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Carrie's cups of tea were life-altering

At four feet and five inches, grandmother Caroline Grills would be one of the last people to be suspected of serial murder but, sadly, she became known for her notorious cups of tea, cakes and biscuits.


Born Caroline Mickelson around 1888 to parents George and Mary (nee Preiers), Caroline grew up in the Balmain area of Sydney. She went on to marry Richard William Grills and they had five sons and a daughter. Unfortunately, two of their boys would die young.

Caroline 'Aunty Carrie' Grills. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.
Caroline 'Aunty Carrie' Grills. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

Known to the family as Aunty Carrie, the family moved to Gladesville into her father's home after he died. She made a habit of visiting her extended family members, bringing cakes and biscuits and making plenty of cups of tea.


In 1947, her stepmother Christine Mickelson, at the age of 87 passed away. Considering the lady's age, it may not have been suspicious. However, in a random string of coincidences Carrie also lost people close to her, including family friend, Angelina Thomas, brother-in-law, John Lundberg and finally her sister-in-law Mary Anne Mickelson.


Carrie may have gotten away from her murderous spree if not for the quick thinking of Redfern tram driver, John Downey. His mother-in-law, Evelyn Lundberg (Carrie's sister-in-law) and his wife, Christina (Evelyn's daughter) had invited Caroline for tea and he had arrived home at 12pm to join them.


At lunch, Caroline had asked if she could bring in the tea and when she did, he heard her pause. He looked up to see her putting her right hand across her body and then put it in her pocket. She then served Evelyn's tea with her left hand, indicating it was for her.


Whatever suspicions John had, he acted after his mother-in-law had sipped about a quarter of her cup.


"I'll heat that up for you, mum," he said, grabbing the cup, taking it into the kitchen and emptying the contents in another cup, then later into a glass jar.


Days after drinking the tea, Evelyn was losing her hair and showing symptoms of poisoning. John took the tea sample to a government analyst, which revealed the presence of thallium, used in rat poison and to kill ants. It is odourless and tasteless.


Authorities exhumed two of the bodies of Carrie's victims to discover traces of thallium in their remains. Caroline was arrested and charged with the murders of three family members and one family friend:

  • Christine Mickelson, 87 years old- Caroline's stepmother

  • Angelina Thomas

  • John Lundberg

  • Mary Anne Mickelson


She was also charged with the attempted murder of Evelyn Lundberg, John Downey and Christina Downey.


On October 15, 1953 she was sentenced to death, commuted to life imprisonment, at Sydney's Long Bay Gaol. Her prison inmates nicknamed her Aunty Thally in reference to her poison of choice.


She died from peritonitis in 1960 and is buried in an unknown location at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Matraville in Sydney.


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