The Serial Killer Who Made Soaps and Cakes Out of the People She Killed
How Leonarda Cianciulli made soaps and cakes from her victims’ bodies.
Leonarda Cianciulli, also known as “The Soap-Maker of Correggio,” was an Italian serial killer who lured women into her home, killed them, and made soaps and teacakes out of their bodies, which she then sold and served to visitors. She is one of the most infamous female serial killers of the 20th century.
Early Life
Leonarda Cianciulli was born on April 18, 1894, in Montella, Italy. Her life was rather tragic and led her to attempt suicide twice before she reached adulthood. In 1917, to her mother’s dismay, she married a registry clerk named Raffaele Pansardi. Leonarda claims that this was when her mother, who desperately wanted her to marry another man, placed a “curse” on her and Raffaele.
Ten years later, Leonarda landed herself in prison for fraud. After her release, she moved her family from Potenza to Lacedonia, which was rather close to where she had grown up. In 1930, when the Irpinia Earthquake hit, Leonarda was among the thousands who lost their homes. She then moved her family to Correggio, where she opened a small shop and was known and well-liked by her friends, family, and neighbors.
