Random Murderous Restaurant Owner Was The First White Woman Ever To Be Sentenced To Death In Georgia (12 items)

(#10) She Was Charged With Four Counts Of Murder

Upon her arrest, Anjette Lyles was not just charged with her daughter Marcia’s murder. As both her husbands and her mother-in-law died of mysterious illnesses, there was suspicion she had poisoned them as well. Ultimately, she was charged with four counts of murder.
(#11) She Attempted To Deflect Suspicion By Having Her Daughter Lie

Anjette Lyles attempted to save herself from suspicion when the coroner mentioned testing Marcia’s body for poisoning. She showed up at the office with her other young daughter, Carla, in tow. Anjette had Carla tell the coroner she had fed Marcia poison during a game of doctor with another child in the neighborhood.

The coroner did not believe the story, yet still recommended that Anjette warn the other child about the game. Anjette allegedly proceeded to call a random number from the phone book claiming it was that child's parent.

Later, the parent in question would reveal that not only had they not had a call from Anjette, but that their number wasn't even in the phone book to begin with.
(#1) She Began Poisoning Her First Husband Three Years Into Their Marriage

Ben Lyles, the owner of a family restaurant in Macon, GA, began getting sick in 1951, just about three years after he married Anjette Donovan. His symptoms included fatigue, nausea, and stomach pain.Doctors were baffled as they found no clear cause of his illness.

On January 25th, 1952, Lyles died from the mysterious illness.
(#9) She Was Arrested For Murder In The Hospital

Anjette Lyles's arrest was memorable. About a month after Marcia died, Anjette was hospitalized for an inflamed varicose vein. The police arrested her for murder, and since she could not walk due to her condition, she was taken to court in a wheelchair.
(#2) Poisoning Her First Husband Backfired, At First

The motivation for Anjette Lyles’s first murder was likely marital troubles. She often fought with her husband, Ben Lyles, and this is likely why she started poisoning him. Her plan backfired, however, as the strain of his conditions forced Ben to sell the restaurant.

For all of her frustrations with their marriage, Anjette thought the establishment would stay in her possession, and the sale reportedly shocked and infuriated her. Though it took years of work, Anjette would eventually buy back the restaurant with money she earned waitressing after Ben's death.

Once she became the owner, she changed the name from Lyles' Restaurant to Anjette's.
(#6) An Anonymous Letter Eventually Led To Justice

An anonymous letter sent by an employee at Anjette's restaurant was what eventually led to justice. The employee mentioned that Anjette's maid told her there was poison all over the house she cleaned for the family.

Anjette claimed this was to deal with an insect infestation at the restaurant. Knowing the restaurant was not infested with any pests and concerned with Anjette's bizarre behavior, the employee tipped off the coroner, who then test young Marcia's body for poisoning.