In this episode, authors Victoria Cosner and Lorelie Shannon share a mostly-true story from their book Missouri’s Murderous Matrons. Emma Heppermann, a black widow killer, and Bertha Gifford, an angel of mercy killer, used arsenic to murder unsuspecting family and friends for decades. The story of how they managed to evade discovery is unbelievable. As always, these authors insert one fiction into our discussion. Try to identify what they made up, but be warned: it’s not easy to know if something is fact or fiction.
All images below are courtesy of Victoria Cosner.
![Vikki and Lorelie](http://factorfictionpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/lor-and-vikki-all-books-225x300.jpg)
![Murderous Matrons](http://factorfictionpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/book-cover-199x300.jpg)
![Grave of Tony Heppermann and wife](http://factorfictionpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Tony-Hepperman-Grave-300x225.jpg)
![A sweet old lady?](http://factorfictionpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Emma-150x300.jpg)
![Victoria and Lorelie smiling for the camera.](http://factorfictionpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Me-and-Lorlei.jpg)
![Renz Farm Prison](http://factorfictionpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Renz-Farm-prison-300x212.jpg)
![Close up of unmarked grave.](http://factorfictionpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_2680-225x300.jpg)
![Grave next to unmarked grave of Emma Heppermann.](http://factorfictionpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_2685-300x225.jpg)