They posed as siblings looking for love. In reality, they were looking for money — and were willing to kill for it.
Raymond Fernandez
Raymond Fernandez was born in 1914 to a Spanish family that later settled in Connecticut. After an early marriage ended, he served during World War II and later suffered a serious head injury that associates said changed his personality. Following a stint in prison for petty theft, Fernandez developed a preoccupation with using charm and manipulation to control women he met through personal ads.
Martha Beck
Martha Beck, born in 1920, had a difficult childhood and worked as a nurse as an adult. After a series of failed relationships and a brief marriage, she began corresponding with Fernandez through a lonely hearts advertisement, and the two became partners in a scheme to defraud and rob women who responded to similar ads.
The Crimes
Fernandez and Beck settled in New York, where they targeted single women through romance advertisements, with Fernandez building relationships to gain access to victims' finances. The pair were confirmed responsible for at least three murders, including that of 66-year-old Janet Fay, though they were suspected in additional deaths that were never conclusively tied to them.
The Final Victims
In March 1949, the pair met Delphine Downing, a 28-year-old widow, through a similar advertisement. During their stay with her, Downing grew suspicious after realizing the two were not actually siblings as they had claimed. Fernandez and Beck killed Downing and her two-year-old daughter. We are not detailing the specific circumstances of the child's death.
Arrest and Execution
Neighbors grew suspicious and alerted police, leading to the pair's arrest. Fernandez and Beck were convicted and executed on March 8, 1951. Media coverage at the time dubbed them "The Lonely Hearts Killers," a nickname drawn from the type of advertisements they used to find victims.
FAQ
How did Fernandez and Beck find their victims?
Through lonely hearts advertisements in romance magazines, which they used to build trust with single women before robbing or killing them.
How many people did they kill?
At least three murders were confirmed, though they were suspected in additional deaths never conclusively proven.
How did Fernandez and Beck die?
Both were executed on March 8, 1951, after their conviction.