Portraying herself as a delicate and quiet soul who avoided confrontation, the archetypal Southern Belle when that was still fashionable, Peete was plausible, convincing and remorseless, using her manners and charm to manipulate and lure potential victims. Born Lofie Louise Preslar on 20 September 1880 in Bienville, Louisiana she was one of only four women to enter California’s gas chamber.

She was one of California’s original black widows. It was also once home to Louise Peete, one of California’s most notorious and rarest murderers.īienville might be Cajun French for ‘good town’ or ‘good place’ but there was nothing good about ‘Lethal Louise.’ A petty thief, prostitute and small-time con-artist, she eventually turned her hand to serial murder. Two of the ambush party, Henderson Jordan and Prentiss Oakley, served as Bienville Parish Sheriff, Jordan from 1932 to 1940 and Oakley from 1940 until 1952.

Bienville was the site of the ambush that killed Bonnie & Clyde on May 23 1934. I’ve been ready for a long time.” – Louise Peete minutes before she died.īienville Parish is in north-western Louisiana and its county seat is familiar from previous chapters, Arcadia. A free chapter from my forthcoming book ‘Murders, Mysteries and Misdemeanors in Southern California.’

Louisiana serial killer 1940s