
What the record says
Maria Barbella (October 24, 1868 – March 24, 1950) was an Italian-born American woman. Erroneously known as Maria Barberi at the time, she was the second woman sentenced to die in the electric chair. She was convicted of killing Domenico Cataldo in 1895, but the ruling was overturned in 1896 and she was freed.
Summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Records change. The source is the authority.
Where to start
Got ten minutes? Do one of these.
What evidence was the conviction built on, and what has changed since trial?
- Write down what the conviction rested on: eyewitness, confession, forensics, informant.
- Find the court opinion and read what changed after trial.
- Look for other cases with the same detective, lab or prosecutor.
New to this? Read the field guide. Five short lessons.
Coverage and records
What is out there.
Podcast episodes
- Maria BarbellaSpooky Mama · 2021
- The Aftermath: The Case of Maria BarbellaThe Alarmist · 2025
- Episode 52: Maria Barbella Part 2Italian American Stories Podcast · 2025
- Maria Barbella. A Crime of Passion in Little Italy.Hitched 2 Homicide · 2023
- The Dark _ Chilling Case of Maria BarbellaTale Foundry Mysteries · 2026
In the Internet Archive
Nobody has researched this case yet. Have the AI search the web for reporting, podcasts and videos about it.