Iranian woman sentenced to death for serial murders of elderly husbands

Iranian authorities have sentenced 56-year-old Kolsoum Akbari, dubbed the "Black Widow," to death following a string of murders spanning over two decades. Operating from the early 2000s until her 2023 arrest, Akbari targeted vulnerable, elderly men by entering into traditional or temporary "sigheh" marriages. Once she gained their trust and access to their financial assets, she systematically poisoned her victims, typically using a mix of tranquilizers, diabetes medication, and industrial chemicals.

The investigation into her crimes began in 2023 after the death of her 82-year-old husband, Gholamreza Babai, raised alarms among his surviving family members. Authorities subsequently uncovered a pattern of behavior that led to her apprehension. While official reports link her to at least 11 deaths, Akbari reportedly confessed during interrogations that the true figure could be as high as 13 or 15 individuals, though she stated she could not recall the exact number of victims. The case has caused widespread public outrage in Iran, highlighting the exploitation of elderly individuals living in isolation.