Revisiting the story of Clementine Barnabet, a Black woman blamed for serial murders in the Jim Crow South

In 1912, a young Black woman’s supposed religious beliefs were quickly blamed to make sense of a terrifying crime spree.

By: Lauren Nicole Henley, University of Richmond, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 17, 2026

Words: 1,872

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 4 days ago

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By Lauren Nicole Henley, University of Richmond

In April 1912, a young Black woman named Clementine Barnabet confessed to murdering four families in and around Lafayette, Louisiana. The widespread news coverage at the time effectively branded her a serial killer.

Her confession, however, did not align with the timeline of crimes that had gripped America’s rice belt region with fear. Even today, her guilt is debated.

From November 1909 until August 1912, an …

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