Gwendolyn Graham and Catherine WoodThe Motive: To Spell M-U-R-D-E-R“Lethal Lovers” Gwendolyn

Graham and Catherine Wood were aides at a nursing home in Grand Rapids in 1986. In early 1987,
Graham reportedly “relieved tension” by smothering an elderly woman to death. Over the next two
months, she and Wood killed four more patients in a similar manner. The deaths were not considered
suspicious at the time. Wood claimed that they chose their victims by their initials, with the intent to
spell M-U-R-D-E-R. When the couple parted ways, Wood blabbed. She agreed to a plea bargain in
exchange for her testimony against her Graham. Wood claimed that Graham was the mastermind and
perpetrator of the crimes. Graham was convicted of five counts of murder and sentenced to five life
sentences. Wood pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 40 years in
prison.Some speculate that it was Wood who planned the murders after she discovered Graham with
another woman. Wood involved Graham in the scheme as an insurance policy to keep her. Wood then
manipulated the prosecutor and jury: willingly pleading guilty as an accessory to murder to exact
revenge on Graham.[6]