Jolly Jane Toppan: Nurse Turned Notorious Serial Killer
In the late 1800s, Jane Toppan, a nurse from Massachusetts, was well-liked for her cheerful demeanor and dedication to her patients. However, beneath her friendly exterior, this woman, nicknamed “Jolly Jane,” was responsible for the deaths of many individuals.
By 1901, Toppan confessed to killing 31 people, though she was charged with 12 murders. Most of her victims were elderly or ill patients, along with family members and others in her life.
Born Honora Kelley in 1854 in Boston, Jane was sent to the Boston Female Asylum after her mother passed away. Later, she was taken in by the Toppan family, where she adopted their last name.
By the 1880s, Jane was training to be a nurse. While colleagues admired her friendly personality, investigators later revealed that she was using drugs like morphine and atropine on her patients, often bringing them close to death.
Reportedly dismissed from nursing school for administering medications without permission, Jane moved into private nursing, which allowed her more freedom. Her methods were calculated; she would give patients just the right doses to affect their breathing and awareness.
Victims began to pile up during the 1890s. Among them were her former landlords, who died suddenly, and her foster sister, Elizabeth.
The most notorious incident occurred in 1901 when Toppan cared for a family at their summer home. Within weeks, three family members died. This led to an investigation where toxicology reports found morphine in one of the deceased.
In October 1901, she was arrested. While in custody, she chillingly stated that her goal was to kill more helpless people than anyone else. She showed no remorse, even claiming she couldn’t feel any sadness about her actions.
Her trial in 1902 centered on her mental health. Expert witnesses argued about her sanity, but she insisted that she understood right from wrong. Ultimately, the jury found her not guilty by reason of insanity, and she was sent to a mental institution.
Jane Toppan spent the rest of her life there, never expressing remorse for her crimes. She died in 1938 at age 81, still a ward of the state. Her story remains a chilling reminder of the darker side of human nature.
