Marie Porter

37-year-old Marie Porter was the first woman to die in the electric chair in Illinois and only the second woman to be executed there.

She had ordered the murder of her brother, William Kappan on the 13th July 1937, in Belleville, Illinois, after he had refused to make Marie the sole beneficiary of his $3,300 life insurance policy. Marie hired 22-year-old Angelo Giancola, allegedly her lover, and his 20-year old brother John Giancola to help her. At trial in St. Clair Circuit Court, Angelo Giancola admitted firing the fatal shots and Marie was subsequently convicted of conspiracy to murder. Angelo was convicted of 1st degree murder.

Marie Porter was electrocuted at the Southern Illinois State Penitentiary in Chester on the 28th January 1938.