"Gunness was born in Selbu, Norway, in 1859, as Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth. She moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1881 in search of a wealthier life, and married fellow Norwegian Mads Albert Sorenson three years later."
"Soon after their wedding, their shop burned down, and they pocketed the insurance money. Then, in 1900, their house burned down and, again, they cashed in on the insurance."
"Sorenson's family demanded further investigations into his death, and it was later revealed that he'd been poisoned. But no charges were ever filed, so Gunness moved to La Porte, Indiana, where she bought a 41-acre farm with her newfound wealth."
"According to some accounts, Gunness' foster daughter saw what actually happened and told her schoolmates, 'My mama killed my papa. She hit him with a meat cleaver and he died.'"
Belle Gunness, born in Norway in 1859, moved to Chicago in 1881 and married Mads Sorenson. Their confectionery shop burned down, allowing them to collect insurance money. Sorenson died under suspicious circumstances, coinciding with an insurance policy change, leaving Gunness with a significant payout. After moving to Indiana, she married Peter Gunness, who also died shortly after their marriage. Allegations of foul play surrounded both deaths, with Gunness's actions leading to her infamy as a serial killer and fraudster.
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