1988 Winnetka attacks
American murderer (1957-1988)
On May 20, 1988, 30-year-old Laurie Dann carried out a series of attacks in and around Winnetka, Illinois, United States, resulting in the death of 8-year-old Nick Corwin and injuries to six other people. In addition to the attacks in Winnetka, Dann mailed or personally delivered snacks poisoned with arsenic to several of her intended victims, however the doses were too diluted to cause harm.
The attacks began with taking two of her former babysitting client's sons on a supposed trip to a fair, but instead she drove them to Ravinia Elementary School in Highland Park where she set off an incendiary device inside a hallway, but the fire was put out without causing serious damage. Dann then drove the two children to a Jewish daycare where her ex-sister-in-law's daughter attended where she attempted to enter with a jerry can of gasoline, but she was stopped by staff. Dann then returned the two boys to their home, where she first tried to poison them, then set their house on fire, but the two children and their mother escaped.
Dann then drove to Hubbard Woods Elementary School in Winnetka, where she opened fire, killing Corwin and injuring five students. Dann then fled and took refuge inside a man's home after feigning that she was a rape victim who had just shot her attacker, but the police were after her because they were unaware it was in [[self-defense
]]. Eventually, after the police zeroed in on her location, she shot the man and went into a bedroom where she fatally shot herself.
Attacks
Poisonings and arsons
During the days before May 20, 1988, Dann prepared Rice Krispies Treats and juice boxes poisoned with the diluted arsenic she had stolen in Wisconsin. She mailed them to a former acquaintance, ex-babysitting clients, her psychiatrist, her ex-husband and others.
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