In this chilling installment of our Black Widow Series, we unravel the deadly life of Nannie Doss, the woman whose cheerful grin concealed one of the most disturbing patterns of murder in American history. Known by a string of haunting nicknames—The Giggling Granny, The Lonely Hearts Killer, Lady Bluebeard, and The Black Widow—Doss crafted a legacy of deception, poison, and death that spanned decades and left dozens of victims in her wake.

Lena Blackwell and Damien Cross take you deep into Nannie’s early life in rural Alabama, exploring the trauma, strict upbringing, and emotional instability that shaped her path. From her turbulent marriages and her obsession with romance magazines to her chilling use of arsenic as her weapon of choice, this episode sheds light on how an ordinary-seeming woman was able to kill family members, husbands, and anyone else who stood in the way of the “happily ever after” she imagined for herself.

We examine how Nannie’s charm allowed her to stay one step ahead of suspicion, how she manipulated those around her with disarming sweetness, and how she managed to evade capture for years. Through newspaper accounts, historical records, and psychological insight, this conversation uncovers the pattern of poisonings that authorities struggled to connect—until one final misstep brought her long run to an end.

Join us as we break down her motives, her methods, the investigation that exposed her crimes, and the unsettling legacy she left behind. Whether you’re a seasoned true-crime enthusiast or a newcomer to the darker corners of criminal history, this episode offers a detailed, gripping, and unforgettable dive into the life and murders of Nannie Doss.

Behind the Bloodstains continues its exploration of history’s most cunning female killers—because sometimes the most terrifying monsters wear the warmest smiles.