Elfriede Martha Blauensteiner was born on January 22, 1931, in Vienna, Austria. She grew up in a time and place that faced many challenges, especially in the years following World War II. Details about her family and childhood are not very clear, but it is known that she lived in a difficult environment.

As a young adult, Elfriede struggled with various aspects of her life. She became known for her involvement in gambling. This habit would later play a significant role in her life choices. Elfriede was described as being charming and able to attract older men, which led her to form relationships with them.

Throughout her life, Elfriede faced various personal struggles. She grew more dependent on gambling, which put her in tough situations. These experiences shaped her path into adulthood and contributed to the decisions she made later on.

Elfriede Martha Blauensteiner was an Austrian serial killer known for her crimes between 1981 and 1995. On 7 March 1997, she was found guilty of murdering 77-year-old Alois Pichler. As a result of this crime, she received a life sentence in prison. During the trial, it was revealed that her former lawyer, Harald Schmidt, was also involved and he was sentenced to seven years for his part in the crime, which included forging Pichler's will.

Blauensteiner's pattern involved targeting wealthy elderly men. After her conviction for Pichler's murder, she was later found guilty of killing her 64-year-old husband, Friedrick Doecker, and her 84-year-old neighbor, Franziska Koeberl. She was convicted of three murders in total, but Austrian police believed that she might have killed up to ten people. Franziska Koeberl was noted as her only female victim.

Despite her life sentence, Blauensteiner did not serve many years in prison. She died on 18 November 2003 due to a brain tumor while in a hospital in Vienna. After her death, she was cremated, and her ashes were buried at Feuerhalle Simmering.