What really happened in the LaPorte farmhouse of Belle Gunness? Was she a serial killer?

Cheryl Morey, South Bend Tribune
·1 min read
This colorized photo from around 1908 shows Belle Gunness and three of her children. On April 27, 1908, her LaPorte farmhouse burned down. Afterward, the remains of several bodies were found in the basement rubble and more bodies were discovered buried on her farm, but it remains unclear if Gunness perished. On March 17, 2024, LaPorte County Historian Bruce Johnson will deliver the lecture “The Story of Belle Gunness” at The History Museum in South Bend.

SOUTH BEND — The History Museum presents the lecture “The Story of Belle Gunness” at 2 p.m. March 17 at 897 Thomas St.

LaPorte County Historian Bruce Johnson will talk about what happened when the LaPorte farmhouse of Belle Gunness burned down on April 27, 1908.

Remains of several bodies were found in the basement rubble, but it is unclear if it was Belle who perished.

In the weeks that followed, the mystery of her life began to unravel as more bodies were discovered buried on her farm.

Attendees also may tour the exhibit “Indiana Lore” before and after the program. The exhibit, presented in conjunction with the Indiana Historical Society, showcases larger-than-life legends and folklore of the Hoosier state.

Admission is $5; $3 for members.

For more information, call 574-235-9664 or visit historymuseumsb.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Belle Gunness topic of talk at The History Museum