Jane Toppan (born Nora Kelly 1854 - 1938) confessed to 31 murders in 1901 and was declared insane and institutionalized until her death in 1938. It is believed that she murdered between 70 and 100 individuals during her reign of terror between the ages of 26-47. Her method of murder was lethal injections of morphine.

Toppan explained her motive (A classic Angel of Death who was insane)this way: "That is my ambition, to have killed more people- more helpless people- than any man or woman who has ever lived".

When apprehended, she said she wanted to kill more people than anyone who has ever lived before, but could only provide details to solve 31 crimes. Her history of suicide attempts helped her win an insanity plea, and she was eventually confined to a state mental hospital for 40 years until she died in custody.