The Black Widow’s Final Shock: 5 Chilling Facts About Judy Buenoano, Florida’s Serial Killer

The case of Judy Buenoano, often dubbed "The Black Widow," remains one of the most chilling examples of a female serial killer motivated by greed in American history. As of this current date, December 13, 2025, her story continues to be a staple in true crime podcasts and documentaries, highlighting the dark depths of manipulation and murder for profit.

Judias Anna Lou Buenoano orchestrated a decades-long scheme of murder and attempted murder, systematically eliminating family members and romantic partners to collect on lucrative life insurance policies. Her execution in 1998 marked a significant, and controversial, moment in Florida's judicial history, cementing her legacy as a ruthless killer.

The Complete Biography and Criminal Profile of Judias Anna Lou Buenoano

The trajectory of Judias Anna Lou Welty's life, which would later become the notorious Judy Buenoano, was marked by instability and a hidden, deadly avarice. Born in Texas, her early life was tumultuous, but her adult life saw her adopt a veneer of respectability that masked a sinister plan.

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• Full Name: Judias Anna Lou Welty (later Buenoano, also known as Judias Anna Lou Goodyear)
• Born: April 16, 1943, in Quanah, Texas
• Died: March 30, 1998 (Aged 54) at Florida State Prison, Raiford, Florida
• Cause of Death: Execution by electric chair
• Nickname: "The Black Widow"
• Victims: James Goodyear (Husband, Murdered 1971), Michael Buenoano (Son, Murdered 1980), John Gentry (Boyfriend, Attempted Murder 1983)
• Criminal Charges: Murder (3 counts), Attempted Murder (1 count), Grand Theft (1 count)
• Motive: Financial gain through life insurance and veteran's benefits
• Method: Arsenic poisoning and carbon monoxide poisoning
• Conviction Date: 1984 (for the attempted murder of John Gentry) and 1985 (for the murder of James Goodyear)

Buenoano’s pattern was simple but effective: marry or cohabitate, insure, poison, and collect. The sheer number of victims and the calculated nature of her crimes shocked the state of Florida and the nation.

1. The Calculated Elimination of Her Family and Partners

Judy Buenoano's crime spree spanned over a decade, beginning with her first husband, U.S. Air Force Sergeant James Goodyear. Goodyear died in 1971 in Orlando, Florida, with his death initially attributed to natural causes, specifically a heart attack.

It was only after subsequent investigations that the true cause—arsenic poisoning—was uncovered.

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Her next victim was her own son, Michael Buenoano, who had been partially paralyzed from a previous suspicious incident in 1979 where he fell ill. In 1980, she took her disabled son out in a canoe and deliberately capsized it in a creek near Pensacola, Florida, ensuring he would drown due to his inability to swim and move his limbs.

This horrific act was also motivated by a life insurance payout.

The final target was her boyfriend, John Gentry, in 1983. Unlike the others, Gentry survived a car bombing that was meant to kill him. This attempted murder was the crime that finally led to her downfall and the re-examination of the suspicious deaths of James Goodyear and Michael Buenoano.

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2. The Poison of Choice: How Arsenic Earned Her the Nickname

Buenoano earned the infamous moniker "The Black Widow" because she killed her male partners, much like the spider that devours its mate. Her primary weapon in the earlier murders was arsenic, a tasteless and odorless poison that mimics symptoms of natural illness, making the deaths difficult to detect initially.

The re-examination of her husband's body after the John Gentry bombing revealed lethal levels of arsenic, confirming the true nature of his 1971 death.

The initial confusion surrounding the symptoms of arsenic poisoning—gastrointestinal distress, vomiting, and diarrhea—allowed her to successfully carry out her first murders under the guise of natural illness. This calculated use of poison is a hallmark of female serial killers, often referred to as "quiet killers."

The attempted murder of John Gentry, however, involved a different method—a car bomb—which was a much louder and more traceable crime, ultimately leading to her arrest and conviction.

3. The Landmark Execution: Florida's First Woman in the Electric Chair

Judy Buenoano's final chapter came on March 30, 1998, at the Florida State Prison in Raiford. She was executed in the electric chair, a method of capital punishment known as "Old Sparky."

Her execution was historically significant as she was the first woman executed in Florida since 1848, and only the third woman executed in the United States since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976.

At 54 years old, after numerous appeals, including a last-minute denial by the Supreme Court, Buenoano was put to death for the murder of James Goodyear.

The execution of a woman, particularly one dubbed "The Black Widow," drew intense media scrutiny and sparked renewed national debate over the death penalty and the nature of capital punishment for female offenders.

4. The Enduring True Crime Legacy and Media Coverage

Despite her execution decades ago, the case of Judy Buenoano continues to resonate in the true crime community. Her story is frequently revisited in modern media, often analyzed through a psychological lens.

Podcasts like "Killer Psyche" and local news features in Florida, such as those involving former Chief Judge Belvin Perry, who was part of the team that transported her to jail, keep her story current and relevant.

The focus today is often on the psychology of a woman who could murder her own son for money, a level of depravity that remains difficult for the public to comprehend. The case serves as a dark cautionary tale about the insidiousness of greed and the hidden dangers of the "quiet killer" archetype.

The financial motives—collecting life insurance, veteran's benefits, and other monetary gains—are consistently highlighted as the driving force behind the sequence of homicides, distinguishing her from killers motivated by passion or mental illness. Her crimes were a cold, calculated business model of murder.

The ongoing coverage ensures that the entities and details surrounding her case—from the arsenic poisoning to the electric chair—maintain a strong topical authority in discussions about serial killers and capital punishment.