FAQ About Madame Delphine LaLaurie

Madame Delphine LaLaurie committed a series of horrific crimes against the enslaved people in her care. The exact details of her crimes were uncovered when a fire broke out at her mansion in April 1834, leading authorities to discover the extent of the abuses. The crimes committed by Madame LaLaurie included:

• Physical abuse: Enslaved individuals in her mansion were subjected to severe beatings, whippings, and other forms of physical violence. Witnesses reported seeing slaves with deep wounds, broken bones, and other injuries inflicted by Madame LaLaurie or her associates.
• Torture: Slaves were subjected to various forms of sadistic torture. Reports described individuals being stretched on racks, limbs being dislocated, and other agonizing acts of torture.
• Confinement: Enslaved individuals were chained or otherwise confined in small spaces within the mansion, often in the hidden attic space where they were discovered. This prolonged confinement in cramped conditions added to their suffering.
• Mutilation: Some enslaved individuals were found with body parts mutilated or amputated. The extent and exact nature of these mutilations were described as shocking and indicative of extreme cruelty.
• Medical experimentation: There were rumors and accounts of Madame LaLaurie engaging in gruesome medical experiments on the enslaved individuals, although the precise details and extent of these experiments are unclear.
• Neglect and malnourishment: The enslaved individuals in Madame LaLaurie's care were subjected to severe neglect, denied adequate food, and lived in squalid conditions. Malnourishment and poor hygiene further exacerbated their suffering.