Janie Lou Gibbs

Janie Lou Gibbs

Janie Lou Gibbs (December 25, 1932 – February 7, 2010) was an American serial killer who was convicted of poisoning her family members. Her crimes took place in the 1960s in Georgia, United States.

Early Life

Janie Lou Gibbs was born on December 25, 1932, in Georgia. Little is known about her early life, but she was a devout member of her local church and was known in her community as a kind and charitable woman.

Crimes

Between 1965 and 1967, Gibbs poisoned her husband, three sons, and a grandson using arsenic. Initially, the deaths were attributed to natural causes, but suspicions arose after the death of her grandson. Subsequent investigations revealed that Gibbs had been administering arsenic to her family members.

Victims

• **Marvin Gibbs** - Janie Lou Gibbs' husband, who died in 1965.
• **Lester Gibbs** - Her eldest son, who died in 1966.
• **Roger Gibbs** - Her second son, who died in 1966.
• **Marvin Gibbs Jr.** - Her youngest son, who died in 1967.
• **Raymond Gibbs** - Her grandson, who died in 1967.

Arrest and Trial

Gibbs was arrested in 1967 after an autopsy on her grandson revealed lethal levels of arsenic. Further investigation and exhumation of her other family members confirmed the presence of arsenic. She was charged with multiple counts of murder.

During her trial, Gibbs pleaded guilty but was declared insane and was committed to a state mental hospital. She was later transferred to a prison facility where she remained until her death.

Death

Janie Lou Gibbs died on February 7, 2010, in a prison hospital in Georgia.

Legacy

The case of Janie Lou Gibbs remains a notable example of familial homicide and has been the subject of various true crime documentaries and books.

See Also

• List of serial killers in the United States
• Poisoning
• Arsenic poisoning