Content Warning: This article contains descriptions of a graphic and disturbing nature. Reader discretion is advised.
In the annals of true crime, there are few stories as macabre and unsettling as that of Leonarda Cianciulli. Known to the world as "The Soap Maker of Correggio," this Italian serial killer's tale is a chilling blend of dark superstition, maternal obsession, and horrifying depravity. On a recent episode of the Wyrd Wessex podcast, we delved into her disturbing history, exploring the dark path that led a seemingly ordinary woman to commit such unspeakable acts.
A Life Shaped by Fear and a Curse
Leonarda Cianciulli's life was plagued by tragedy from a young age. She claimed to have been cursed by her own mother, who did not approve of her marriage, and this belief was only deepened by a life marked by misfortune. She endured multiple miscarriages and lost a number of children in infancy, a traumatic history that instilled in her a desperate, obsessive love for her surviving son, Giuseppe. This obsessive love would become the driving force behind her horrific crimes.
When Giuseppe was set to leave for military service in World War II, Leonarda became consumed by a terrifying fear. She believed he was in mortal danger and that the only way to save him was through a human sacrifice. This bizarre superstition, born from her earlier fears and sorrows, led her to a horrifying solution.
The Three Victims: A Recipe for Murder
Between 1939 and 1940, Leonarda Cianciulli murdered three women who came to her seeking help or friendship. Each was a victim of a meticulously planned, ritualistic killing, and each was promised something she desperately wanted.
Faustina Setti: A lifelong spinster, Faustina sought Cianciulli's help in finding a husband. Leonarda promised her a match in another town, but on the day of her supposed departure, she convinced Faustina to drink a glass of drugged wine. When Setti fell unconscious, Cianciulli killed her with an axe, dragged the body into a closet, and then cut it into nine parts. As Leonarda chillingly described in her official statement, she threw the pieces into a pot with seven kilos of caustic soda she had bought to make soap, and "stirred the mixture until the pieces dissolved in a thick, dark mush."
Francesca Soavi: A lonely woman in search of a job, Francesca was lured to the house with the promise of work at a girls' school. Her fate was the same as Faustina's; she was drugged, killed with an axe, and her body was disposed of in the same grotesque manner. From this victim, Cianciulli reportedly stole 3,000 lire.
Virginia Cacioppo: A former opera singer, Virginia was the final victim. She was promised a secretarial job in Florence. In her confession, Cianciulli recalled that Virginia was different from the others. “She ended up in the pot, like the other two,” Cianciulli said, “but her flesh was fat and white, when it had melted I added a bottle of cologne, and after a long time on the boil I was able to make some most acceptable creamy soap.” From this final victim, she reportedly stole 50,000 lire and assorted jewels.
After each murder, Cianciulli meticulously dismembered the bodies. She famously used their remains to create new products. The body parts were turned into bars of soap that she gave away to neighbors. But the most horrifying detail came with the blood. Cianciulli would wait for the blood to coagulate, dry it in the oven, grind it up, and mix it with flour, sugar, and chocolate. She would then bake the mixture into cookies and tea cakes, which she and her beloved son, Giuseppe, also ate.
A Shocking Confession and an Unsettling Legacy
Leonarda's crime spree ended after Virginia Cacioppo's sister-in-law grew suspicious of her sudden disappearance. The police investigation eventually led to Cianciulli's arrest. When confronted with the evidence, she did not resist. Instead, she offered a calm and detailed confession that left the investigators stunned by the sheer horror of her actions. She did not express remorse; she expressed a sense of justification, believing her acts were necessary to protect her son.
At her trial in 1946, she was dubbed a "monster" by the press. The court heard her calm testimony, where she described her crimes in detail, right down to the recipes. She was sentenced to 30 years in prison and three years in a criminal asylum. Her son, Giuseppe, was acquitted. Leonarda died of a cerebral apoplexy in the Pozzuoli women's criminal asylum on October 15, 1970, taking her dark secrets with her. Her story remains a gruesome testament to the lengths a person will go to when a twisted obsession takes hold, and the horrifying reality that the most terrifying monsters are often human.
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Resources: If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK on 0800 689 5652 or the Samaritans are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 116 123. Or a personal favourite of mine actually is Mind, which you can call on 0300 102 1234. I have used their services in the past. They are very good. For those outside of the UK, please look for a similar service.