Louisa (Sarah?) Northcott -- Mira Loma, CA  1928

Sentenced to life in prison for murder, she played a role in her son
Gordon Stuart Northcott's kidnapping, rape and murder of young boys.
Louisa confessed to committing one of the murders herself, and later
fled with her son to Canada.  Louisa's bizarre abuse of Gordon in his 
childhood probably led to his serial murder behavior (she used to 
dress him as a girl).

The town of Wineville, CA, where the murders took place, changed
its name to Mira Loma because of the bad publicity.  Very widely
reported, the events became known as the "Chicken Murders".

Gordon's mom pleaded guilty to one charge of murder and was sentenced
to life in prison.  Gordon, who maintained his innocence and conducted
his own defence, was sentenced to death and hanged.


http://www.usacitiesonline.com/camiralomahistory.htm

http://darkday.tripod.com/i-p/northcott.html