A Nurse, a Mother, a Murderess?
Daisy de Melker, a South African nurse, is a name that has been etched into the country’s criminal history. Accused of poisoning two husbands and her son for financial gain, her story, while tragic, is equally chilling. Though convicted only of her son’s murder, the suspicion of her involvement in the other deaths has lingered long after her execution. Her tale, coupled with reports of paranormal activity at her former residence, has given rise to the legend of the “Ghost of Daisy de Melker.”
A Life of Loss and Tragedy
Daisy de Melker’s life was marked by a series of tragic events. Her fiancé died of blackwater fever on their planned wedding day, and four of her five children with her first husband, William Cowle, passed away. In 1923, Cowle became ill and died under mysterious circumstances. Daisy inherited a substantial sum from his will.
Daisy remarried, this time to Robert Sproat. In 1927, Sproat also fell ill and died after consuming beer prepared by his wife. Daisy again inherited a significant amount of money. Her third marriage to Sydney Clarence de Melker was short-lived, as her son, Rhodes Cecil Cowle, died under suspicious circumstances in 1932.
The Accusations and Trial
Suspicions arose about Daisy’s involvement in the deaths of her husbands and son. Her brother-in-law, William Sproat, accused her of poisoning them for financial gain. After exhuming the bodies, forensic evidence revealed traces of arsenic in Rhodes’ remains and strychnine in the remains of her husbands.
Daisy de Melker was arrested and charged with three counts of murder. Despite her denial, she was found guilty of murdering her son. The charges related to her husbands were never proven in court.
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