Geneva: The Poisonous Nurse

Geneva: The Poisonous Nurse

Author: Shane L. Waters, Wendy Cee, Gemma Hoskins November 18, 2025 Duration: 30:30
On a warm June day in 1868, the vibrant streets of Geneva were struck by the nerve-chilling act of a nurse... The nurse was known for her guiding hand, yet within her grip lurked poison and peril. In Geneva's boarding houses, a deadly pattern unfurled as inhabitants, one by one, fell prey to her lethal touch. The notorious poisoner remained undetected, her crime wave a blight on Switzerland's serene facade. In Season 36 of Foul Play, journeys are made through sinister corridors of history. Episode 9 scrutinizes how a caregiver's betrayal juxtaposed with the solace they're meant to provide. Her victims encompassed the wide spectrum of lodgers seeking refuge and recovery at these Geneva sanctuaries. Among them, a young woman, full of promise and vitality, whose dreams dissolved in her nurse's care. Her presence was a breath of fresh air, yet her sudden demise cast long shadows over her potential-filled journey. The ramifications of this nurse's actions penetrated deep, creating ripples of fear within Geneva's hospitality landscape. Her story exemplifies the catastrophic breach of trust when those tasked with healing wield power for harm, challenging the community's sense of security. Living through limited scientific insight, detectives struggled with tracing her subterfuge. Forensic limitations meant reliance on circumstantial evidence—a laborious collation of symptoms and the trail of poisoned fare. But ultimately, long hours of dogged pursuit yielded a resolution to her venomous vendetta. In 1868, Europe was on the brink of scientific advancement yet teetered amidst old-world vulnerabilities. Historical dichotomies were stark as trust and treachery collided in what was perceived to be sanctified environments. This episode invites you to journey into the darkness of trust abused wherein chilling bedside conduct reveals much about the era's healthcare dynamics. Listen for riveting reconstructions and forensic voice as we delve deeper into what drove her to such unforgivable deeds. --- Support Foul Play: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foulplaypodcast Website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/foul-play/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/foul-play-crime-series/id1525832703 Follow us: Instagram: @foulplaycrimeseries Twitter: @foulplaypod

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Mood and use my code SHANE for a great deal: https://mood.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Step back into an era of flickering gaslight and whispered secrets, where justice was often as murky as the London fog or as stark as a frontier town’s saloon. Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast exhumes long-forgotten criminal cases from the 1800s and early 1900s, meticulously piecing together stories that newspapers sensationalized and time nearly erased. Hosts Shane Waters, a veteran whose work helped shape the genre, and Wendy Cee, alongside researcher Gemma Hoskins, guide you through each meticulously researched season. They focus on a single, complete narrative, building the tension from the crime itself through the investigation and into the courtroom’s hushed drama. You’ll hear more than just the facts; you’ll get a sense of the societal pressures, the legal limitations, and the human lives entangled in each historical moment. This isn't about quick summaries-it's a deep, immersive audio experience that treats the past with the gravity it deserves. The podcast connects the dots using original documents, period accounts, and a clear-eyed analysis that separates legend from truth. It’s for anyone who wonders about the real stories lurking in the shadows of history, told with a journalist’s precision and a storyteller’s care for the victims and the complexities of their times. Listen to Foul Play for a compelling journey where every clue matters and history itself is the most important character.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Ohio & Washington: Justice Buried for a Century [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:43
Content Warning: This episode contains descriptions of gun violence, intimate partner violence, poisoning, and discussions of coercive control in same-sex and heterosexual relationships. Crisis resources are listed at th…
Idaho & Alaska: Gold Fever and the Men Who Killed for It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:00
Billy Wimbish - was born around 1859. A Black man who made his life in the Alaska Interior, Wimbish earnedrespect among the miners of the Fairbanks district. In 1906, he served as lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against mine…
Maryland & Indiana: Forbidden Desires, 1878-1889 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:57
Content Warning: This episode contains descriptions of gun violence, intimate partner violence, poisoning, and discussions of coercive control in same-sex and heterosexual relationships. Crisis resources are listed at th…
S39E05 - Four Suspects, No Justice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:11
Content WarningThis episode contains discussions of murder, suicide, and Victorian scandal. Support resources are listed at the end of these notes.This EpisodeSeason 39 Finale: The Balham Mystery. The jury deliberated fo…
S39E04 - The Longest Inquest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:34
Content WarningThis episode contains discussions of adultery, abortion, and Victorian scandal. Support resources are listed at the end of these notes.This EpisodeSeason 39: The Balham Mystery. For twenty-three days, the…
S39E03 - Three Days of Dying [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:40
Content WarningThis episode contains detailed descriptions of poisoning and prolonged death. Support resources are listed at the end of these notes.This EpisodeSeason 39: The Balham Mystery. For seventy-two hours, Charle…
Balham: The Fatal Night at The Priory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:10
Content WarningThis episode contains discussions of poisoning and death. Support resources are listed at the end of these notes.This EpisodeSeason 39: The Balham Mystery. April 1876—a young barrister collapses in agony m…
Balham, London: The Priory Poisoning Mystery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:31
Content WarningThis episode contains discussions of domestic abuse, poisoning, and death. Support resources are listed at the end of these notes.This EpisodeSeason 39: The Balham Mystery. April 1876—a successful barriste…
London: A Murder Verdict in Victorian Court [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:16
A Victorian courtroom drama unfolds as a chilling murder verdict is delivered in 19th-century London, a place of evolving laws and societal norms. This episode, nestled in the heart of Season 38's exploration of 'The Rug…
New York: The Doctor's Care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:52
Enter 'The Doctor's Care' in New York—a chilling glimpse into the remaining shadows of the Rugeley Poisoner series, Part 2. This four-part narrative dissects the devious manipulations of Dr. William Palmer, a man whose a…