Henri Landru, the "Widow Killer" nicknamed "Bluebeard" (9 photos)

The nickname "Bluebeard" from Charles Perrault's fairy tale has become synonymous with treacherous husbands who murdered their wives. History is replete with such examples, but the Frenchman Henri Landru certainly stands out. He is responsible for 11 proven murders. All of his victims planned to live happily ever after with him.





A Clergyman, a Soldier, and a Criminal

The future serial killer was born on April 12, 1869, to an ordinary working-class family in France. His father worked as a stoker and was known as a devout teetotaler. His mother earned her living as a seamstress and was also known for her good behavior. Henri was also a good child – he attended a Catholic school in Paris, sang in the church choir, and even served as a subdeacon for a time.



Henri Désiré Landru

After high school, Landru served in the army. Returning home, he married a girl from the church choir, Marie Catherine Remy. She was modest and intelligent. Soon, the couple had four children, one after another. Henri, lacking an education, earned his living through odd jobs: working as a security guard, a cartographer, and a construction contractor.

The family was constantly short of money. Landru didn't just want to provide for a comfortable life for his family—he dreamed of wealth and luxury. His love of money repeatedly landed him in the dock. He was accused of fraud, forgery, and petty theft. He never went to jail—doctors declared him mentally ill, which spared him.





Henri Landru with his wife

In 1909, the authorities grew tired of Henri's antics and sentenced him to three years in prison. Some time later, he was caught stealing again. This time, the court sentenced him to imprisonment on Devil's Island in French Guiana. This was likely the best the judges could have done for society. Normally, such a sentence would have meant death, but Landru was lucky: World War I broke out, and he was allowed to remain in Paris. And a few months later, they released him altogether.

A Flawless Plan

Henri Landru, who had risen to the rank of non-commissioned officer, was due to go to the front. But he had no intention of perishing in the trenches—the seasoned con man had devised a simple and foolproof plan to get rich. The war had brought many deaths, and the number of widows in France was growing. These women often sought a new man to support them.



Henri Landru decided to capitalize on this. He began publishing matrimonial advertisements in provincial newspapers. In them, he introduced himself as a 47-year-old man of pleasant appearance with a regular income of 4,000 francs and some savings. His requirements for a future wife were modest: he was looking for a kind and thrifty woman of any age. Landru also mentioned that he planned to move with his wife to one of the pleasant French colonies near the ocean and with a warm climate. Naturally, such an ad attracted single women.

Letters from potential brides arrived in large numbers, and Landru carefully sorted them. He chose those who mentioned a good income. The criminal wrote back to them, arranging meetings—sometimes several a day. At these meetings, he gave a false name and posed as a government official, a military officer, an engineer, or a lawyer.

A Deadly Rendezvous at a Villa

Henri Landru ultimately chose the wealthiest widows and began courting them beautifully. He showered women with flowers, romantic poems, and gifts. The villain readily met his victims' friends and relatives, demonstrating the seriousness of his intentions. When Landru felt his chosen one was ready to trust him completely, he invited her to his "villa."



Caricature of Henri Landru in a Parisian magazine

Naturally, the penniless criminal didn't own a mansion. By "villa," he meant an ordinary peasant house in the town of Gambes. Many guests were disappointed to see the modest dwelling, but by then, that no longer mattered. Landru arrived there with a lady in the evening, and in the morning he departed for Paris alone. He had a lot to do: withdraw money from an account under a power of attorney, sell jewelry, watches, and clothing to buyers.

The serial killer's first victim was 36-year-old lingerie saleswoman Jeanne Cuchet and her 16-year-old son, whom she had the misfortune of taking with her. The maniac murdered them and then burned their dismembered bodies in the house's stove. Eleven people had passed through this house, and not a single one survived. The house was ideal for the crimes: it stood isolated from other buildings and had a separate entrance. Neighbors had no idea when and with whom Mr. Landru arrived.



Lists of the killer's victims in his notebook

The maniac operated for over three years. However, his prey was unimpressive. Investigators calculated that Landru earned only 35,000 francs. Widows often disappointed the killer, as many were fond of lying, but in reality, they proved to be completely incompetent. Nevertheless, the "conveyor belt of death" ran smoothly, and the criminal dealt with his victims, even if it brought him nothing.

The Killer's Mistake

Missing persons were rarely searched for. Relatives usually assumed that the widow had left with her fiancé for the colonies he described so vividly. Henri Landru was caught due to his own stupidity. He had given one of the widows the address of his country house in advance, and she, before leaving, shared it with her relatives.



When the woman didn't return, her parents wrote a letter to the mayor of Gambes, where the maniac's house was located. It wasn't difficult to find it, but the maniac himself was gone. Neighbors saw or heard nothing, although one recalled arguing with Landru about foul-smelling smoke. Henri then apologized, explaining that he was burning trash in the fireplace.

The killer was arrested on April 11, 1919, near a china shop where he was buying a china set as a gift for his wife. A friend of one of the victims recognized Landru and secretly called the police. The killer remained silent during interrogation, as he did in court. His lawyer adopted a simple defense: "No body, no case." He demanded the production of at least one corpse to establish the murders.



The stove from Landru's house, in which he burned the bodies

Nevertheless, despite the lack of bodies, Henri Landru was found guilty. There was ample evidence against him: from the stove permeated with the smell of burnt flesh to the metal can containing the gold crowns the killer had torn from his victims. His grisly "accounting book" was also found—a notebook containing the names of his victims, their dates of death, and the amounts of their loot.

A Death Row Inmate with a Sense of Humor

On November 30, 1921, the court sentenced Henri Landru to death. Although he never confessed to any of the 11 murders, he did not appeal the decision. On February 25, 1922, the criminal, dubbed "Bluebeard of Gambais" by the press, was beheaded by guillotine.

It is said that before his death, Landru maintained not only his composure but also his sense of humor. When offered the traditional glass of rum and a cigarette before his execution, he replied, "You know I've never been a drunkard or a smoker... Besides, it's unhealthy." Landru's severed head is still kept at the Museum of Death in Hollywood.



The Mummified Head of Henri Landru

Henri Landru went down in history as one of the most cold-blooded criminals of his time, and his case became an example of how meticulous planning and charisma can be used for evil. But could he have escaped punishment if he hadn't made a fatal mistake? Do you think there are criminals today who operate using a similar scheme and remain unpunished? Share your thoughts in the comments!