Welcome to "Starvation Heights": The Story of Serial Killer Linda Hazzard

Dr. Linda Hazzard was seen as a doctor ahead of her time. She cared for the rights of women and the underprivileged. She questioned all that was known in the medical community. According to Linda, all ailments including cancer could be cured in one simple step. She devised a plan to save suffering patients from the limits of traditional medicine with her homeopathic cure. No surgeries, medications or treatments were needed beyond the walls of "Starvation Heights".

Dr. Linda Hazzard was the first doctor in the United States to receive a degree as a "fasting specialist." A few years after obtaining the degree in 1908, she published her book claiming all ailments needed only one cure, fasting. Fasting For The Cure offered hope to men and women all over the United States who were deemed untreatable by traditional medicine. Dr. Hazzard's fan base grew and she knew she needed a more hands on way to help those most in need of her care.

In 1906, Linda and her new husband Sam decided to start a new life in the State of Washington. They settled on the town of Olalla and Linda decided this would be the spot for her "sanitarium". Linda commuted into town from her 40-acre estate named Wilderness Heights. She planned to construct a vast building to house her patients one day, but until that dream could become a reality the patients started pouring in.

Linda claimed to have studied with other fasting experts of the day. It is evident that she made some deadly changes to their ideals. The Hazzard regime consisted of a minuscule diet of broth made of tomatoes and daily enemas lasting hours and using more than 12 quarts of water. When her book became a success and the patients started flocking to her for care, Linda housed patients in apartments and hotels on or near her property and "treated" them as requested. Many patients were rendered delirious and on the verge of death within weeks. Once her patrons reached this state, Linda advanced toward her dream.

Linda wanted and needed to build her "sanitarium" more than anyone could ever know. Once her patients were unable to care for themselves, she sent in her lawyer. With addendums to wills and power of attorney statements, Linda quickly retained the rights to her patient's money, belongings and even their lives. Her plan seemed to be working flawlessly with more and more followers signing up for her care. Between 1909 and 1911, Linda managed to kill at least 12 more people, but she made her mistake with one she did not kill.

Dorothea and Claire Williamson, sisters and hypochondriacs, decided after reading Linda Hazzard's book to travel to Wilderness Heights for treatment. Leaving behind their families and vast fortunes, the sisters told not a soul of their intentions for fear of annoying family members. Their location was only unearthed when a family nanny received a vague telegram telling her she must come to Olalla. Once there, she was told of Claire's death and of Dorothea's insanity. The nanny fought with Linda over the release of Dorothea, but Hazzard maintained she had been signed over custody of Dorothea just before Claire's death. The nanny did not settle for this news.

The Williamson sister's uncle traveled to Olalla and convinced (with money) the Hazzards to let Dorothea go. She traveled home with her family and began to heal physically and mentally while wreaking her revenge.

Linda Hazzard was arrested in August of 1911 and prosecuted for manslaughter. When the county believed they could not fund such a prosecution, Dorothea Williamson footed the bill. Linda was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to two years at Walla Walla state penitentiary. She did however manage to kill two more people while she was waiting to be sentenced.

I would love to offer a "she got what she deserved" ending to this story, but that is not the case. When Linda was released from prison she was no longer allowed to practice medicine of any kind in the state of Washington. She moved with her husband to New Zealand where she practiced medicine, wrote another book and made A LOT of money. She moved back to Olalla in 1920 and built her dream "sanitarium". The state still was not allowing Linda to practice medicine so she marketed the lavish building as "a school of health". Linda Hazzard continued to starve people to their painful deaths.

In 1935 the terror came to an end when the school burnt to the ground. Linda managed to live three years more, finally succumbing to her own horrible way. She had not been feeling well and decided to embark on her own fasting cure. She died quickly.