Marie Noe was born Marie Lyddy on August 23, 1928, in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. She was the daughter of Ella Ackler and James Lyddy. Marie was one of several children in her family. Her parents had a troubled marriage. When she was five years old, she got scarlet fever. Marie later said this illness caused her learning difficulties.

As a young teenager, Marie dropped out of school. She needed to work and also help care for her niece. This niece was born to one of Marie's older sisters when Marie was just 12 years old. Marie raised her niece as if she were her own sister.

After her early life in Philadelphia, Marie met Arthur Allen Noe at a club. They eloped on June 1, 1948, after a short courtship. Together, they had ten children.

Marie Noe was responsible for the deaths of eight of her ten children. Between 1949 and 1968, all eight children died under unclear circumstances, which many initially attributed to sudden infant death syndrome. These children were Richard Allan Noe, Elizabeth Mary Noe, Jacqueline Noe, Arthur Noe Jr., Constance Noe, Mary Lee Noe, Theresa Noe, and Catherine Ellen Noe. The children died between the ages of five days and 14 months.

In 1998, renewed interest in the case prompted an investigation. An article highlighted the suspicious nature of the deaths. After police received new information, they questioned Noe. She confessed to suffocating four of her children. However, she could not recall how the other four died.

Noe was charged with first-degree murder in August 1998. She later reached a plea agreement where she admitted guilt to eight counts of second-degree murder. In June 1999, she was sentenced to 20 years of probation, with the first five years under house arrest.

As part of the agreement, Noe underwent psychiatric evaluation. A study identified her as having a mixed-personality disorder that included several personality traits.