Leonarda Cianciulli (c. 1893-1970) was one of Italy’s first serial killers. Nicknamed the “Soap Maker of Correggio,” she committed shocking acts of violence and depravity. As a result, her trial in 1946 gripped the country. For those of you tuning in for the first time, welcome! Here’s the deal: Every weekday, we highlight the stories of iconic women in history you may not know about, but definitely should. We’re talking about women from around the world and throughout history. Each month is themed. This month we’re talking about troublemakers–from women who made “good trouble” to women who thrived in illicit industries to villains in the truest sense of the word.
This month, we're talking about troublemakers–from women who made “good trouble” to women who thrived in illicit industries to villains in the truest sense of the word.
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Hello! From Wonder Media Network, I’m Jenny Kaplan and this is Womanica.
If you’re tuning in for the first time, here’s the deal. Every weekday, we’re telling the stories of women from around the world and throughout history who you may not know about, but should. Each month is themed.
This month, we’re talking about Troublemakers. We’re covering stories from across the spectrum, from women who made “good trouble” to women who thrived in illicit industries to villains in the truest sense of the word. All of the women we’re covering had a major impact on the societies in which they lived.
Women, just like men, have played good and bad roles in human history. To gloss over women who we may find less than inspiring is to accept a diminished and inaccurate place in the historical record.
This episode is about a villain. If you’re listening with young children you may want to sit this one out.
Today, we’re diving into the dark story of a woman who became one of Italy’s first serial killers. Nicknamed the “Soap Maker of Correggio,” she committed shocking acts of violence and depravity. As a result, her trial in 1946 gripped the country.
Let’s talk about Leonarda Cianciulli (Chee-an-choo-lee).
Leonarda was born in 1893 or 1894 -- sources disagree. She grew up in the Southern Italian town of Montella.
Leonarda had an unhappy childhood. In a memoir she wrote from prison later in life, she described herself as frail and weak. Her parents treated her unkindly, and she attempted suicide twice.
As a teenager, Leonarda frequently visited psychics. And two particular readings left her with a grim foreboding view of her future.
One psychic told her that she would have many children, but they would all die young.
Another psychic gave her a palm reading. She told Leonarda, “In your right hand, I see prison. In your left hand, I see a criminal asylum.”
These proved to be quite accurate readings.
When she was about 21 years old, Leonarda went against her parents’ wishes and married a man named Raffaele Pansardi. She believed that her mother cursed their union.
Then came the first fulfillment of the psychic’s predictions.
Over the course of her life, Leonarda was pregnant 17 times. She had three miscarriages, and ten of her children died young. Such an experience would have caused much grief and anxiety. And for Leonarda, that manifested in particular ways. Perhaps fearful of the psychic’s prophecy, Leonarda became incredibly protective of the four children that remained. She became paranoid and increasingly superstitious.
In 1930 an earthquake hit Lacedonia, where she and her family were living. Lacedonia was the epicenter, and the disaster killed more than a thousand people and destroyed more than 30 buildings. Leonarda’s home was one of them.
After the earthquake, Leonarda and her family moved to a northern Italian town called Correggio, where she would go on to run a shop. She was popular around town, and her neighbors saw her as a devoted mother. Leonarda was also a local match-maker and fortune teller, and the townspeople sought out her skills.
In 1939, as World War II was just beginning in Europe, Leonarda heard that Giuseppe, her oldest son, was drafted into the army.
And this led to the fulfillment of the second psychic vision.
By some accounts, Leonarda decided that in order to protect her favorite son, she needed human sacrifices.
One by one, between the years of 1939 and 1940 in exchange for money, she lured older women in, and promised them what they most desired.
The first was Faustina Setti. Faustina was lonely, and in search of a husband. And Leonarda convinced her that she’d found just the man for her in another town. Leonarda convinced Faustina to write letters to friends and family and tell them of her newfound love, and that she was leaving to live with him.
Instead, when Faustina came over to say goodbye to Leonarda, she was served poisoned wine. Leonarda then killed Faustina with an axe, drained her blood, dismembered her, and put her body into a large pot of caustic soda to dispose of it.
It took an even more morbid turn: Leonarda reportedly used Faustina’s blood to bake into cakes, which she served to ladies in town. She wrote in her memoir that she and her son Giuseppe also ate them.
Leonarda’s second victim was Francesca Soavi. Leonarda promised her a new job at a girls’ school in another town. Francesca also wrote letters to let her family know of her big life change. She was then murdered and disposed of in the same manner.
And finally, Virginia Cacioppo, a former opera singer. Leonarda also tricked her into believing she had found her a new job outside of Correggio. But Virginia met the same fate as the other two victims. This time, Leonarda used the caustic soda and lime to render Virginia’s body into soap and candles as well.
Virginia’s sister-in-law began to worry and alerted the police. Virginia was last seen walking into Leonarda’s house. So, the police originally suspected Giuseppe. But upon questioning, Leonarda immediately confessed to the murders -- protective of her son even then.
Leonarda’s trial was a national sensation. People were not only shocked by Leonarda’s crimes, but also by the fact that someone of her gender was capable of committing such atrocities.
In 1946 Leonarda was convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison and three years in a criminal asylum.
Leonarda died in a criminal asylum of cerebral apoplexy on October 15, 1970. She was 79 years old.
Her crimes still fascinate all these years later, and some of her weapons and pots are now at the Criminology Museum in Rome.
All month, we’re talking about complex women who were villains and troublemakers in their own times.
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Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator.
Talk to you tomorrow!