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Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast

Netherlands: Angel of Death's Many Victims

Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast

Shane L. Waters, Wendy Cee, Gemma Hoskins

History, True Crime, Society & Culture

4.5992 Ratings

🗓️ 16 December 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 1880s Leiden, the 'Angel of Death's many victims lay undetected. 'Good Mary', once a beloved caretaker, was found to have... The season examines into the horrific actions of serial killers throughout history. Known to the community as 'Good Mary', the seemingly compassionate nurse moved through the foggy streets of Leiden, offering her aid to the sick and the dying. Yet behind her benevolent facade lurked a darker purpose. we explore her chilling transformation from caregiver to relentless killer. The victims of the so-called 'Angel of Death' were everyday people; men and women who were simply seeking care in their vulnerable moments. These victims, draped in the guise of their time's modest lifestyles, trusted 'Good Mary' with their lives. Her heinous acts left a haunting mark, not only on those she directly harmed, but also on the historical understanding of trust and vulnerability in healthcare. The significance of 'Good Mary's' crimes reverberates through history, reminding us of the perilous power embedded in perceived kindness. It paints a vivid picture of the dangers lurking even within trusted social frameworks. Understanding her motives provides insight into a historical pattern of betrayal by caregivers, a phenomenon that still impacts society today. Over three years, the crimes went unnoticed, thanks to Mary's unassuming demeanor and the era's lack of advanced forensic knowledge. It wasn't until a suspicious pattern of patient deaths emerged that authorities began to examine her lethal legacy. Her arrest shocked Leiden; her trial was a spectacle of international intrigue. During the late 1800s, Dutch society was undergoing significant change. Industrialization was on the rise, altering daily life and expanding city populations. Within these bustling centers, the disparity between healthcare standards and the need for qualified caregivers became apparent, creating an environment ripe for exploitation. Social trust was both a necessity and a vulnerability. listeners will hear about the careful investigation that finally exposed 'Good Mary's' crimes, her surprising confessions, and the aftermath of justice served. Prepare to traverse the chilling transformation from benevolence to horror. --- Support Foul Play: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foulplaypodcast Website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/foul-play/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foul-play-crime-series/id1525832703 Follow us: Instagram: @foulplaycrimeseries Twitter: @foulplaypod

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Leiden, December 1883

0:08.0

The city's canals reflected the gray December sky.

0:14.0

Fog creeping through narrow streets lined with textile mills.

0:20.0

Coal smoke hung thick in the air, mixing with the

0:24.5

damp chill that seeped through every crack in the workers' cottages. In this ancient university

0:31.1

town, birthplace of Rembrandt, the poor lived crowded into slums, where disease was so common that death barely

0:41.5

raised an eyebrow.

0:44.2

On a cold morning in one of Leiden's roughest neighborhoods, a man named Hendrik Frankhausen

0:51.0

woke to pain that wouldn't stop. His wife Maria had died just days earlier. Their six-month-old

0:59.6

son had followed her to the grave shortly after. Both had suffered the same agonizing symptoms.

1:07.7

Relentless diarrhea, violent vomiting, pain that twisted their insides until they couldn't endure anymore.

1:16.6

The doctor had called it cholera.

1:19.6

Inlyden slums, cholera killed regularly.

1:24.6

No one questioned it.

1:26.6

But now Hendrik was experiencing the same unbearable pain.

1:32.4

His stomach felt like it was being torn apart from the inside. He couldn't keep food down.

1:39.5

He couldn't keep water down. The weakness was overwhelming. Something was wrong. This wasn't just bad luck.

1:50.2

This wasn't just another poor family in Leiden's disease-ridden streets, losing members to the

1:55.9

endemic sickness that plagued working-class neighborhoods. Hendrick dragged himself to his local doctor's office, desperate for help.

2:06.6

The doctor examined him, asked about his symptoms, took careful notes.

2:12.6

Then he asked a question that would change everything.

2:16.6

Who's been caring for you?

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