The Victorian 'Baby Farmer' who murdered nearly 400 infants
In short: Amelia Dyer was a prolific murderer in Victorian Britain who profited from caring for abandoned children. This lecture by Joanna Bourke explores the chilling reality of her crimes and examines whether she was a product of madness or calculated cruelty.
Operating as a 'baby farmer,' Dyer was paid to look after unwanted infants, yet she is estimated to have killed around 400 of them. The lecture investigates the psychological profile of such a woman—questioning if she was an 'ogress' or suffered from insanity.
The presentation also touches on sensationalist theories connecting Dyer to other notorious crimes, including speculation that she may have been the real Jack the Ripper.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Amelia Dyer: Baby Killers
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