{{Expand Swedish, Laura Crispoldi, date=February 2022 Laura Crispoldi (died 5 July 1659, Rome) was an Italian poisoner.Monson, Craig A.:
The Black Widows of the Eternal City: The True Story of Rome’s Most Infamous poisoners
' She was one of the central figures of the infamous

Spana Prosecution The Spana Prosecution was a major criminal case which took place in Rome in the Papal States between January 1659 and March 1660.Monson, Craig A.: The Black Widows of the Eternal City: The True Story of Rome’s Most Infamous poisoners' The Papal ...

, one of only six to be executed among over forty people to be implicated.

Life

Laura Crispoldi was born in Rome. She was recruited to the organization of

Gironima Spana {{One source, date=February 2022 Gironima Spana (1615-5 July 1659) was an Italian poisoner and astrologer.Monson, Craig A.: The Black Widows of the Eternal City: The True Story of Rome’s Most Infamous poisoners' She was the central figure in the ...

, which trafficked in lethal poison. She was a prolific saleswoman, selling the poison provided for her by

Giovanna De Grandis {{Expand Swedish, Giovanna De Grandis, date=February 2022 Giovanna De Grandis (died 5 July 1659, Rome) was an Italian poisoner.Monson, Craig A.: The Black Widows of the Eternal City: The True Story of Rome’s Most Infamous poisoners' She was one ...

. On 31 January 1659,

was arrested and imprisoned in the Papal prison at

Tor di Nona The Tor di Nona is a neighborhood in Rome's ''rione'' '' Ponte''. It lies in the heart of the city's historic center, between the ''Via dei Coronari'' and the Tiber River. Its name commemorates the Torre dell'Annona, a mediaeval tower which once s ...

, where she made her confession on 1 February, and started to name the names of her accomplices and clients. Her colleague

Maria Spinola Maria Spinola (died 5 July 1659, Rome) was an Italian poisoner.Monson, Craig A.: The Black Widows of the Eternal City: The True Story of Rome’s Most Infamous poisoners' She was one of the central figures of the infamous Spana Prosecution, one ...

named Crispoldi as the dealer who sold poison to two women accused of having poisoned their late husbands, Anna Maria Conti and Camilla Capella, and described her as a ruthless and wicked woman with many clients. Crispoldi was described as strong and resisted confession for a long time. On 5 July 1659,

Graziosa Farina {{Expand Swedish, Graziosa Farina, date=February 2022 Graziosa Farina (died 5 July 1659, Rome) was an Italian poisoner.Monson, Craig A.: The Black Widows of the Eternal City: The True Story of Rome’s Most Infamous poisoners' She was one of the ...

and Laura Crispoldi were executed by hanging on

Campo de' Fiori Campo de' Fiori (, literally "field of flowers") is a rectangular square south of Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy, at the border between rione Parione and rione Regola. It is diagonally southeast of the Palazzo della Cancelleria and one block north ...

in Rome.

References

1659 deaths Poisoners 17th-century Italian businesswomen 17th-century Italian criminals Executed Italian women Italian torture victims People executed by the Papal States by hanging 17th-century executions