By: Samantha Weber Pd. 7 Sociology

 Born in Bristol in 1939, to a respected working class family, by the name of Amelia Hobley  Youngest of 5 (3 boys 2 girls)  Mother had a mental illness due to Typhus  Amelia witnessed her mother’s violent fits because she took care of her until 1848, when she died.  Moved in with aunt: Father died in 1959  Married George Thomas (age 59) at age 24 - Lied on marriage license that he was 48 and she was 30

 Trained to b a nurse after marrying George.  After George’s death, Amelia married William Dyer.  Began Baby Farming after learning about it from an acquaintance. Baby Farming - mean the taking in of an infant or child for payment An example of what Amelia would put in the papers to promote the “Adoptions”.

 Told mothers that she would adopt the baby for a substantial one-off payment and clothes, for the child.  Soon after the adoption, she would kill the baby by strangling he/she with white edging tape(used for dressmaking).  She was caught in 1879 after a doctor was suspicious for the amount of death certificates he signed for children under her care.  But their wasn’t enough evidence to charge her with manslaughter, so she was sentenced to 6 months of hard labor.

 After her sentence she tried to continue her nursing career, but was sent to a mental institution.  Amelia knew how to behave in the hospital so that she was released.  She also began to abuse alcohol and opium- based products.

 March 30, Body of Helen Fry was found in the Thames  They found a label from Temple Meads Station with Amelia’s name and address on it. ( Mrs. Thomas, 26 Piggotts Road, Reading)  April 3- Police raided her house and were struck by the stench of human decomposition, but there was no remains. What Thames River would have looked like in the 19 th Century.

 Evidence- White edging tape, telegrams about adoption information, pawn tickets for children’s clothes, address found on tape, name found on tape etc.  May 22, Dyer pleaded guilty to the murder of Doris Marmon.  June 10, Dyer was hanged by James Billington at Newgate Prison at 9 a.m.  Amelia Dyer said, “I use to like to watch them with the tape around their neck, but it was soon all over with them.”  There was also a speculation that she was Jack the Ripper, but he/she was never identified. West View of the Newgate Prison, in 19 th Century, where Amelia was held and Hanged.

 Amelia Dyer murder over 400 babies/children, but only 3 were identified. CrimeDateVicitmsPunishment MurderMarch 5, 1896 Helen Fry(0- 1 year) Hanged MurderMarch of 1896 Doris Marmon(4 months) Hanged MurderApril 1, 1896Harry Simmons(13 months) Hanged

 T.V. - "Lady Killers""Lady Killers"  Books - alias%3Dstripbooks&field- keywords=amelia+dyer&sprefix=amelia+dyer%2Cstripbooks%2C128http:// alias%3Dstripbooks&field- keywords=amelia+dyer&sprefix=amelia+dyer%2Cstripbooks%2C128 (Books about Amelia)  Song - There is a Song about Amelia called, “Mrs. Dyer, the Old Baby Farmer” -

I do not believe that Amelia Dyer was born with a violent nature. But, I do believe that she grew to learn those ways and think in a violent manner. Amelia Dyer was born into a respected family and the only evidence of a tough childhood would be the period of time when she took care of her mother who had a mental illness. Amelia’s mother would throw violent fits and would act out of normal and so Amelia may have picked up on her violent acts. Amelia probably grew to think violently since she spent a large amount of time with her sick mother. Another point would be that none of her family members would criticize her mother after she acted violent, so that may have lead Amelia to believe that what she was doing was okay. Amelia might thought of violence as a way to relieve stress or as a sort of challenge that she could complete. Amelia had stated, after being arrested, that she use to enjoy watching them with the tape around their neck, so she may have thought back to the pain she went through and she may have enjoyed causing them pain. Amelia may have been violently abused by her mother, when her mother went into a violent fit, so she may have been taken that pain out on the babies. Amelia, as well, might have been trying to stop the major issue of illegitimate children, because she believed that it was wrong. Which, that would explain the rumors of her being Jack the Ripper or an associate of Jack the Ripper. That is why I would use the behavioral theory when talking about Amelia Dyer.