True Crime Friday: Nannie Hazel-Doss, the Giggling Granny Serial Killer
Nannie Doss was born Nannie Hazel on November 4, 1905. Nannie was a rare type of serial killer at that time, she was a woman. She murdered more than eleven people most of which were relatives and/or spouses. Her reign of terror was from 1927 through 1954. Doss had many monikers but the one that seem to have stuck was the Giggling Granny. This stuck because when she gave her police confession she kept giggling and referred to her spouses as Sweet Potatoes Pies. She also giggled a lot when being interviewed by the media. It was said she was very delightful and had a good personality. She met her husband’s mostly in the Lonely Hearts section of the local newspaper.
The Early Childhood of Nannie Doss
Nannie was born and raised in Alabama. Her parents were Louisa and James Hazel. She had one brother and three sisters. Nannie and her mother hated James because he was a neglectful, controlling, abusive husband and father. James would force his children to work on the family farm. So the children received no formal education, in which resulted in Nannie's poor academic performance. At the age of seven, while taking a train ride to another town to visit relatives, the train abruptly stopped and Nannie hit her head hard on a mental bar in front of her seat. She suffered as a result of the accident severe headaches, blackouts and major depression. It was said that these things may have contributed to her psychological development.Nannie was not allowed to date because her father told her that all boys wanted to do was have sex and she may end of pregnant. Nannie said that she was molested by men that lived in her town until the age of sixteen. She dreamed of a better life so when her parents were out of the house she would read her mother’s romance magazines. She dreamed of future romances with handsome suitors coming to court her. Her favorite read was the Lonely Hearts column.
The Victims of Nannie Doss
- Louisa Hazel, Nannie’s mother
- Two of Nannie’s children
- Two of Nannie’s grandchildren
- One of Nannie’s sisters
- Robert Franklin Harrelson, spouse
- Robert Lee Haynes, spouse
- Arlie Lanning, spouse and his mother, Nannie’s Mother in Law
- Richard L. Morton, Spouse
- Samuel Doss, Spouse
The Survivors of Nannie Doss
- Charley Braggs
- Melvina Braggs
- And any other fortunate relative without a life insurance policy
How could such a kind lady be a cold blooded killer? She preyed upon her own family. She even went as fair as to sick a hat pin in the head of her new born grandson. Even the doctors could not understand what happen to the baby. Of course, she had taken out an insurance policy on the newborn.
Charles Bragg, Nannie’s first husband managed not to be poisoned by her. He told reporters he felt that he was spared because she did not have an insurance policy on his life. Charles took Melvina who was a child at the time with him when he left Nannie. His mother took care of Melvina but once she died he took her back to Nannie to raise. Melvina was lucky to be alive at the rate her mother was murdering those closest to her for money.