Diane O'Dell
Born1953 (age 70–71)
Orwell Township, Pennsylvania, United States
NationalityAmerican
Criminal statusIncarcerated
MotiveChildren were illegitimate
Fathers of children abandoned her
Conviction(s)Second-degree murder
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment
Details
Victims3–4
Date1982/1983/1985
CountryUnited States
Location(s)Sullivan County, New York
WeaponAsphyxiation
Date apprehended
May 17, 2003 (2003-05-17)

Diane O'Dell (born 1953) is an American female serial killer who was convicted of murdering three of her 12 children. She was also investigated for the disappearance of another child.[1] O'Dell regularly traveled with the corpses.[2] The bodies of the three dead newborns were found in May 2003 in a storage shed O'Dell rented and abandoned in Safford, Arizona.[3]

By all accounts, she murdered them because they were illegitimate. O'Dell told police the babies died at birth between 1981 and 1984.[4] She kept the three babies in a storage unit for over ten years. When she defaulted on her rent, her landlord cleared out her possessions and discovered the corpses.[5] The case became known as 'The Babies in Boxes Murder Case'.[6]

Trial

In her 2003 trial, the jury rejected three counts of first degree murder, but unanimously found her guilty of second degree murder.[7]

In 2004, she was sentenced to life in prison. She will be eligible for parole in 2029.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lydia Polgreen (2003-05-22). "Many Children, Many Moves, and a Grisly Find - New York Times". The New York Times. Sullivan County (Ny); Potterville (Pa); Kauneonga Lake (Ny); Stafford (Ariz). Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  2. ↑ "'Doting' mother's arrest stuns her neighbors Dianne O'Dell was described by an acquaintance as a loving parent, but police say she killed three of her own babies. - Philly.com". Articles.philly.com. 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  3. ↑ Kranes, Marsha (May 22, 2003). "Slay-Case Mother and her Newborn". New York Post. No. 17.
  4. ↑ "Mummified Kids Shock". The Daily Mirror (Erie Edition). No. 24. May 21, 2003.
  5. ↑ "People v O'dell :: 2003 :: New York Other Courts Decisions :: New York Case Law :: US Case Law :: US Law :: Justia". Law.justia.com. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  6. ↑ "Sullivan County Democrat: On Trial for Murder". Sc-democrat.com. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  7. ↑ "Sullivan County Democrat: The Verdict Is In". Sc-democrat.com. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  8. ↑ "Sullivan County Democrat: Odell's Sentencing". Sc-democrat.com. 2004-01-30. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
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