Madame LaLaurie holds a special place in the mythology of the South, and New Orleans in particular. If there ever was a house that was haunted, it would be her mansion, a collection of rooms used for grotesquely harming and ending the lives of slaves in the most violent ways possible. Born Marie Delphine Macarty, Madame LaLaurie was a wealthy socialite and slave owner who had a body count that rumored to be somewhere near 100. Other accounts believe she owned closer to 50 slaves.

Many people believe that it was after she married her third husband that LaLaurie's virulent instincts kicked in. Whatever the reason, she was known to openly flog her slaves for even the most trivial of perceived slights. Even given the abhorrent standards of behavior towards slaves in her time and place, this was considered extreme, and her behavior got her investigated for cruelty in 1828, 1829, and 1832.

Some historians believe her worst actions may have been exaggerated over time as her tale became a legend, but even contemporary news reports of the area paint a terrifying picture. With this collection of gruesome facts, you'll come to meet one of the most disturbing people who ever walked the face of the earth, and one who never faced any recrimination for the brutality she doled out.

Actress Kathy Bates depicted a fictionalized version of LaLaurie in the third season of American Horror Story. And in October 2019, The Conjuring writers Chad and Carey Hayes announced their plans to begin a new horror film franchise based on LaLaurie's home. They describe their intention saying, "The stories will unfold in multiple installments covering the history of the house from recent horrific events of modern day all the way back to the terrifying origins of the house's history and its owner, Madame Delphine LaLaurie."

Madame LaLaurie has become a part of New Orleans legend, and her house, as it stands now, is said to be haunted by the ghosts of the slaves who met their demise at her hands. Even if you don't believe in ghosts, the story is so disturbing that a haunting feels likely.