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{{Infobox criminal
| name = KD Kempamma
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1970}}
| birth_place =
| other_names = Cyanide Mallika
| occupation =
| years_active = 1999 - 2007
| known_for = Murder of female temple devotees via cyanide poisoning
| criminal_charge =
| criminal_penalty = Death penalty (commuted to life imprisonment)
| motive = Theft
| conviction =
| victims = 6
| country = [[India]]
| states = [[Karnataka]]
| locations = [[Bangalore]]
| weapon =
| apprehended = 31 December 2007
}}

'''KD Kempamma''', infamously known as '''Cyanide Mallika''', is India's first convicted female serial killer.<ref name="TI">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/First-woman-serial-killer-nabbed/articleshow/2665976.cms|title=First woman serial killer nabbed|access-date=10 May 2018|work=The Times of India|agency=The Times of India|issue=Jan 1, 2008}}</ref><ref name="DO">{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyo.in/variety/cyanide-mallika-serial-killers-women-crime/story/1/21649.html|title=Women who kill: The story behind India's first woman serial killer|last1=Anand|first1=Pinky|website=Daily O|publisher=Daily O|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref> Commencing with her first murder in 1999 Kempamma killed 6 women over the next 8 years, 5 between October and December in 2007. She befriended victims from female temple devotees and portrayed herself as a deeply pious woman. After gaining their confidence she would call them to another temple, ask them to dress in their best clothing and jewellery and give them 'holy water' with cyanide to drink. She was caught by police trying to dispose of the jewellery and confessed under interrogation. She was the first woman to be sentenced to death in [[Karnataka]].<ref name="DNI">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report-death-for-city-s-cyanide-killer-1242502|title=Death for city's cyanide killer|last1=Menon|first1=Soumya|website=DNA India|publisher=DNA India|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref>

==Life==
Kempamma is from [[Kaggalipura]], located in [[Karnataka]].<ref name=IT /> Kempamma married a tailor, but was abandoned by her husband in 1998.<ref name=DO /> Her husband left her after Kempamma's [[chit fund]] business took large losses. Her husband threw her out of the house.<ref name=TI /><ref name="IT">{{cite web|last1=Dutta|first1=Prabhash K|title=Cyanide Mallika: Sasikala's neighbour in jail, Jayalalithaa's fan and India's first female serial killer|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cyanide-mallika-sasikala-jayalalithaa-bengaluru-jail-961260-2017-02-17|website=India Today|publisher=India Today|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="MD">{{cite web|last1=Gowhar|first1=Imran|title=Death for serial killer Cyanide Mallika|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/death-for-serial-killer-cyanide-mallika/38335|website=Mid-Day|publisher=Mid-Day|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref> She has three children.<ref name="TEI">{{cite web|last1=Lulla|first1=Anil Budur|title=Lady killer with cyanide prasad Prayer bait for victims|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1080101/jsp/nation/story_8731323.jsp|website=The Telegraph India|publisher=The Telegraph India|access-date=11 May 2018}}</ref> She then worked odd jobs, including becoming a domestic worker and a goldsmith's assistant.<ref name=DO /><ref name=IT /> She often stole from houses she worked in as a domestic worker.<ref name=IT />

==Crimes & victims==
===Crimes===
Kempamma is alleged to have murdered multiple women, but has only been convicted for six murders.<ref name=IT /> Kempamma was alleged to have frequented temples near [[Bangalore]], and to have preyed on women who appeared to be in distress. After spotting a woman, she would try to get them to trust her by listening to their problems and advising them to perform mandal [[Puja (Hinduism)|pooja]], which she told them would help them overcome their problems.<ref name=TI /><ref name=DO /><ref name="NDTV">{{cite web|title=Serial killer Mallika's death sentence reduced to life|url=https://www.ndtv.com/south/serial-killer-mallikas-death-sentence-reduced-to-life-495237|website=NDTV|publisher=NDTV|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref name=MD /> She pretended to be a religious woman that was well-versed in rituals.<ref name=NDTV /> She then offered to arrange for the pooja at a temple on city outskirts.<ref name=TI /> She told them to come to the ritual wearing finery.<ref name=DO /> Once the victim arrived, Kempamma would start the ritual, tell the victim to close their eyes, and force them to drink [[cyanide]]-laced water or eat cyanide-laced food.<ref name=TI /><ref name=DO /><ref name=IT /><ref name=NDTV /><ref name=TEI /> She was 43.<ref name=TEI /> She got the cyanide from jewelry shops, where it was used to clean gold jewelry.<ref name=TI /><ref name=MD /> She claimed to have learned about killing with cyanide from movies.<ref name=MD /> From this [[modus operandi]], she gained the popular nickname "Cyanide Mallika."<ref name=DO /><ref name=MD /><ref name=DNI /> She would hold the noses of victims while they drank. Once dead, she would rob her victims of their money and valuables.<ref name=TI /><ref name=IT /><ref name=NDTV /> She changed her identity after every murder.<ref name=IT />

Kempamma was arrested in 2000 by the police in [[Bidadi]]. She had been trying to rob valuables from a house where she had been tasked with performing a ritual. The victim was able to escape unscathed by screaming. The victim was saved by her family, and Kempamma was arrested. She served six months in prison and was released afterward.<ref name=TI /><ref name=TEI />

===Victims===
Her first murder was committed on October 19, 1999 in [[Hoskote]]. Her victim was 30-year-old Mamatha Rajan, who was killed while she was praying at a temple.<ref name=TI /><ref name=MD /><ref name=TEI /> In 2007, Kempamma killed five more women between October 10 and December 18.<ref name=TI /><ref name=MD /><ref name=TEI /> Her second victim was Elizabeth, who was 52 and from [[Satanur]]. Elizabeth was praying to find her missing granddaughter. Kempamma lured her to the Kabalamma temple and killed her. Kempamma's third victim was Yashodhamma, aged 60. She was killed at Siddaganga Mutt, Kyata-Sandra in December 2007. Kempamma promised to perform a ritual to offer her relief from asthma. The fourth victim was 60-year-old Muniyamma, who wished to sing devotionals. She was from Yelahanka and killed at Yadiyur Siddalngeshwar Temple. Her fifth victim was Pillama, aged 60, and killed at Maddur Vyadyanathapura. Pillama was a temple priest at Hebbal temple. Kempamma told Pillama that she would sponsor a new arch for the Hebbal temple.<ref name=MD /> Kempamma's last victim was Nagaveni, a 30-year-old woman that was praying to become pregnant as she was childless.<ref name=TI /><ref name=MD /> She wished to have a son.<ref name=MD /> Kempamma killed her while she was sleeping.<ref name=DO />

Kempamma was alleged to have killed one more victim, 22-year old Renuka, at a pilgrim center at [[Kolar district]] in 2006. Renuka was murdered in a temple dormitory on December 7, 2006. Renuka's sister, Mani, asserted that Kempamma could have murdered Renuka. Renuka was staying with Mani at Mani's house while Renuka's husband was away working in Dubai. Mani worked as a domestic worker in a house where Kempamma worked as a cook. Kempamma visited Mani's house often, and befriended Renuka. Renuka's husband, Shankar, originally reported Renuka missing to the police on December 29, 2006 when he returned from Dubai. Renuka had been missing since December 7, 2006. Allegedly, Kempamma told Renuka that she could give birth to a male baby if Kempamma conducted a special ritual at a temple. The police asserted that Kempamma murdered Renuka at the temple. Many other families have also come forward claiming that their missing family members may have been murdered by Kempamma, as Kempamma knew them all.<ref name="TH">{{cite web|title=Probe reveals Mallika killed one more woman|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/Probe-reveals-Mallika-killed-one-more-woman/article15151906.ece|work=The Hindu|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="THTOI">{{cite web|title=Serial killer Kempamma murdered 7|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Serial-killer-Kempamma-murdered-7/articleshow/2733074.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=11 May 2018}}</ref> Five cases of missing persons were associated with Kempamma in 2009. Two of these five women's bodies were found and subsequently linked to Kempamma.<ref name="EXP">{{cite web|title=Woman serial killer to be hanged|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/91056/Woman-serial-killer-to-be-hanged|website=Express|publisher=Express|access-date=11 May 2018}}</ref>

==Arrest & convictions==
The first time Kempamma was arrested was in 2001. She was arrested by Bidadi police while trying to rob jewels from a house where she was to perform a ritual. She was sentenced to 6 months imprisoned and she was released after completing her time.<ref name=TI />

Kempamma was arrested on December 31, 2008 while at a bus stand.<ref name=TI /><ref name=DO /><ref name=NDTV /> She was arrested after trying to sell the jewelry of victims.<ref name=TEI /> Kempamma was using the name Jayamma, and was flagged by police after a tip was given to them about her.<ref name=TI /><ref name=NDTV /> On her person, she had money and valuables from some of her victims. When her plea was taken by the police, she admitted her guilt.<ref name=DO /> The police alleged she committed the motives solely for robbery.<ref name=DO />

Kempamma was convicted of multiple murders in separate trials. In 2010, she was given a death sentence for the murder of Muniyamma.<ref name="INDT">{{cite web|title=Know more about 'Cyanide Malllika', India's female serial killer|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/crime/news/know-more-about-cyanide-malllika-india-s-female-serial-killer-2633.html?page=2|website=India TV|publisher=India TV|access-date=11 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="THH">{{cite web|title=Death sentence awarded to serial killer|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/death-sentence-awarded-to-serial-killer/article3264654.ece|work=The Hindu|access-date=11 May 2018}}</ref> In 2012, she was given another death sentence for the murder of Nagaveni. She was given the death penalty.<ref name=NDTV /><ref name=DNI /><ref name=THH /> Kempamma was the first woman to be given the death penalty in [[Karnataka]].<ref name=DNI /> Her sentence for Nagaveni's murder was commuted into life in prison.<ref name=NDTV /><ref name=INDT /> The sentence was converted because the court found that there was only circumstantial evidence against Kempamma.<ref name=NDTV />

In 2017, Kempamma was featured in the news again for being the jail neighbor of [[V. K. Sasikala]].<ref name=IT /><ref name="RN">{{cite web|title=In Bengaluru prison, Sasikala has 'Cyanide Mallika' as her next door inmate|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/in-bengaluru-prison-sasikala-has-cyanide-mallika-as-her-next-door-inmate/20170218.htm|website=Rediff News|publisher=Rediff News|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="TIE">{{cite web|title=Sasikala's neighbour in jail 'Cyanide' Mallika shifted: Report|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sasikalas-neighbour-in-jail-cyanide-mallika-shifted-parappana-agrahara-bengaluru-report-4537654/|website=The Indian Express|publisher=The Indian Express|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="ND">{{cite web|last1=Nadu|first1=Tamil|last2=Nair|first2=Arun|title=Next Door To VK Sasikala In Jail Is Cyanide Mallika, Doing Life For 6 Murders|url=https://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/next-door-to-vk-sasikala-in-jail-is-cyanide-mallika-doing-life-for-6-murders-1660635|website=NDTV|publisher=NDTV|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref> While Sasikala was there, Kempamma asked to meet her repeatedly. After this, Kempamma was moved to another jail, reportedly because she posed a threat to Sasikala's life. However, others denied this and said that the two were friendly and that Kempamma would even bring Sasikala's food to her during meal times, as Kempamma did not want her to wait in line for food.<ref name=TIE /><ref name="SD">{{cite web|title=Serial killer 'Cyanide' Mallika, lodged next to Sasikala's cell, shifted out of Bengaluru jail|url=https://archive.siasat.com/news/serial-killer-cyanide-mallika-lodged-next-sasikalas-cell-shifted-bengaluru-jail-1139366/|website=The Siasat Daily|publisher=The Siasat Daily|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="UV">{{cite web|title=Cyanide Mallika shifted to Belagavi after considered threat to Sasikala's life|url=https://www.udayavani.com/english/news/state/197672/cyanide-mallika-shifted-belagavi-prison-after-considered-threat-sasikala%E2%80%99s-life|website=Udayavani|publisher=Udayavani|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="DWO">{{cite web|title=Fearing threat to Sasikala, jailmate Cyanide Mallika shifted to Belgaum|url=http://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=439550|website=Daiji World|publisher=Daiji World|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="DC">{{cite web|title=With Sasikala in Bengaluru jail, serial killer Cyanide Mallika shifted out|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/220217/with-sasikala-locked-up-in-bluru-jail-jaya-fan-cyanide-mallika-shifted-out.html|website=Deccan Chronicle|publisher=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=10 May 2018}}</ref>

==In the media==
A [[Kannada]]-language film titled ''Cyanide Mallika'' was released on 26 February 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-details/cyanide-mallika/movieshow/81190749.cms|title=Cyanide Mallika|work=The Times of India|accessdate=12 March 2021}}</ref> It has Sanjana Prakash portraying the title role.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/now-a-film-on-indias-first-convicted-female-serial-killer/articleshow/66168303.cms|title=Now, a film on India’s first convicted female serial killer|work=The Times of India|date=13 October 2018|accessdate=12 March 2021}}</ref> The case was covered in an episode of the true-crime podcast ''Khooni: The Crimes of India''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/2-cyanide-mallika/id1504912635?i=1000470657658|title=Cyanide Mallika|website=Apple Podcast|accessdate=12 March 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of serial killers by country]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kempamma, KD}}
[[Category:Indian female serial killers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian people convicted of murder]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:People convicted of theft]]
[[Category:Prisoners sentenced to death by India]]

KD Kempamma - Revision history

imported>Bobby and safety at 16:36, 27 July 2021

>Cyfal: spelling (WP:Typo Team)