishikawa operated during the Shōwa period when abortion was prohibited, leaving many families unable to afford raising their children. She began her heinous acts by offering to care for infants whose parents faced financial hardship.
Instead of providing the care promised, she subjected these innocent lives to cruel and inhumane treatment, resulting in their tragic deaths. Ishikawa was arrested on 15 January 1948.
3. Troilokya Tarini Devi – India
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Troilokya Tarini Devi was considered the first female serial killer of Bengal, India. Troilokya was sold off to a brothel at an early age. After falling for a married man named Kali Babu, Troilokya adopted his son, Hari, following his wife’s death.
Struggling to make ends meet, she eventually resorted to murder to steal jewelry from innocent women. She killed five victims before being caught. Despite a lengthy trial, she was released but later committed another murder by strangling a woman for her valuables.
Detective Priyonath Mukhopadhyay successfully trapped Troilokya, leading to her surrender. She was then sentenced to death by hanging in 1884.
4. Sumiasih – Indonesia
Sumiasih, also known as Mami Rose, managed the Wisma Happy Home brothel in Surabaya’s Dolly prostitution complex since 1975. A senior Navy official, Lieutenant Colonel Purwanto, demanded a share of profits.
In 1980, Purwanto opened his brothel, Wisma Sumber Rejeki, where Sumiasih worked. She struggled to meet his increasing payments due to police raids. When Purwanto showed interest in their daughter, Sumiasih arranged her marriage to a policeman, enraging Purwanto.
In retaliation, Sumiasih, her husband, sons, son-in-law, and two others attacked Purwanto’s home in August 1988, killing him and four family members. Sentenced to death in 1988, Sumiasih was later executed in 2008.
5. Kim Sun-ja – Korea
Kim Sun-ja, the first female serial killer in South Korea, used cyanide-laced drinks to kill her victims without direct physical contact. Born in 1939, she lived an ordinary life as a wife and mother of three.
Kim Sun-ja was said to be addicted to gambling and often visit cabarets, Kim Sun-ja committed her crimes between 1986 and 1988, claiming five lives in public places. She evaded capture until a month after her last murder.
Despite her denials, the Supreme Court sentenced her to death in 1989. Kim Sun-ja was executed at Daejon prison in October 1997.
6. Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn a.k.a. “Cyanide Killer” – Thailand
Sararat Rangsiwuthporn, known as Thailand’s worst-ever serial killer, was arrested in April after families of numerous alleged victims came forward. Between 2015 and 2023, she poisoned people in 8 provinces by mixing cyanide into their food.
Most victims were those Sararat owed money, while others were people she stole from. However, one poisoning target survived. Sararat was accused of the murder of at least 14 people and faced 80 charges, including cyanide poisoning, forgery, theft, and premeditated murder, which carries the death penalty.
7. Le Thanh Van – Vietnam
The Court of Appeal in Vietnam upheld the death sentence for Le Thanh Van from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She poisoned 13 people between 1998 and 2001, using cyanide.
Her victims included her mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and foster mother, whom she killed to steal their possessions.
After their deaths, Van forged wills and other documents to take their belongings, worth around 300 million dong (RM58,632.17). She will stand trial in August 2024 in the southern province of Binh Duong, along with her boyfriend, who is accused of assisting in her crimes.
8. Jolly Joseph – India
Jolly Joseph was a new bride from Koodathai, India, who some of the people described as a kind and gentle woman who loved her family. However, sometime between 2002 and 2016, Jolly poisoned her family, including her husband with cyanide.
Renji, her sister-in-law, became suspicious after several sudden deaths in the family. Renji’s decision to have Jolly investigated ended Jolly’s killing spree and Jolly finally had to face justice.
Jolly was arrested on October 5, 2019, and she confessed to all her crimes, along with her accomplice Mathew, who supplied the cyanide. They await trial in custody.
Jolly’s story can be watched on the Netflix documentary “Curry and Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case”.
We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims affected by this tragic string of crimes. May the departed souls find eternal peace.
What do you think of these gruesome cases? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
Also read: Disturbing Facts About The World’s Youngest Serial Killer, Amarjeet Sada, a 7yo From India
