Luísa de Jesus, originally spelled Luiza, was born on December 10, 1748, in Figueira de Lorvão. At that time, Figueira was part of the municipality of Coimbra but became part of the Penacova municipality in the 19th century. She was the daughter of small-time farmers, Manoel and Marianna Rodrigues. Her birth was recorded in the parish register, which noted that she was baptized on December 18, 1748, by Father João Baptista Barreto.

Luísa was the child of first cousins, as her parents shared the surname Rodrigues. This surname often appeared as "Roiz," which is a shortened form. In the 18th century, there were no laws requiring parents to give their surname to their children, so people had the freedom to change their names at will, which is why Luísa used "Jesus," a surname not traced back to her parents or husband.

As an adult, she married and earned a living by transporting goods. She would carry parcels from Coimbra to Gavinhos, a nearby village known for its millers and farmers, as well as to places within the parish of Figueira do Lorvão.

Luísa de Jesus developed a criminal scheme using a foundling wheel in Coimbra. This device allowed mothers to leave their unwanted children at local charities. When a child was adopted, the adoptive parents received money and supplies. Luísa took advantage of this system by adopting many children, but instead of caring for them, she killed them. She either smothered or strangled the infants after adopting them. After killing her victims, she buried them in shallow graves on Monte Arroio, under her house, or placed their bodies in clay pots.

People did not notice the high number of children Luísa adopted until April 1, 1772. A worker at the foundling house found a body in a shallow grave. This discovery led to an investigation. The authorities learned that the dead child had been adopted by Luísa. When they questioned her, she confessed to killing two newborns. As the investigation continued, they searched her home and found more bodies, totaling 33 infants. Some bodies were dismembered, but this was due to decomposition over time. Luísa had a record of adopting 34 children, but one child's body was never found.

Luísa was charged with 33 counts of murder. Two officials from the foundling house were also charged with negligence but were later released. Although her lawyers argued she was too young for the death penalty, judges determined she would be treated as an adult. Luísa was sentenced to death and had to pay a large sum to the state.

On July 1, 1772, Luísa was publicly paraded, and her crimes were announced. She was punished in front of a crowd, which included having her hands cut off and being burned with a hot iron. Eventually, she was executed by garrote. After her death, her body was burned, and her ashes were scattered.