This is a police booking shot of Marjorie when she was arrested in Arizona in 1991 on arson charges. She doesn’t look like the daughter of a multi-millionaire, does she?
Marjorie is still alive, almost 90 years old. The family refuses to provide any current information. My information comes from books, newspaper articles, online posts and the family stories I’ve heard all my life. I do not guarantee the truth or the accuracy of anything written herein. Marjorie spent sixteen weeks on trial after the murder of her mother and a great deal of information was released and discussed. I am repeating what I have read and heard. I do not guarantee the truth.
When Elisabeth surprised the family and brought home a baby girl, the trouble started right away. Elisabeth’s family disapproved strongly. Then, the baby’s explosive fits began. It was obvious there was something very wrong.
As soon as she could walk, Marjorie would run at her adopted mother and pummel her with her little fists. Elisabeth’s family begged her to give Marjorie up. Elisabeth refused. Marjorie began to steal from Elisabeth’s purse and take trips downtown by bus and buy whatever she wanted. Soon, she took Elisabeth’s charge cards and forged her signature. The story is that once, when a store turned her down, Marjorie set the store on fire.
As a young teenager, she made her first attempt at killing. She decided she didn’t want her horse anymore but she didn’t want anyone else to have it, so she tried to poison the animal. The stable master discovered the pills and informed the family. Now, even Elisabeth knew Marjorie had a problem.
She sent the girl to a psychiatric clinic where she was diagnosed, I have read, as a psychopath and then Elisabeth sent her to a “special school,” a place for treatment of wealthy patients with mental problems. Marjorie knew that the family was getting rid of her so when she was released, she married immediately. She became pregnant and produced seven children in nine years. She knew that Elisabeth would love having grandchildren. Elisabeth started supporting her again.
As she produced children, Marjorie’s mental state grew worse. She stole oil paintings from Glensheen and sold them to art dealers in New York. She stole jewelry from Elisabeth and hocked it. Marjorie now began to receive money from family trusts. Each payout increased the shopping frenzy. No matter how much money she received, Marjorie spent more, much more. The family was constantly in huge amounts of debt which Elisabeth covered.
Finally, after twenty years, her husband filed for divorce. Marjorie couldn’t believe it. She thought she had the perfect marriage. She could afford the best lawyers so she got custody of the minor children. When several of the children wanted to live with their father, Marjorie had them committed to state institutions. Elisabeth had established savings accounts and life insurance policies for each of the children which Marjorie’s husband had administered, but he had to turn them over to Marjorie at the divorce. Marjorie forged the children’s signatures and looted their accounts. The children got nothing.
But now, Marjorie was in real trouble. She no longer had a husband cleaning up after her. Her mother was closing her out. The trustees were refusing to send her money. The gravy train was coming to a screeching halt. Living alone for the first time, Marjorie’s life went straight off the rails.
Strychnine in the Marmalade 