Female Criminals

Shi Jianqiao was a notorious Chinese assassin who avenged her father’s death by executing the warlord responsible. Was she a devoted daughter fulfilling her duty after her father’s unjust murder? Or was she an outlaw vigilante who deserved to be punished for her crime? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ulrike Meinhof was a West German journalist, screenwriter, and mother of two. But the non-violent activist would turn to a life of terrorist bombings and bank robberies. Find out why and what ultimately lead to her capture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ulrike Meinhof was a known journalist, pacifist, and anti-war activist in Germany. After complaining of severe headaches for months, she had a brain procedure. After her recovery, her perspective changed. She became a political militant responsible for murders, attempted murders, bank robberies and bombings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aileen Wuornos was convicted of killing Johns while working as a sex worker in Florida. During her trial, Wuornos would take the stand in her own defense in an effort to save her life. But it would only take a jury a couple hours to decide her fate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aileen Wuornos lived a difficult life as a sex worker along the highways to support herself. She killed seven men but she claims they were all in self-defense. Was Wuornos born a cold-blooded killer or did a difficult childhood mold her into one? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pirate Anne Bonny had seemingly met her match with Calico Jack, but the relationship didn't last forever. After leaving their child with a family in Cuba, Anne returned to the seas with Calico but found a new spark - this time with a most unexpected partner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a child, Anne Bonny pretended to be a boy to cover for the fact that she was an illegitimate child. When she dressed as a woman later on, she realized she preferred the freedom of being treated like a man. Dissatisfied with traditional life as a wife to her husband, she found a true partnership with "Calico Jack," a pirate who treated her with more autonomy and respect than any woman on land would ever get. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As police became more suspicious of Stacey Castor for the deaths of two husbands, she was quick to blame her daughter Ashley. When Ashley was discovered unresponsive with a suicide note next to her, the case got more difficult for detectives. Did Ashley try to commit suicide, or was she Castor’s next intended victim? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the course of her adulthood, Stacey Castor went from a loving mother and wife to a meticulous murderer. Her choice of weapon was poison, and her careful planning allowed her to get away with murder for many years. We investigate how one woman could take such a dark turn and murder those closest to her. SPONSORS! After Anna - Listen now at Macmillanaudio.com/AfterAnna Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Seema Parihar was just 13 years old, she was kidnapped from her home in Northern India by bandits. Parihar faced unimaginable mental and physical abuse at the hands of her captors, but persevered to become one of the most feared bandits in the region for nearly 20 years. We investigate her path towards banditry and unlikely second act as a politician. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonnie Parker dreamed of being famous, but she became infamous. When she wasn’t robbing banks, Bonnie struggled to maintain relationships with her family, and maintain a “ladylike” image. However, Bonnie’s crimes kept her on less-than-ladylike wanted posters and led her to a violent death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since she was a little girl, Bonnie Parker dreamed of fame and fortune. And while she imagined life as a movie star, or a singer, she found an alternative way to make her dreams come true when she met Clyde Barrow. From stealing cars to robbing banks, Bonnie quickly became the most wanted woman in America for her role as half of the infamous criminal duo: Bonnie & Clyde. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Formerly a Lucha Libra wrestler in Mexico City, Juana Barraza became a deceitful serial killer. Between 1998 and 2006, she won the trust of elderly women, who she then killed and robbed. Because police believed the murderer to be a man, Juana continued her deadly crimes without fear. By the time she was caught, she was suspected of claiming up to 48 victims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From 1999 to 2006, as many as 48 elderly women were murdered in Mexico City. We dive deep into Juana Barraza’s transition from Lucha Libre wrestler, “The Silent Lady”, to one of Mexico’s most infamous serial killers, “The Little Old Lady Killer”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griselda Blanco was a Colombian drug lord who supplied cocaine to the United States in the 1970s and 80s. By the mid 1980s, she was moving roughly 2000 pounds of cocaine each month, and undergoing an intense rivalry with her former protege, Pablo Escobar. We dive into the life of the ruthless Cocaine Godmother and her reign as one of the bloodiest drug lords of her time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griselda Blanco was born in Colombia on February 15, 1943. By age 11, Griselda committed her first of many murders. We follow her rise to becoming one of the first infamous leaders of the 1970’s drug trade. Between cold-blooded killing and drug overdoses, many died at the hands of the Cocaine Godmother. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the team behind hit podcasts Serial Killers and Cults, Female Criminals gets into the minds of women who live outside the law. Every Wednesday, we examine the psychology, motivations, and atrocities of female felons. Female Criminals premieres March 21st and new episodes will release every Wednesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices