What happened
Dagmar Overbye took in infants for payment in early 20th-century Copenhagen and murdered children placed in her care.
The investigation
Suspicion arose after a mother tried to reclaim her child and authorities investigated Overbye’s home and the fate of infants she had received.
What the courts or investigators concluded
She was convicted of nine murders and initially sentenced to death, a sentence later commuted to life imprisonment.
Why the case remains significant
The case shocked Denmark and contributed to stronger oversight of private infant care, making it both a criminal and child-welfare landmark.
Case context
Crime by Region organizes cases geographically so readers can move from one file to other investigations from the same country. For unresolved or contested cases, the wording above reflects the distinction between confirmed events, investigative theories and findings actually established in court.