Cyanide Mallika, the False Priestess

In Colombia, they called her “The Doll.” Last week, police arrested the 22-year-old, whose innocent nickname belied her deadly profession. Karen Julieth Ojeda Rodríguez was second-in-command of a powerful gang and coordinated targeted assassinations. As news of her arrest spread, netizens seemed more fixated on her appearance than her crimes. “No way…she looks so sweet and sane,” one user wrote. “Small step towards equity,” said another. Twenty-five years ago, another female killer was on the loose, belying similar assumptions about women and violence. They called her Cyanide Mallika.

In a country where women comprise under 5% of the prison population, Cyanide Mallika — India’s first convicted female serial killer — is an anomaly. Are women less likely to commit crimes? Or are they more likely to get away with it?