A notorious Japanese serial killer known as the “Black Widow” has died on death row while awaiting execution for poisoning multiple elderly men with cyanide to get nearly $9 million in inheritances.
Chisako Kakashi, 78, was confirmed dead after being found lying on her back in her cell Thursday morning, according to Nippon news. A cause had yet to be confirmed.
Kakehi was serving a death sentence at the Osaka Detention Center for the murders of her husband and two other former partners, as well as the attempted murder of a fourth man, after amassing nearly $8.8 million in their inheritances.
Her killing spree took place between 2007 and 2013 — a period when she married at least three times and had three other partners who died mysteriously within a few years of starting to date her, according to reports.
She became known as the “Black Widow” when she was arrested in 2014 after her 75-year-old husband died a month after they married, according to Sky News.
She was later charged with murdering two other former boyfriends, ages 71 and 75, and trying to kill a fourth, aged 79.
Kakehi lured her victims by disguising cyanide — which she obtained from running a printing plant — as health supplements. All of her victims were discovered with traces of the deadly compound in their system.
Her lawyers attempted to argue Kakehi was suffering from dementia during her 2017 trial — despite her blurting out in court, “I killed my husband.”
Her case stunned citizens in Japan, with hundreds of people lining up to view her sentencing and court appearances.
with Post wires
