Diane O'Dell (born 1953) is an American female serial killer who was convicted of murdering three of her 12 children. She was also investigated for the disappearance of another child.[1] O'Dell regularly traveled with the corpses.[2] The bodies of the three dead newborns were found in May 2003 in a storage shed O'Dell rented and abandoned in Safford, Arizona.[3]
Diane O'Dell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953 (age 70–71) |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Motive | Children were illegitimate Fathers of children abandoned her |
| Conviction(s) | Second-degree murder |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment |
| Details | |
| Victims | 3–4 |
| Date | 1982/1983/1985 |
| Country | United States |
| Location(s) | Sullivan County, New York |
| Weapon | Asphyxiation |
Date apprehended | May 17, 2003 |
By all accounts, she murdered them because they were illegitimate. O'Dell told police the babies died at birth between 1981 and 1984.[4] She kept the three babies in a storage unit for over ten years. When she defaulted on her rent, her landlord cleared out her possessions and discovered the corpses.[5] The case became known as 'The Babies in Boxes Murder Case'.[6]
Trial
In her 2003 trial, the jury rejected three counts of first degree murder, but unanimously found her guilty of second degree murder.[7]
In 2004, she was sentenced to life in prison. She will be eligible for parole in 2029.[8]