in april 1908, the home of resident belle gunness burned down. the investigation found that belle gunness was a killer who would seduce males so she could kill them for their money. it is unknown exactly how many murders she committed-anywhere to from over a dozen to a suspected 50. there are two main beliefs of belle gunness fate; one is that she was killed in the fire caused by her accomplice ray lamphere [who died in prison of natural causes]; the other is that she tried to fake her own death [the remains of the woman found with gunness children did not confirm to gunness size and weight]. in april 1931 a woman called herself "esther carlson" was arrested in california on a charge of poisoning a man named august lindstrom for his money; she died of natural causes before she could be tried or identified as gunness..