Beck, Martha (c. 1921–1951)

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Beck, Martha (c. 1921–1951)

American swindler and murderer. Born c. 1921; electrocuted at Sing Sing Prison, Mar 8, 1951.

Answered advertisement from Raymond Fernandez, a confidence man, in lonely hearts magazine; after meeting (Dec 1947) and falling in love, began tricking vulnerable women out of their savings with his help, a life of crime which soon turned into a killing spree; with Fernandez, was thought responsible for more than 20 murders (they were known as the Lonely Hearts Killers); tried in NY for murder of Janet Fay, widow in her 60s, and found guilty.

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