Britain's First Female Serial Killer - Mary Ann Cotton - Historical Documentary

Dr Yorston uses his skills as a forensic psychiatrist to explore the life and dark deeds of Mary Ann Cotton, Britain’s first female serial killer, who in 1873, had her appointment with the hangman.

Her crimes had shocked the nation – how could a seemingly respectable woman – a nurse, wife, and mother of 13 children have done what she did – killing up to 21 victims?

Growing up in tough mining villages, she was all too acquainted with death – at nine her father’s remains were brought home in a sack after he fell down a mineshaft.

Was it this that hardened her heart and turned her to poisoning those around her or simply the insurance money she collected after each one was put into the ground.

She may have poisoned two husbands, a lover, a friend, her mother, step children and some or all of her children that were not taken away from her? But most of these deaths were never investigated so we don’t know how many died by her hand – just that it was more than the one that she went to the gallows for.

Finding Out More
There is a chilling dramatization of her life - Dark Angel (2016) which is well worth a watch, but if you’d like to find out more about the life and crimes of Mary Ann Cotton, I would recommend David Wilson’s book - he is a respected criminologist, well known for his work on serial killers. I have added these to my Amazon Store Page. https://www.amazon.com/shop/professor...

Music:
Reicha - Wind Quintet Op. 100 No. 4 in E minor - 1. Adagio The Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet CC2.0
Misha Dioxin From the Arctic Circle - To the southern seas CC4.0
Symphony 6: Andante Moderato. Recorded and played by Reinhold Behringer (Virtual Philharmonic Orchestra) with sampler and sequencer on a desktop computer CC3
Esther Abrami Esther’s Waltz No 9. CC1
Villa-Lobos - Trio for Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet CC2.0
Mozart String Quartet No. 15 In C Major "Les Dissonances" K465. Quatuor Mosaïques CC0
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No 5 - Trauermarsch Peabody Symphony Orchestra CC1.0
Beethoven – Octet II. Andante. The Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet CC2.0
Kirill Fandeev - Sonata for cello CC4
La Marseillaise (words and music by Rouget de l'Isle) Sung by Georges Thill, tenor of the Opera, and played by the band of the Garde Républicaine. Directed by Pierre Dupont
The Tapezist Quincas Moreira CC0
Sound Effects all CC0 via Freesound.

Video edited by Manavi Sakunika and produced by Graeme Yorston and Tom Yorston