In the news cycle, an elderly woman attempting to poison her husband would have garnered a pretty small amount of attention from the press, then faded away when a larger story came along. But it didn’t take long for the press to learn that the poisoning of Melissa Ann Shepard's new husband wasn't the first time she had been suspected or convicted of attempted murder. In fact, Melissa Ann Shepard had a criminal history in two countries that went back decades, including many crimes that were very similar to the one she had just perpetrated only with a much worse outcome.

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References

As It Happens. 2016. Victim questions release of notorious Internet Black Widow. March 16. Accessed May 14, 2024. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-tuesday-edition-1.3492260/victim-questions-release-of-notorious-internet-black-widow-she-ll-never-change-1.3492579.

Associated Press. 2005. "'Black Widow' pleads guilty." Kingston Whig-Standard, March 15: 2005.

Canadian Press. 2013. "'Black Widow' pleads guilty to drugging husband's coffee days after wedding." Globe and Mail, June 11.

—. 2016. "Internet black widow off the hook." Hamilton Spectator, December 23: 10.

—. 2013. "'Black Widow' gets 3 1/2 years for drugging husband." Toronto Star, June 12.

—. 2013. "Alleged victim of 'Black Widow' holds no ill will as trial set to start." Windsor Star, June 7: 35.

2012. The Fifth Estate: The Widow's Web. Television. Directed by CBC News. Performed by CBC News.

Elash, Anita. 2012. Police were asked to warn husband of 'Internet Black Widow'. October 5. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/police-were-asked-to-warn-husband-of-internet-black-widow-1.1163836.

L'Heureux, Catie. 2016. "The real-life Gone Girl is 80, and terrifying." The Cut, April 13.

McMahon, Tamsin. 2005. "Robert Friedrich was alive and well, then he met this woman." Kingston Whig-Standard, April 9: 1.

O'Connor, Joe. 2012. "Romancing the 'Black Widow' ." National Post, October 3: 1.

Sherren, Reg. 2013. "Internet Black Widow 'will do it again,' says former husband." CBC News, September 16.

Starnes, Richard. 2005. "'Black widow' arrested in Florida." Ottawa Citizen, January 13: 7.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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Melissa Ann Shepard: The Internet Black Widow

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Melissa Ann Shepard: The Internet Black Widow