"Blood Farm Belle"

In the early 1900s, those who answered a lonely-hearts ad, placed by a lovely lady named "Belle" of LaPorte Indiana, got more than they bargained for.... and most lost their lives in their quest for true love! Belle, it seems, had quite a way with words. After conversing by mail with the gentlemen who answered her ads in their local paper, Belle would begin spinning her web.

Her words were so sweet and enticing, that the men would find themselves compelled to sell their property, and all their worldly possessions, with hopes of a wonderful life with their bride-to-be. She placed ads across the U.S. and even in other counties.
Within days of arriving in Indiana, each of these men would mysteriously disappear, never to be seen again... well, until they were found buried in Belle's yard!
The exact number of those murdered by Belle is not known but is estimated to be at least 20!
Men, women, and children were found buried in the yard at what is known in Indiana as "The Blood Farm of McClung Road".
Some were unfortunate souls looking for love, and others were probably those who caught on to Belle's horrific crimes and intended to stop her (unsuccessfully).

Belle's fate is unknown. Some say, she was found murdered at her farm, Others say the headless body of a woman found there, was not actually Belle, but that she had faked her own death by murdering her newly hired housekeeper.

I grew up in Indiana, and my friends and I often would spend evenings around the campfire sharing ghostly tales.
Many of these stories revolved around "The Black Widow" and her"Blood Farm", as Belle supposedly still haunts old McClung Road, as do the ghosts of her numerous victims (including the headless woman!)

My painting of "The Black Widow" was done in acrylic on canvas board. It shows the ghost of Belle in her garden at midnight, waiting to haunt the next unfortunate passerby.

Thanks for looking!