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 examine 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 Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.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: 50

Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Hungary: Béla Kiss and the Lonely Hearts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:28
Hungary's Béla Kiss lured and slaughtered those seeking love... Season 36 dives deep into the chilling tales of forgotten serial killers. In a sleepy town in Hungary, the seemingly charming Béla Kiss preyed on the hopes…
Marrakesh: The Shoemaker's 36 Graves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:23
In Marrakesh, the shoemaker buried his many victims beneath his shop... This season unfolds the chilling narratives of historical serial killers worldwide. In a vibrant Marrakesh, the unassuming shoemaker, often found di…
Netherlands: Angel of Death's Many Victims [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:32
In 1880s Leiden, the 'Angel of Death's many victims lay undetected. 'Good Mary', once a beloved caretaker, was found to have... The season examines into the horrific actions of serial killers throughout history. Known to…
Finland: Matti Haapoja's Famine Murders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:19
Finland's Great Famine birthed bleak times, and amidst these shadows emerged serial killer Matti Haapoja... In dire straits, survival instincts can descend into depravity. Haapoja's crimes emerged from a backdrop of desp…
Philippines: The Priest Who Killed 57 Parishioners [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:28
In 1826, a chilling discovery marred the serene backdrop of a Philippine parish. Father Juan Severino Mallari... The trusted priest of quiet parish life horrified his community. Allegations of murder, cloaked in piety an…
Australia: The 1842 Berrima Axe Murderer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:35
In February 1842, a dingo uncovered a shallow grave near Berrima. This harrowing discovery in Australian history... In the rolling hills near Berrima, the macabre find of a dingo engaged a nation. Kearns Landregan, an Ir…
India: Thug Behram and the Thuggee Stranglers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:56
In colonial India, travelers often befriended strangers on the road, never suspecting these companions were Thuggee Stranglers. Thug Behram's reign of terror makes a chilling subject for analysis of Foul Play's Season 36…
Portugal: The 1772 Foundling Wheel Killer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:28
In 18th-century Portugal, amid olive groves, a caretaker discovered a shallow grave containing an infant's body. The Foundling Wheel Killer of 1772 walks us along the tragic paths of historical serial killers in Season 3…
Jamaica: The Edinburgh Castle Mad Master [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:41
What drives a man from Scottish grace to Caribbean bloodshed? In the sun-drenched hills of Jamaica, the Edinburgh Castle Mad Master left a trail of violence. This Season 36 episode explores serial killers who left indeli…
France: La Voisin and the Poison Affair [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:43
In the glittering court of Louis XIV's France, La Voisin built a criminal empire on the dark art of poisoning. Known for the Affair of the Poisons, she became a notorious figure, weaving crime and mysticism in a tale tha…