Clementine Barnabet
Clementine Barnabet (born c. 1894) was an alleged American serial killer who was convicted of killing one person and claimed to have killed as many as 35.
Clementine Barnabet | |
---|---|
Born | 1894 |
Died | Unknown |
Details | |
Victims | 35 dead |
Span of crimes | February 1911–1912 |
Country | USA |
State(s) | Louisiana |
Early life
Clementine Barnabet is believed to have been born around 1894 in St. Martinville, Louisiana to Raymond Barnabet and Nina Porter. She also had one brother named Zepherin. Barnabet's father reportedly abused his family, which moved to Lafayette in 1909.[1]
Investigation
Barnabet's first murder occurred in February 1911. While Raymond Barnabet was awaiting trial, another familicide took place. In November 1911, Norbert and Asima Randall and their four children were murdered in a manner similar to the previous slayings.[1]
Arrest
Eventually Barnabet confessed to 35 murders.[2] She explained her connection to the Church of Sacrifice, an offshoot of a Christ's Sanctified Holy Church congregation in Lake Charles, Louisiana.[1] Clementine claimed that a priestess of the Church of Sacrifice had given her and her friends "conjure bags" (see Hoodoo) that would grant them supernatural powers and make them undetectable to the authorities.[3] This spurred Barnabet into committing her first murder to test whether or not this was true.[1]
Sentencing and disappearance
In October 1912, Clementine Barnabet was sentenced to life in prison at Angola State Penitentiary. In July 1913, she tried to escape jail, but was caught. However, in August 1923, Barnabet was released from prison, after which no knowledge exists on her whereabouts.[1]
See also
References
- Gauthreaux, Alan G.; Hippensteel, D. G. (2015). Dark Bayou: Infamous Louisiana Homicides. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-6295-4.
- Index to Dates of Current Events Occurring Or Reported Jan. 1912-Dec. 1914. R.R. Bowker Company. 1913.
- The American library annual 1911/12-1917/18: including list of American libraries of over 5000 volumes : libraries of Latin America : library schools and short courses: library and book-trade periodicals and organizations : book publication statistics, etc. Office of the Publishers' weekly. 1913.