Ep 4. Dangerous Liaisons

In Deadly Women season 4 episode 4, titled Dangerous Liaisons, the focus is on the manipulative power of women. The episode is divided into three segments, each dealing with a different case of female criminality.

The first segment tells the story of Anne Marie Hahn, a German immigrant who became known as the "lonely hearts killer." Anne Marie emigrated to America in the 1920s and had a series of unsuccessful marriages and relationships. In order to support herself, she started placing advertisements in lonely hearts columns, posing as a wealthy widow. She targeted men who were looking for wealthy women to marry. Once she had their trust, she would convince them to turn over their life savings to her before killing them with poison. Anne Marie was caught and convicted of murdering five men.

The next segment features the case of Barbara Stager, a North Carolina woman who murdered her husband. Barbara was having an affair with a younger man and wanted to leave her aging husband. She convinced her husband to take out a life insurance policy and then shot him in the head while he was sleeping. Barbara claimed that an intruder had broken into their house and killed her husband, but the police quickly found evidence that she had staged the crime scene. Barbara was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. However, her sentence was later commuted to life in prison due to questions about the fairness of her trial.

The final segment tells the story of Celeste Beard Johnson, a former model who married a wealthy Texas businessman named Steven Beard. Celeste had a history of mental instability and drug addiction, and her marriage to Steven Soon turned violent and abusive. However, rather than leaving him, Celeste chose to plot his murder. She enlisted the help of two hitmen and promised them a share of her husband's fortune. Steven was shot to death in his home in 1999. Celeste was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Throughout the episode, experts analyze the motives and psychology behind these crimes. They argue that all of the women featured were able to use their charm and manipulation skills to bend others to their will. They also highlight the societal factors that may have contributed to their criminal behavior, such as financial instability, mental illness, and abusive relationships.

Overall, Dangerous Liaisons is a dramatic and thought-provoking episode of Deadly Women that explores the darker side of female criminality. The stories of Anne Marie Hahn, Barbara Stager, and Celeste Beard Johnson show how women can be just as ruthless and calculating as men when it comes to committing murder. At the same time, the episode offers insights into the complex psychological and social factors that can drive these women to commit such heinous crimes.