Delphine LaLaurie

Who was Delphine LaLaurie?

Marie Delphine Lalaurie, more commonly known as Madame LaLaurie, was a Louisiana-born socialite and serial killer known for the torture and murder of slaves.

Born in New Orleans, Lalaurie married three times over the course of her life. She maintained a prominent position in the social circles of New Orleans until April 10, 1834, when rescuers responding to a fire at her Royal Street mansion discovered bound slaves in her attic who showed evidence of torture over a long period. Lalaurie's house was subsequently sacked by an outraged mob of New Orleans citizens, and it is thought that she fled to Paris, where she is believed to have died.

As of 2014, the Royal Street mansion where Lalaurie lived is still standing and is a prominent New Orleans landmark.