TEHRAN — For years, Kulthum Akbari was regarded by neighbors in her Iranian community as a woman plagued by extraordinary misfortune. Eleven of her husbands, married over the course of decades, died under what appeared to be natural circumstances — heart failure, sudden illness, unexplained collapse. Each death was tragic, but none raised immediate suspicion. Until 2025.
According to Iranian authorities, Akbari, now in her mid‑50s, was not a victim of fate but the architect of a long‑running series of murders that went undetected for years. Investigators say she poisoned at least 11 husbands using medications and chemical substances, administering small doses that caused illness severe enough to require medical treatment. After each man recovered and returned home, she allegedly increased the dosage until the poisoning became fatal.
The pattern, officials say, was deliberate, methodical, and designed to mimic natural decline.
Police investigators revealed that Akbari’s method relied on exploiting the trust of both her husbands and the medical system. By initially giving doses low enough to cause symptoms — dizziness, vomiting, weakness, cardiac distress — she ensured that doctors would diagnose the men with ordinary ailments. Medical intervention often stabilized the victims, reinforcing the illusion that their illnesses were unrelated to anything occurring at home.
Once discharged, the men returned to Akbari’s care, where the poisoning resumed.
Authorities say this cycle repeated itself for years, allowing her to avoid scrutiny even as the number of deceased spouses grew to an improbable total.
The unraveling of the scheme began not with forensic evidence but with a conversation.
In early 2025, the son of one of Akbari’s surviving husbands — a man who had fallen ill but ultimately recovered — spoke with the son of her most recent victim. The two men compared their fathers’ symptoms, hospitalizations, and the circumstances surrounding their illnesses. The similarities were striking enough that they contacted local police.
Investigators reopened the most recent death and began interviewing medical staff, family members, and neighbors. According to officials, inconsistencies quickly emerged. Toxicology tests, which had not been performed during earlier deaths, revealed traces of substances linked to poisoning.
Akbari was arrested shortly afterward.
During interrogation, authorities say Akbari confessed to killing 11 husbands. She reportedly provided details about the substances used and the timeline of the poisonings. However, investigators have not ruled out the possibility of additional victims, noting that several earlier deaths in her extended family and social circle are now under review.
Iranian media outlets have reported that Akbari offered varying motives during questioning, including financial disputes, personal grievances, and claims of mistreatment. Officials have not publicly confirmed any single motive.
In September 2025, an Iranian court issued ten death sentences against Akbari — one for each confirmed murder that met the legal threshold for capital punishment. In addition, she was ordered to pay diyah, or “blood money,” to the family of one victim, in accordance with Iranian law.
Legal experts in Iran noted that the severity of the ruling reflects both the number of victims and the prolonged, calculated nature of the crimes.
The case has left residents of Akbari’s community stunned. Many described her as quiet, private, and unremarkable — a woman who blended into daily life. Others recalled the string of funerals and the sympathy she received, unaware that the tragedies were connected.
Authorities say the investigation remains open as they review past deaths and medical records that may reveal additional victims.
If confirmed, Akbari could be responsible for one of the most extensive serial poisoning cases in Iran’s recent history.
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