Diane O'Dell

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]

Diane O'Dell
Born1953 (age 69–70)
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)

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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