The La Porte County Historical Society announces the release of the Special Edition of the Belle Gunness DVD, “The Gunness Mystery.” The DVD is now available at the La Porte County Historical Society Museum for $25.00.
Written and narrated by Bruce Johnson, La Porte County Historical Society Board President, and directed by Stephen Ruminski, “The Gunness Mystery” is the most accurate documentary film chronicling the life and crimes of the mysterious Belle Gunness. Originally released in 2010, “The Gunness Mystery” now includes a commentary by Knut Eric Jensen regarding Esther Carlson, a woman once thought to be Belle Gunness.
In 1881, Belle Gunness emigrated from a small town in Norway to the bustling city of Chicago. Following the curious death of her first husband, she moved with several of her foster children to a farm in La Porte, Indiana. Belle began luring men from across the Midwest through a series of want ads in Norwegian language newspapers. Men who replied to her ads were promised a bright future as a partner in her farm. They were also instructed to not tell anyone anything, sell their belongings, bring only cash, and plan to stay forever. Those who came were never seen alive again.
Harold Schechter, author of Hell’s Princess: the Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men, stated, “Richly illustrated with rare archival photographs and briskly narrated by historian Bruce R. Johnson, this first-rate documentary vividly evokes the life, times, and unspeakable crimes of one our nation’s most darkly fascinating serial murderers. A must-see for fans of historical true crime.”
Please call the Museum at 219-324-6767 or email us at [email protected] to reserve your copy of the DVD. The La Porte County Historical Society Museum is located at 2405 Indiana Avenue, La Porte, and is now open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All visitors are required to wear masks during the time they are in the Museum.