Anna Månsdotter was born on December 28, 1841, in a village located near Kristianstad, in southern Sweden. She grew up in a rural area surrounded by a landscape shaped by agriculture and simple living. As an adult, Anna married a farmer named Nils Nilsson, who was born in 1828. After their marriage, they moved to a modest farmhouse near the Baltic Sea.

Anna and Nils had three children together. However, only one of their children survived into adulthood. The family's life took a difficult turn when Nils became seriously ill. They struggled financially, which placed a heavy burden on Anna. Nils passed away in 1883, leaving Anna to manage the farm alongside their 21-year-old son, Per Nilsson.

To address rumors about a troubling relationship between Anna and Per, Anna arranged for Per to marry a woman named Hanna Johansdotter. Hanna was born in 1867 and came from a neighboring village. Her father, Johan Olson, was a district judge. Per and Hanna married in 1887, and she moved into the farmhouse. Anna promised to leave the house to give the couple privacy, but she never did. This arrangement led to tension between Anna and Hanna, and the two women did not have a good relationship.

Hanna expressed her unhappiness in letters to her parents, revealing her desire to leave the situation. Meanwhile, Per seemed to remain strongly under his mother's influence. 

On March 28, 1889, a neighbor visited the farmhouse where Anna Månsdotter lived with her son Per Nilsson. The neighbor asked about Hanna Johansdotter, Per’s wife. Per told the neighbor that Hanna had gone out. The neighbor noticed that the trapdoor to the cellar was open and went to investigate. At the foot of the stairs, the neighbor found Hanna's lifeless body. Per showed no emotion when confronted about Hanna's death.

The neighbor left to get help. When others arrived, they moved Hanna's body to a bedroom on the ground floor. A priest was called. It was observed that Hanna was not fully dressed and had bruises on her neck. An autopsy later revealed that she had been strangled.

Anna and Per were arrested and questioned by the police. During the investigation, Per eventually confessed to the crime. However, police suspected that Anna was the main instigator. Evidence from letters pointed to Anna and Per harboring ill feelings towards Hanna. Anna later admitted her involvement. Still, her claims conflicted with Per’s, as they both seemed to want to take full blame for the murder.

Both Anna and Per were charged with murder and incest. They were initially sentenced to death for their crimes. Per’s sentence was later changed to life imprisonment. Anna was held at Kristianstad Prison. On August 7, 1890, she was beheaded in the prison yard. This made her the first woman to be executed in Sweden in 30 years. She was 48 years old at the time of her execution.

Anna Månsdotter became the last woman executed in Sweden. Per Nilsson was later pardoned and released in 1913. He lived until 1918.