1918 Nebraska serial killer poisons her first victim.

Della Sorenson kills the first of her seven victims in rural Nebraska by poisoning her sister-in-law’s infant daughter, Viola Cooper. Over the next seven years, friends, relatives, and acquaintances of Sorenson died under mysterious circumstances before anyone finally realized that it had to be more than a coincidence.

Two years after little Viola met her demise, Wilhelmina Weldam, Sorenson’s mother-in-law, was poisoned. Sorenson then went after her own family, killing her daughter, Minnie, and husband, Joe, over a two-week period in September.

Waiting only four months before marrying again, Sorenson then settled in Dannebrog, Neb. In August 1922, her former sister-in-law came to visit with another infant, four-month-old Clifford. Just as she had done with Viola, Sorenson poisoned the poor child with a piece of candy. The unfortunate Mrs. Cooper, still oblivious to what was happening, came back again in October to visit with yet another child. This time, Sorenson’s poison didn’t work.

Early in 1923, Sorenson killed her own daughter, Delia, on her first birthday. When Sorenson’s friend brought her infant daughter for a visit only a week later, the tiny infant was also poisoned. After an attempt on Sorenson’s second husband’s life left him sick–but not dead–authorities began to think that there might be a connection between these series of deaths.

Finally, in 1925, Sorenson was arrested when she made an unsuccessful attempt at killing two children in the neighborhood with poisoned cookies. She confessed to the crimes, saying, “I like to attend funerals. I’m happy when someone is dying.” Sentiments like this convinced doctors that Sorenson was schizophrenic, and she was committed to the state mental asylum.

Word of the Day: Delphic.

ADJECTIVE
1.Relating to the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi.
2. (Typically of a pronouncement) Deliberately obscure or ambiguous.

Example Sentences.
1. "The long-haired stranger sitting at the bar had a mysterious, Delphic air about him."
2. "He wrote a number of Delphic riddles to keep his readers guessing."
3. "The commentators' election predictions were Delphic and hard to follow."

Word Origin.
Greek, late 16th century

The ancient Greeks believed Delphi to be the center of the world, but today the sacred precinct is perhaps best remembered for Pythia, "the Oracle of Delphi." Over several centuries, many high priestesses of Pythia served at Delphi's Temple of Apollo. Together, these women are remembered as a powerful oracle, and, long after her time, one of the most powerful female figures in the world.

Word of the Day: Anamnesis.

NOUN 1. The remembering of things from a supposed previous existence (often used with
reference to Platonic philosophy).
2. (Medicine) A patient's account of a medical history.

Example Sentences.
1. "Yolanda didn't believe in anamnesis, so the mysterious memories must have been from her
childhood."
2. "The nurse collected Mr. Collins' anamnesis while the doctor continued his checkup."
3. "Julian had the oddest feeling he was experiencing anamnesis and wondered who he may have
been in a past life."

Word Origin.
Greek, late 16th century

Although it sounds similar to the word "amnesia," "anamnesis" has a different meaning, which is reflected in the words' opposite roots. "Amnesia," the term for a partial or total loss of memory, comes from the Greek "amnēsia," meaning "forgetfulness." "Anamnesis," meanwhile, derives from the Greek "anamnēsis," which adds a prefix to give the opposite meaning, "remembrance."