The All American Black Widow

By Miguel A. Baughman

Politics and Government

Education and Learning

Length11h 10m

About this book

Summary

In the shadowy underbelly of small-town America, where faith and family hide unimaginable horrors, Betty Neumar reigned as the ultimate predator. Born into Depression-era poverty in Ohio, Betty transformed from a seemingly devout preacher's wife into a ruthless serial murderer, leaving a trail of five dead husbands across four states over six decades. Dubbed the "All American Black Widow," she exploited religious communities as hunting grounds, charming lonely widowers with scripture and smiles before systematically poisoning, shooting, or staging their deaths for insurance payouts and inheritances. From her first victim, Harold Guthrie, shot in the head in 1952 while she claimed a robbery, to her last, Al Gentry, murdered in 2007 amid echoes of her original alibi, Betty's crimes evaded detection through cunning relocations and jurisdictional blind spots. She wasn't driven by rage or ritual—she killed for profit, manipulating social security, life insurance, and assets with chilling precision. Drawing on exhaustive research, court records, forensic reports, and interviews with victims' families, author Miguel A. Baughman unravels this true crime saga of deception and death. As detectives finally connected the dots in a groundbreaking multi-state investigation, Betty's facade crumbled, exposing a female serial killer who outsmarted the system longer than most live. This gripping narrative explores the psychology of a master manipulator, the evolution of cold case forensics, and the vulnerabilities in America's heartland churches that allowed her to thrive. This chilling true crime biography digs into intimate partner violence, financial exploitation, and the quest for justice denied by Betty's untimely death before trial. A haunting reminder that evil often wears the mask of piety, "The All American Black Widow" will keep you questioning every charming stranger.