Idaho’s First Lady Serial Killer
Lyda “Anna” Trueblood, Idaho’s First Lady Serial Killer known for killing her victims using arsenic, and then claiming their life insurance.
While visiting family in Idaho it was brought to our attention that they had their very own states first lady serial killer buried in a nearby cemetery.
We thought it would be perfect to go check it out and add it to our haunted places that we visited on our trip to ID.
Even though we went during the day, there was some pretty heavy energy vibes and would’ve loved it if we had the chance to go back at night to see if we could get anything. However we just didn’t have the time.
It is most definitely on our list for our next trip out there.
The Names
Born Lyda Anna Mae Trueblood on October 16, 1892 in Keytesville, MO.
- Married her first husband Robert Dooley at the early age of 19 and became Lyda Dooley on March 17, 1912.
- Two years after the death of her first husband, Lyda remarried to a gentleman by the name of William G. McHaffle in 1917.
- After the death of her second husband in 1918, she married her third husband Harlen C. Lewis who past suddenly four months after they married.
- In August of 1920 was husband number four, Edward F. Meyer who then mysteriously fell ill and died one month later.
- Lyda then went off to marry three more times to Paul V. Southard, Harry Whitlock, and Hal Shaw.
Sudden Death or Murder
Lyda married her first husband Robert Dooley on March 17, 1912 in Twin Falls ID. The newlyweds moved in with Roberts brother Ed Dooley on a ranch and two years later had a daughter named Lorraine.
Tragedy struck a year later when the Dooley’s lost their first born and only child Lorraine in 1915. Lyda told the public their daughter fell ill after drinking water from a dirty well. Shortly after losing Lorraine the Dooley’s suffered another sudden loss when Robert’s brother suddenly passed in August of 1915 and was ruled as Food Poisoning.
Just two short months after losing his brother, Robert fell ill with typhoid fever and passed away October 12, 1915. With Lyda being the only sole survivor of her family she was able to collect on the life insurance polices for each of them shortly after their deaths.
Two years after the death of her first husband, Lyda remarried to a man named William G. McHaffle, and on October 1, 1918 McHaffle suddenly fell ill with what they thought was the flu and passed away. The death certificate ruled the cause of death as influenza and diphtheria. Again shortly after the death of her second husband, Lyda collected the life insurance policy of her late husband William G. McHaffle.
Just five short months after the death of William, Lyda remarried for the third time. Third time’s a charm right? Not for Lyda. In March of 1919 she married her third husband Harlen C. Lewis and moved to Montana where he died in July of 1919 of flu like symptoms.
Are you starting to see a pattern here?
She didn’t stop after that, Lyda moved to Pocatello ID. and married her fourth husband Edward F. Meyer in August 1920. He too mysteriously fell ill of typhoid fever and died on September 7, 1920.
Truth Be Told
Earl Dooley, a relative of Robert and Ed Dooley, Lyda’s first husband and brother-in-law. Was a chemist in Twin Falls ID. and decided to start looking into the mysterious deaths of Lyda’s late husbands.
Alongside a physician and another chemist Earl soon discovered that Robert and Ed Dooley were murdered. An investigation was underway lead by Twin Falls County Prosecutor Frank Stephan.
After exhuming three bodies of Lyda’s husbands and her daughter it was soon found that they were all killed by arsenic poisoning. After this discovery Frank Stephan examined the other bodies and discovered those also contained arsenic.
The investigation went on to find Lyda’s motive for the murders in the records of the Idaho State Life Insurance company of Boise. Here it was shown that all four husbands took out a large life insurance policy and Lyda was listed as the beneficiary on all the claims.
| Husband | Insurance Money |
|---|---|
| Robert Dooley | $4,600 |
| William McHaffle | $500 |
| Harlan Lewis | $3,000 |
| Ed Meyer | $10,000 |
| Paul Vance Southard | $10,000 |
Justice Has Been Served
By the time the investigation was over Lyda had already skipped town and was happily remarried to husband number five Paul Southard and living on the beautiful island of Honolulu.
Lyda was found by law enforcement, taken back to ID. where she was arraigned on June 11, 1921.
After a six-week trial she was found guilty on all charges of second-degree murder and sentenced to ten years in the Old Idaho State Penitentiary.
May 4, 1931 Lyda escaped from the Old Idaho State Penitentiary, and found her new home in the colorful state of Colorado, where she found a job as a housekeeper.
Another love story unfolds as Lyda falls in love with her employer Mr. Harry Whitlock and marries husband number six in March 1932.
Little did she know her new husband was going to turn her in and assisted in her final arrest on July 31, 1932. Lyda was taken back to Idaho to the penitentiary and was released on probation, October 1941 and in time was given a final pardon in 1942.
Mystery Husband Number Seven
Sometime after her pardon in 1942, Lyda remarried and eventually became Mrs. Hal Shaw, her seventh husband, who mysteriously disappeared several years later.
Until Death……..
Lyda, now known as Anna Shaw, suffered a heart attack that ultimately led to her death on February 5, 1958. She was returned home and then buried at the Sunset Memorial Park in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Check out these other Haunted sites.
We can’t thank you enough for your support in making our dreams come true and allowing us to share our adventures, recipes, and stories with you all!
Our Venmo Donate is not only a great way to support us for some server time so we can continue to provide you with content; but a way you can come with us for tours, happy hour drinks and on ghost adventures.
About The Author
Spirits-Food and Booze
Spirits-Food and Booze was created with love, and ideas from each one of us. We love to share our ideas, crafts, recipes, fun times, and experiences. We are amateur ghost hunters, foodies, crafters, and all around enjoy having a good time. We hope you enjoy our site and come back for more!