Bio

Ottilie Gburek, more commonly known as Tillie Klimek, was born in 1876 in Poland. She immigrated to the United States when she was just an infant with her parents. They settled in Chicago, where Tillie spent most of her life. As a young woman, she married John Mitkiewicz around 1890. They had a long marriage that lasted nearly thirty years.

In 1914, John Mitkiewicz died after a short illness. His death certificate stated the cause as heart trouble. Just a few months later, Tillie remarried Joseph Ruskowski, a nearby worker. Unfortunately, he also died under similar circumstances. Soon after Joseph's death, she began to experience a series of challenging events, including the loss of relationships.

Tillie's life took another turn in 1921, when she married Frank Kupzsyk. They lived in an apartment on North Winchester Avenue. During their short time together, Frank fell ill. Tillie reportedly made several comments to neighbors about his health, suggesting he would not live much longer. It was during this time that she began to attract attention for her strange behavior.

After Frank's death, Tillie married Joseph Klimek in the same year. They settled at a different address and began their lives together. However, Joseph soon became ill as well. Doctors suspected arsenic poisoning, and he was hospitalized. Tillie's family connections became a focal point, as her cousin Nellie was also involved in the investigation surrounding the deaths of her husbands.

Tillie's life was marked by a series of marriages that ended in tragedy. Many people in her community whispered about her and her alleged abilities to predict deaths. She became known for her strange actions surrounding the deaths of those closest to her. Due to concerns over her behaviors and the mysterious circumstances of her husbands' deaths, the police began looking into her past.

She was arrested and charged with murder in the early 1920s. The case gained significant attention in Chicago as investigators found more evidence related to her previous husbands and acquaintances. Tillie Gburek’s early life, relationships, and subsequent actions led to a controversial legacy that would haunt her family and community.

Murder Story

Tillie Gburek, born Ottilie Gburek, became known as a poisoner and was active in Chicago between 1914 and 1921. She married five times, and many of her husbands died suspiciously. Her first husband, Joseph Mitkiewicz, died in 1914, and shortly after, Tillie received an insurance payout. She quickly remarried Joseph Ruskowski, who also died after a brief illness. Neighbors began to notice that Tillie often remarked on the deaths of her husbands before they occurred.

Tillie's third husband, Frank Kupzsyk, fell ill in 1921. During his decline, Tillie would taunt him by saying he wouldn't live for long. After his death, she married Joseph Klimek. However, Klimek also became seriously ill, leading doctors to suspect poisoning. Tests confirmed he had ingested arsenic, and Tillie was arrested.

After her arrest, authorities exhumed the bodies of her previous husbands. They found arsenic in their remains, which linked her to their deaths. It became known that Tillie had taken life insurance policies on her husbands, profiting from their untimely demises. Investigators also looked into the deaths of several relatives and neighbors who had dined at Tillie's home.

In March 1923, Tillie was tried and found guilty of murdering Frank Kupzsyk. She received a life sentence, which was significant because it was the harshest ever given to a woman in Cook County. Many believed she had been part of a broader scheme involving other women in her neighborhood. Tillie spent the rest of her life in prison, where she continued to taunt her cousin, who had been accused alongside her. Tillie died on November 20, 1936, still incarcerated for her crimes.