María de las Mercedes Bernardina Bolla Aponte de Murano (20 May 1930 – 26 April 2014), better known as Yiya Murano, and also referred to as The Poisoner of Monserrat was an Argentinian serial killer and swindler. Convicted of three murders, she was imprisoned for 16 years before being sent to an elderly care facility to serve out the remainder of her sentence, due to her advanced age.

Murders

Nilda Gamba, a neighbor of Murano's died on 10 February 1979. On 19 February, Murano's friend, Leila Chicha Formisano de Ayala, died. Murano owed money to both women, and both bodies showed signs of

cyanide poisoning Cyanide poisoning is poisoning that results from exposure to any of a number of forms of cyanide. Early symptoms include headache, dizziness, fast heart rate, shortness of breath, and vomiting. This phase may then be followed by seizures, sl ...

. On 24 March 1979, Murano's cousin, Carmen Zulema del Giorgio de Venturini, fell and died on the stairs of a building on Hipólito Yrigoyen Street, where she lived. Zulema's death was initially attributed to

cardiac arrest Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It is a medical emergency that, without immediate medical intervention, will result in sudden cardiac death within minutes. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and poss ...

. Zulema's daughter found that a promissory note worth 20 million

Argentine peso ley The peso ley (unofficially ARL), usually known as either ''peso'' or, to distinguish it from the earlier ''peso moneda nacional'', informally as ''peso ley'', was the currency of Argentina between January 1, 1970, and May 5, 1983. It was subdi ...

was missing from her mother's belongings. The building's doorman said that Murano arrived for a visit carrying a mysterious package (which was later discovered to contain '' masas finas)'', and had casually asked for a copy of the keys to Zulema's apartment keys, saying, "I need her notebook to warn her relatives". Murano entered her cousin's apartment and left quickly, carrying papers and a jar. She complained loudly: "My God, it's my third friend to die in a short time!" During the autopsy, examiners discovered cyanide in Zulema's body. Investigators discovered the poison in the jar mentioned by the doorman, and in the ''masas finas''.

Arrest

On 27 April 1979, the police arrested Murano at her home on Mexico Street. In 1980, she was found unconscious in the prison where she was being held; later, they removed one of Murano's lungs. Murano was convicted in 1985, during the Trial of the Juntas. She insisted upon her innocence, saying: "I never invited anyone to eat." Murano was released from prison after 16 years. It was learned that she sent the judges who released her a box of chocolates as a token of her appreciation.

Media

Argentinian writer included Murano in her book ''Mujeres Asesinas (Killer Women).'' In 2006'','' an episode of the Canal 13 television series of the same name featured a recreation of Murano's crimes. At the end of the episode, the real Yiya Murano appeared and proclaimed her innocence, citing evidence. The second season of '' Mujeres Asesinas'', the Mexican adaptation of the series, featured an episode based on Murano entitled "Tita Garza, Swindler," starring

Patricia Reyes Spindola Patricia is a female given name of Latin origin. Derived from the Latin word ''patrician'', meaning "noble"; it is the feminine form of the masculine given name Patrick. The name Patricia was the second most common female name in the United State ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murano, Yiya 1930 births 2014 deaths Argentine female murderers Argentine serial killers Argentine female serial killers People from Corrientes Place of death missing Poisoners

Murders

Arrest

Media

See also

References