Anna Marie Hahn

Anna Marie Hahn was a 32 year old German immigrant who was the first woman executed in Ohio’s electric chair.

In 1933 Hahn had decided to offer her services as a live in “nurse” to elderly men in Cincinnati’s German community. Her first client was 73-year-old Ernst Kohler. He died on the 6th May 1933, leaving a house for Anna in his will. Four further victims followed; Albert Parker, Jacob Wagner, George Gsellman and George Obendoerfer who died on the 1st August 1937. Anna had persuaded George to visit Colorado Springs with her and her son. Once there he was taken ill and died in his hotel room. An autopsy revealed arsenic poisoning and in September 1937 she was charged with his murder. Autopsies on the four other men Anna had worked for also revealed poisoning. She was charged with five murders in total and sentenced to death.

Hahn was electrocuted on the 7th December 1938 at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus.