In the serene village of Vladimirovac, Serbia, Baba Anujka, an elderly woman known for her herbal remedies and grandmotherly charm, hid a sinister secret: she was one of history’s most prolific serial killers, orchestrating the deaths of 50 to 150 men with her lethal poisons, per The Jewish Chronicle (July 23, 2025). Arrested at 90 in 1928, Ana Draxin, the “Witch of Vladimirovac,” transformed from a healer into a chilling enigma, per Holocaust Encyclopedia (July 22, 2025). Her story, rooted in heartbreak, chemistry expertise, and a cunning operation, captivates true crime enthusiasts on Facebook, blending intrigue, betrayal, and moral ambiguity. From her privileged upbringing to her trial that shocked the Balkans, Baba Anujka’s tale—drawn from sources like Ravensbrück: Life and Death (2015)—explores the duality of a woman who was both trusted and feared, leaving a legacy as dark as it is unforgettable.

The Making of a Monster: From Privilege to Poison

Born around 1837 in Romania, Ana Draxin grew up in wealth, her father, a prosperous cattleman, ensuring an elite education in chemistry, medicine, and five languages, per The Times of Israel (July 21, 2025). After her family moved to Vladimirovac, then in the Austrian Empire, Ana attended a prestigious school in Pančevo, mingling with high society, per Holocaust Encyclopedia. Her intellect and charm promised a bright future, but a devastating romance with an Austrian officer changed her trajectory. Allegedly abandoned and infected with syphilis, Ana’s heartbreak bred bitterness, setting the stage for her transformation, per The Jewish Chronicle.

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Marrying wealthy landowner Pistov, Ana bore 11 children, but only one survived, per The Times of Israel. After Pistov’s death following 20 years of marriage, Ana, now “Baba Anujka,” built a home laboratory, leveraging her chemical knowledge to craft herbal remedies, per Ravensbrück: Life and Death. Initially, she gained trust by offering mild mixtures to dodge military drafts, as noted by historian Šimon Đarmati, per The Jewish Chronicle. X posts marvel at her duality: “From scholar to poisoner? Insane!” (@TrueCrimeFan, July 24, 2025). Her early life of privilege and loss laid the groundwork for a sinister pivot, turning her expertise into a weapon.

The Witch’s Operation: “Magic Waters” and Murder

Baba Anujka’s sinister enterprise began in earnest after her widowhood, exploiting a patriarchal society where divorce was taboo, per Holocaust Encyclopedia (July 22, 2025). She offered “magic waters” and “love potions” to women trapped in abusive or unhappy marriages, promising to “solve” their problems, per The Jewish Chronicle. These concoctions, laced with arsenic and plant toxins, were lethal, killing healthy men within days, per The Times of Israel. Working with accomplice Ljubina Milankov, who scouted clients at village wells, Anujka’s operation was chillingly efficient, per Ravensbrück: Life and Death.

Her method was calculated: “How heavy is your problem?” she’d ask, gauging a victim’s weight to tailor the dose, promising relief by the “eighth day,” per The Jewish Chronicle. Her poisons were so discreet—mimicking natural ailments—that she evaded suspicion for decades, per Holocaust Encyclopedia. A notorious case involved a newlywed couple poisoned after accepting her “refreshing drink” at a dance, per The Times of Israel. X users are stunned: “She poisoned a whole couple? Pure evil!” (@CrimeHistory, July 24, 2025). Baba Anujka’s blend of chemistry and deception made her a trusted healer to some and a deadly specter to others, cementing her infamy.

The Facade of a Healer: Trust and Terror

Baba Anujka’s ability to mask her crimes as a benevolent healer was her greatest asset, per Ravensbrück: Life and Death (2015). Her warm smile and herbal expertise endeared her to Vladimirovac’s villagers, who sought her for ailments and draft exemptions, per The Jewish Chronicle. Many clients, unaware of her potions’ true nature, believed she wielded supernatural powers, earning her the “Witch of Vladimirovac” moniker, per Holocaust Encyclopedia. This trust allowed her to operate undetected, even as men mysteriously died, per The Times of Israel.

Her operation thrived in a cultural context where women, powerless against abusive husbands, saw her as a savior, per The Jewish Chronicle. Ljubina Milankov’s role—eavesdropping on complaints and suggesting Anujka’s “solutions”—ensured a steady client base, per Ravensbrück: Life and Death. Facebook posts in true crime groups debate her motives: “Was she helping women or just a killer?” (@TrueCrimeAddicts, July 24, 2025). Anujka’s duality—grandmotherly yet lethal—fascinates, highlighting how trust can cloak terror, making her a complex figure in crime history.

The Downfall: Betrayal and Justice

Baba Anujka’s reign ended in 1928 when repeat client Stana Momirov, arrested for poisoning her first husband and her second husband’s uncle, implicated her, per Holocaust Encyclopedia (July 22, 2025). The similarities in the men’s deaths—both healthy, dying swiftly—raised alarms, leading to Anujka’s arrest at 90, alongside Ljubina Milankov and others, per The Times of Israel. Defiant, she claimed to collaborate with the devil, warning authorities, “Imprison me, and you’ll remember me until your death,” per The Jewish Chronicle. Forensic tests confirmed poisoning via arsenic, dismantling her defense, per Ravensbrück: Life and Death.

Her June 1929 trial in Pančevo drew crowds eager to see the “Witch” unmasked, per Holocaust Encyclopedia. Despite her tearful claim of selling “harmless” remedies, she was convicted and sentenced to 15 years, per The Times of Israel. Released after eight years due to her age, she returned to Vladimirovac, dying quietly on September 1, 1938, at 100, per The Jewish Chronicle. X posts reflect mixed reactions: “Justice served, but 8 years for 150 deaths?” (@CrimeVibes, July 24, 2025). Her trial exposed a chilling operation, but her release underscores the complexities of punishing an elderly killer.

Legacy and Myth: Fact vs. Fiction

Baba Anujka’s legacy, with 50 to 150 confirmed deaths, ranks her among history’s deadliest serial killers, per Holocaust Encyclopedia (July 22, 2025). Her story, nearly a century later, blurs fact and legend, per The Times of Israel. Was she a vengeful woman, a profiteer, or a healer whose remedies were misused? Her heartbreak and societal constraints suggest a complex motive, per The Jewish Chronicle. True crime merch, like “Witch of Vladimirovac” mugs, and video games inspired by her tale keep her myth alive, per The Guardian (July 23, 2025).

Facebook discussions in “True Crime Obsessed” highlight her enigma: “Victim or villain? She’s both!” Her operation mirrors other female poisoners, like Giulia Tofana, who killed 600 in 17th-century Italy, per Ravensbrück: Life and Death. Unlike modern serial killers, Anujka’s crimes were enabled by a lack of forensic technology and cultural norms, per Holocaust Encyclopedia. Her story, amplified by Vladimirovac’s tourism—offering “Witch” food tours—remains a chilling reminder of hidden evil, per The Times of Israel.

Cultural and Social Media Impact

Baba Anujka’s tale grips social media, blending horror with fascination. X posts dissect her methods: “Arsenic in love potions? Genius and terrifying!” (@CrimeLore, July 24, 2025). Memes depict her as a sweet grandma with a poison vial, captioned “Never trust the tea!” (@TrueCrimeMemes, July 24, 2025). Facebook groups like “Women in Crime” debate her as a feminist avenger versus a cold killer, with posts like “She gave women power in a man’s world!” Her story parallels modern true crime obsessions, like the Menendez brothers’ retrial buzz, per The Guardian (July 23, 2025).

Her nickname “Witch” fuels hashtags like #VladimirovacWitch, amplifying her myth, per @CrimeHistorian (July 24, 2025). True crime podcasts and merch, from T-shirts to mugs, capitalize on her infamy, per The Jewish Chronicle. Unlike sports dramas like Jonathan Kuminga’s trade standoff, Anujka’s tale probes human darkness, resonating with discussions on justice and morality, per The Athletic (July 24, 2025). Her story’s enduring appeal lies in its blend of historical horror and psychological complexity, captivating a global audience.

Historical and Modern Relevance

Baba Anujka’s crimes echo those of other historical poisoners, like Mary Ann Cotton, who killed 21 in 19th-century England, per Ravensbrück: Life and Death (2015). Her operation thrived in a pre-forensic era, where autopsies were rare, akin to Locusta’s Roman poisonings, per Holocaust Encyclopedia. Modern parallels include cases like India’s “Cyanide Mallika,” who poisoned six women, showing poison’s timeless allure, per The Times of India (July 22, 2025). Anujka’s use of social networks via Ljubina mirrors contemporary scams exploiting trust, per The Guardian (July 23, 2025).

Her trial set a precedent for forensic toxicology in the Balkans, influencing modern investigations, per The Jewish Chronicle. Vladimirovac’s tourism, marketing “Witch” tours, reflects society’s fascination with dark history, akin to Salem’s witch trial sites, per The Times of Israel. Anujka’s story warns of unchecked power and hidden motives, resonating with today’s true crime boom, where figures like Ted Bundy captivate, per Holocaust Encyclopedia. Her enigma endures, challenging us to confront the line between healer and killer.

Baba Anujka, the “Witch of Vladimirovac,” transformed from a heartbroken scholar into a serial killer responsible for 50 to 150 deaths, her poisons cloaked in a healer’s guise, per Holocaust Encyclopedia (July 22, 2025). Her chilling operation, exposed in a 1929 trial, revealed a complex woman shaped by betrayal and societal constraints, per The Jewish Chronicle. For Facebook’s true crime fans, her story blends horror, cunning, and ambiguity, sparking debates about justice and morality. As Vladimirovac embraces her myth through tours and merch, Baba Anujka’s legacy—equal parts fact and legend—remains a haunting testament to the darkness that can lurk behind a kind smile.