Louise Vermilya was born Louesa Woolf in July 1868 in Cook County, Illinois, to Prussian immigrant parents, Wilhemina (née Munaroe) and John Woolf. She was the third of eleven children. At 16, she married Fred Brinkamp and moved to Barrington, Illinois, where they raised a family. Louise was known to have an unusual fascination with death, often assisting at a local mortuary despite not being formally employed there.

Louise's suspected killing spree began in 1893 with the death of her husband, Fred Brinkamp, who died suddenly, leaving her a $5,000 life insurance payout. Shortly after, two of their daughters, Cora (8) and Florence (4), also died under mysterious circumstances. In 1906, her stepdaughter Lillian Brinkamp died, followed by her second husband, Charles Vermilya, in 1909. Her stepson, Harry Vermilya, died after a dispute over property, and her son, Frank Brinkamp, died in 1910, leaving her $1,200.

Louise's pattern shifted when she began targeting boarders in her home. In January 1910, Jason Rupert, a railroad fireman, died after dining with her. In March 1910, Richard T. Smith, a train conductor and her boarder, died two days after eating a meal she prepared. Smith's estranged wife suspected foul play, believing motives ranged from jealousy to financial gain. ​

The turning point came in October 1911 with the death of Arthur Bissonette, a 26-year-old policeman and boarder. His father, who also fell ill after a meal prepared by Louise, reported seeing her sprinkle "white pepper" on their food. An autopsy revealed arsenic poisoning, leading to Louise's arrest on November 1, 1911.

While awaiting trial, Louise attempted suicide by ingesting arsenic but survived. She was later re-arrested in March 1912 for the murder of Richard Smith. Despite evidence of arsenic in Smith's liver, the trial ended with a hung jury due to circumstantial evidence and societal reluctance to convict a woman. In June 1913, she was released on bail due to health concerns. Louise Vermilya died on December 31, 1913, with all charges against her dismissed in 1915.