A Woman May Have Been Among the Most Vicious Criminals in World History

By Hristina Byrnes Published May 3, 1:10PM EDT

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A Woman May Have Been Among the Most Vicious Criminals in World History — © AnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This article was written with the assistance of A.I. technology, and has been edited and fact-checked by Colman Andrews.

Elizabeth Báthory is known as the “Blood Countess,” and she has been accused of crimes that are some of the most heinous in human history.

Báthory was born into a noble family in Hungary in 1560. She married a count at the age of 15, and the two had five and possibly six children together.

Báthory began committing her crimes in the early 1600s. She would lure young girls to her castle, where she would torture and kill them. According to legend, she would often bathe in their blood, believing it would make her skin more beautiful.

Báthory’s crimes were finally discovered in 1610, when authorities found the bodies of several girls on her property. She was arrested and imprisoned in her castle, but she was never tried or convicted of her crimes. She died as a prisoner in 1614.

Today, Báthory is considered one of the most prolific serial killers in history. It is estimated that she killed hundreds of girls, although the exact number is unknown. Her story continues to fascinate and horrify people all over the world.

Click here to see 20 of the most infamous criminals in world history.

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About the Author Hristina Byrnes →

Hristina Byrnes is the editor of 247Tempo.com, where she handles the site's assignments and editing. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University, which she earned in 2012, and she specializes in translating complex health data research into engaging, accessible stories for a general audience.

When she's not poring over the latest data sets or brainstorming story ideas, you can find Hristina watching tennis, playing tennis with her son, or trying to get her daughter into tennis.