The legend of Lavina Fisher will vary from teller to teller but the gist of the story goes like this. Most say she was the first woman serial killer, but others say there could have been ones before her that were never exposed. Married to a man named John, Lavina and him owned an inn on a lonesome road outside Charleston, South Carolina. The building was well maintained and was a welcome sight to weary travelers, but it was rumored that sometimes guests checked in and did not check out. People thought it was just a tale made up by the bored young ones in the town. One night a fur trader named John Peoples stopped at the inn and was warmly greeted by the Fishers. The beautiful Lavinia Fisher was especially friendly. He thought the Fishers were being a little too friendly and, suspicious of their intentions, he went to bed early.
People's suspicions grew and he could not sleep. He decided not to lie in the bed but to sit in the corner facing the door so he could see if anyone came in to attack him. Suddenly, his uncertainties were confirmed when a trapdoor sprung, dropping the bed into the cellar where he saw John Fisher ahead of him waiting with an axe. Peoples escaped quickly and hurried back to Charleston to tell the authorities. John and Lavinia were arrested and their property was searched by officials. Human remains were found, including many bodies in a lime pit in the cellar beneath the trap door. The Fishers were convicted of murder and sentenced to hang.
The unrepentant, Lavinia Fisher was sent to the gallows in 1820 wearing her wedding dress. John Fisher put all the blame on his wife, but it did no good, he was hanged along with her. Some say Lavinia's ghost now haunts the Old Jail on Magazine Street in Charleston as well as the Unitarian Cemetery.
People's suspicions grew and he could not sleep. He decided not to lie in the bed but to sit in the corner facing the door so he could see if anyone came in to attack him. Suddenly, his uncertainties were confirmed when a trapdoor sprung, dropping the bed into the cellar where he saw John Fisher ahead of him waiting with an axe. Peoples escaped quickly and hurried back to Charleston to tell the authorities. John and Lavinia were arrested and their property was searched by officials. Human remains were found, including many bodies in a lime pit in the cellar beneath the trap door. The Fishers were convicted of murder and sentenced to hang.
The unrepentant, Lavinia Fisher was sent to the gallows in 1820 wearing her wedding dress. John Fisher put all the blame on his wife, but it did no good, he was hanged along with her. Some say Lavinia's ghost now haunts the Old Jail on Magazine Street in Charleston as well as the Unitarian Cemetery.
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