La Voisin

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Catherine Montvoisin
Catherine Deshayes, "La Voisin", 17th-century print of her portrait held by a winged devil.
Born	Catherine Deshayes c. 1640
Died	22 February 1680 (aged 39–40) Paris, France
Occupation	French fortune teller · Sorceress · Poisoner
Spouse	Antoine Monvoisin
Criminal status	Executed
Children	Marguerite Monvoisin
Motive	Profit
Criminal charge	Witchcraft
Trial	Affair of the Poisons (17 February 1680 – 19 February 1680)
Penalty	execution by burning
Details
Span of crimes	1660–1679
Country	France
Location(s)	Paris
Killed	Unknown. Provided poison for people who wished to commit murder.
Weapons	Poison
Date apprehended	12 March 1679
Imprisoned at	Vincennes

Catherine Monvoisin, or Montvoisin, née Deshayes, known as "La Voisin" (c. 1640 – 22 February 1680), was a French fortune teller, commissioned poisoner, and professional provider of alleged sorcery. She was the head of a network of fortune tellers in Paris providing poison, aphrodisiacs, abortion, purported magical services and the arranging of black masses, with clients among the aristocracy and became the central figure in the famous affaire des poisons. Her purported organization of commissioned black magic and poison murder was suspected to have killed 1,000 people, but it is believed that upwards of 2,500 people might have been murdered.^[1]