Jessie Burnett Costello (née Fyfe) | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 15, 1902 |
| Died | March 28, 1971 (aged 68) Peabody, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Criminal charge | Murder |
| Criminal penalty | Acquitted |
| Spouse |
William J. Costello (m. 1923) |
| Children | Four |
| Parent(s) | Andrew and Jessie Fyfe |
On February 17, 1933, William J. Costello, a fire captain in Peabody, Massachusetts, was found dead by his wife, Jessie B. Costello. After an autopsy found a lethal amount of potassium cyanide in his body, Jessie was charged with his murder. At trial, her defense team contended that her husband had killed himself or had ingested the poison accidentally. She was acquitted after a highly publicized trial.