M adam Deplhine LaLaurie was a renowned socialite during the early 1800s. She was born into a wealthy family and just like other rich southerners that existed during her time, she had household slaves that lived with her. LaLaurie was a New Orleans central figure and also a wealthy woman who was popularly known for her private balls, extravagant galas and cocktail parties. Her beauty was captivating and she was quite gracious.

LaLaurie resided in a massive building that had large reception walls and huge mahogany doors. Her lifestyle was extremely lavish and she was the perfect hostess. However, despite her hospitable and graceful behaviour, there were consistent rumors that the slaves within LaLaurie’s household were grossly maltreated. Sadly, there was no physical evidence to buttress these claims.

LaLaurie continued to host several lavish dinners during which she would invite guests to dine with her. It was during these events that her influential guests began to notice something unusually odd about their host.

LaLaurie’s slaves always did all the preparation for the grand events. They cooked, served and met all the needs of the guests. However, the guests noticed that many of the slaves looked wretched, haggard, miserable and seemed quite fearful. Although LaLaurie always acted civil and polite to her slaves in the presence of her guests, the responses of the slaves depicted fright and horror.

People continued spreading rumors and silently investigated to confirm the possibility that LaLaurie was mistreating her slaves. During that time, a lawyer was even sent to remind owners of slaves to carefully treat their slaves.

In 1834, there was a fire outbreak in LaLaurie’s premises and the neighbours had to help evacuate the residents. Policemen and firemen also intervened. They noticed that in the house, LaLaurie was alone and she refused to give anyone the keys to the slave quarters. Despite being asked to release the keys so that the slaves could be saved, the mistress kept telling her neighbours not to interfere in her business.

The interveners took it upon themselves to search the house and see if there was anyone else residing within the premises, apart from its owner. They eventually broke into the slave quarters. What the neighbours saw was quite gory and changed their perception of LaLaurie forever.

The neighbours found some slaves that had been severely tortured. Indeed, it was a horrific sight. They watched in horror and surprise while trying to understand what was happening. From what they could see, about seven of the slaves had been badly beaten and bruised. Their eyes had been gouged out and their mouths filled with feaces and sewn shut. Many of the slaves were tied to tables, walls and cages.

Amongst the slaves, there was a woman whose bones had been badly broken and her physical appearance was distorted. She was bent like a crab. There was another woman who was wrapped in human intestines. In the attic, several dead bodies were seen and many of the corpses had been mutilated beyond recognition. Some of the dead slaves also had holes in their skulls, their limbs were amputated and others were left with no organ inside their bodies.

One man had a spear driven to his head and the wound was filled with worms. The neighbours estimated that over 100 slaves; dead and alive, were discovered in LaLaurie’s house. Many injured slaves were found throughout the property. This evil had happened for so many years and no one knew about it.

LaLaurie who was formerly a respectable member of the society, was now perceived differently as a Savage Mistress of New Orleans. For someone that was known to help the needy, this revelation made people believe that she was a psychopath who derived pleasure in mutilating and murdering the people that lived with her. The rumors that had been heard about her were now fully confirmed by the public.

One of the slaves, an elderly woman was chained to the cooking stove. She confessed that she had intentionally set the house on fire. The woman admitted that it was a suicide attempt, as well as a cry for help. She had also decided that whatever the consequences were, it was better than living with an evil mistress. She was getting old and feared that at some point, she would be taken to the upper room to be killed like the other dead slaves. The slaves that were taken there never made it out alive.

In that room, some slaves had been hung by the neck. Others were put in tiny cages or had iron collars put around their necks. It was a terrible display of human suffering. Faces of the dead slaves had been disfigured and severed heads were seen in the room.

There were other reports of how LaLaurie had flogged and chased one of her slaves to her death. The girl, Lia, was brushing the former’s hair when she accidentally hit a tangle. Out of anger, LaLaurie chased her with a whip till they reached the edge of the house. The poor girl was forced to jump from a three-storey building. While jumping, she hit herself against a stone and died. Lia’s body was secretly buried in LaLaurie’s compound. However, her body was later found in a well and her boss was forced to pay $300 and commanded to sell all her remaining slaves.

The above act didn’t deter LaLaurie from getting new slaves. She simply used her family connections and agents to purchase more slaves at auctions. She also repurchased some of the slaves that had previously left and put them in their former positions.

After the fire incident at LaLaurie’s home and the strange revelation that followed, many residents of New Orleans were enraged. They were out for LaLaurie’s blood and planned to hang her. They also demanded justice for the maimed slaves.

After LaLaurie was exposed, She quickly fled from her residence shortly before the angry mob arrived. Alongside her husband, LaLaurie escaped to Alabama, and then to Paris. However, several parts of their home had been destroyed by the angry mob after the crowd discovered the evil that had been done there. The fire officers did a clean sweep of the compound and later discovered that more bodies were buried in the yard. Human bones were also found in her courtyard.

LaLaurie’s house was later bought for the sum of $3.5 million. Although the house still exists, it is considered to be one of the most hunted houses in New Orleans. Sadly, LaLaurie was never held accountable for her crimes. What eventually became of her isn’t well documented, but it is believed that she changed her name and continued her reign of terror. The exact circumstances of her death aren’t clearly known, but it is certain that she never paid for her heinous crimes. Although her body was never seen, a cracked copper plate was seen in the New Orleans Saint Louis Cemetary with her name “Lalaurie, Madam McCarty” written on it.

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