Caroline Grills

Caroline Grills

Caroline Grills was an Australian serial killer, known for poisoning at least four family members and attempting to poison another in the 1940s and 1950s. She was born in 1888 in Balmain, New South Wales, and later became infamous under the nickname "Aunt Thally," a reference to her use of thallium, a rat poison, as her choice of murder weapon. Grills' case is notable for highlighting the dangers of readily available poisons and the challenges of detecting poisonings during that era.

Early Life

Little is known about Caroline Grills' early life. She was born into a working-class family in Balmain, New South Wales, and her upbringing was typical for the time. She married Richard William Grills, and together they lived a seemingly unremarkable life, blending into their community without suspicion.

Crimes

Caroline Grills' criminal activities came to light in the late 1940s. She was charged with the murder of four family members, including her stepmother, Mary Ann Mickelson, and three other relatives, over a period from 1947 to 1953. The victims suffered from mysterious symptoms that were later identified as thallium poisoning. Thallium was a common rat poison at the time, which made it easily accessible and difficult to detect as a cause of illness without specific testing.

Grills was also charged with the attempted murder of another relative, whom she had also given food laced with thallium. The relative survived and became a key witness in her trial.

Trial and Conviction

Caroline Grills' trial garnered significant media attention. The prosecution presented evidence of her purchasing thallium and linking it to the illnesses of her victims. In 1953, she was found guilty of multiple counts of murder and attempted murder and was sentenced to death. However, her sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment, reflecting the era's changing attitudes towards capital punishment.

Impact

The case of Caroline Grills had a profound impact on Australian society and the legal system. It led to increased regulation of poisons, including the requirement for prescriptions to purchase substances like thallium. Her case also highlighted the need for better forensic techniques in detecting poisonings, which were difficult to prove at the time.

Death

Caroline Grills died in custody in 1960. Despite her conviction, she maintained her innocence until her death. Her case remains one of the most notorious instances of serial poisoning in Australian criminal history.

Legacy

Caroline Grills' story has been the subject of various media, including books and television documentaries, reflecting the enduring fascination with her crimes. Her case is often cited in discussions about female serial killers and the use of poison as a weapon.