Kempamma – The Cyanide Queen

The following article will allow you to get exposure of how the first women serial killer in India appeared with a series of murder mysteries.

Background Of The Case

Cyanide Mallika earlier worked as a helper in a shop of goldsmiths, where she came to know about cyanides. Later, she started to work as a domestic helper, and she was even caught for theft. She began to follow a calculated routine, visiting the temple daily and observing those who appeared to be suffering. It was only a matter of time before she positioned herself as a divine figure, offering them solace and a promise to resolve their troubles through a special mandala pooja ritual. She asked them to wear their most expensive clothes and adorn themselves with jewellery as part of the ritual. Inviting her victims to an unfamiliar temple on the outskirts, Kempamma would instruct them to close their eyes and pray. Then she served them cyanide mixed in holy water.

Cyanide Mohan: The Gruesome Tale of India’s Dreaded Serial Killer

Police Came Up In The Case

Initially, the police treated the cases of death as unnatural deaths. They could only know that the death was due to cyanide poisoning. Some cases were even considered as suicides. Most of the bodies were found decomposed. The dead body of Yashodhamma was found. A journalist published an article connecting the earlier deaths. Cyanide Mallika was tracked with phone call records. She accepted that she had committed eight murders. In 2007, she was punished with life imprisonment. Currently, in her 50s, Cyanide Mallika is now lodged at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.

Also Read: Ballistics Evidence

Analysis Of Cyanide In Forensic Chemistry

SYMPTOMS OF CYANIDE POISONING

Early: Headache, dizziness, fast heart rate, shortness of breath, vomiting

Later: Seizures, slow heart rate, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, cardiac arrest

Post Mortem Changes

The following changes can be noticed in cases of death due to cyanide poisoning: oxygenated blood in veins and the presence of cheery red blood; the smell of bitter almonds can be noticed while opening the body cavity; and the bright red colour of muscles and vascular organs can be seen during post-mortem examination.

Toxicology – Evidences

Also Read: Types of Physical Evidence

VISCERA

The stomach and its contents, GI tract, blood, urine, vomit, liver, kidney, spleen, and brain are collected for examination. In cases of inhaled poison, the lungs are also contained in nylon bags to prevent the escape of volatile cyanide.

CYANTESMO TEST PAPER

Suppose the colour of the paper remains pale green. It means that the sample does not contain cyanide. But if the colour of the paper changes to dark blue, the sample contains cyanide.

Instrumentation -Gas Chromatography

The principle of gas chromatography involves separating volatile components of a sample between the mobile gaseous phase and the stationary liquid phase.

Initially, the officers didn’t know that they were handling the first female serial killer in India. However, after investigation, the reports from forensic toxicology and post-mortem findings proved that the samples taken from the dead bodies of the victims contained cyanide. Today, Kempamma is alive, punished with life imprisonment, and kept in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.

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