While men commit most of Alabama's crimes, women have written some of the darkest chapters in state history. Poisoners who murdered dozens. A mob icon who captivated millions. An anti-government cop killer. A madam whose courage lifted her from shame to legend. A mummified woman shrouded in mystery. Whether they enjoyed the spotlight or weaponized their status as unlikely suspects, these women left scandal and misery in their wake. Journalist Jeremy W. Gray digs into the sordid mess left behind by some of the most notorious women in Alabama history.

Jeremy Gray has covered the news in Alabama since 1999. After years of chasing police through the Magic City as night reporter for the Birmingham News, he is currently a managing producer for Alabama Media Group, helping share breaking news on AL.com and in the pages of the Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times and Mobile's Press-Register. A Bessemer, Alabama native and father of two, Gray is a graduate of McAdory High School and the University of Montevallo. He lives in Moody, Alabama, with a truly awful rat terrier named Lewis.