The Widow of Death: Kolthoum Akbari's Decades of Deception and the Coincidences That Caught Her

Kolsoom Akbari, known as the “widow of death,” became infamous as one of Iran’s most dangerous serial killers. Her life began with hardship—forced marriages, poverty, and limited opportunities—which pushed her to exploit the system of temporary marriages as a way to gain financial security. Over time, her pursuit of independence turned deadly. She meticulously planned the murders of at least eleven husbands, often elderly men, carefully making their deaths appear natural to avoid suspicion. Her crimes came to light after a relative of one victim grew suspicious, combined with the chance involvement of a doctor who had previously suspected Akbari in his own father’s death. Together, their suspicions exposed the pattern behind her string of murders and ultimately ended her killing spree.You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:https://linktr.ee/crimenight1Produced by:https://www.podcaistudio.com/