Who Is Stella Nickell? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Stella Nickell was born on August 7, 1943, making her 81 years old as of 2025. She gained notoriety in the late 1980s after being convicted of murdering her husband and attempting to kill others for financial gain by tampering with consumer products. Her life story embodies both tragedy and infamy, making her a notable figure in crime history.
| Occupation | Criminals |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 7, 1943 |
| Age | 81 Years |
| Birth Place | Colton, Oregon, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Stella Nickell's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Details concerning Stella Nickell's height and weight have not been widely publicized. However, at an advanced age, her measurements are likely less pertinent to her public identity compared to her historical significance.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Stella Nickell’s most defining relationship was with her late husband, Bruce Nickell, whom she murdered in 1986. Following her conviction, Stella has remained relatively private about her personal life—particularly concerning potential new relationships. As of 2025, there are no public records indicating that she has a boyfriend or any significant relationships currently.
Stella Maudine Nickell (née Stephenson; born August 7, 1943) is an American woman who was sentenced to 90 years in prison for product tampering after she poisoned Excedrin capsules with lethal cyanide, resulting in the deaths of her husband, Bruce Nickell, and a stranger, Sue Snow.
Her May 1988 conviction and prison sentence were the first under federal product tampering laws instituted after the 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders.
Net Worth and Salary
Stella Nickell's net worth is estimated to be modest, primarily as she has not engaged in high-profile endeavors since her release from prison. Her controversial past likely limits her avenues for making significant income. As she now lives a quieter life, specific figures about her earnings remain undisclosed.
Nickell was sentenced to two terms of ninety years in prison for the deaths of Bruce and Snow, and three ten-year terms for the other product tampering charges. All sentences were to run concurrently, and the judge ordered Nickell to pay a small fine and forfeit her remaining assets to the families of her victims. She was denied parole in 2017.
Career, Business and Investments
Since her release from prison, Stella Nickell has largely maintained a low profile. Details about her career or personal business ventures post-incarceration are sparse. It is known that her notoriety greatly impacts her opportunities in the professional environment, making it difficult for her to pursue conventional career paths.
Stella met Bruce Nickell in 1974. Bruce was a heavy equipment operator plagued with alcoholism, which suited her lifestyle, and the two were married in 1976. However, in the course of their decade long marriage, things went sour after Bruce decided to give up alcohol and began to get sober.
When her bar visits were curtailed by Bruce's sobriety, she began requesting evening shifts at her security screener job at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport and cultivated a home aquarium as a new hobby.
Social Network
Stella Nickell is not openly active on social media platforms. This limited interaction with social media reflects her desire for privacy after a life often lived in the public eye.
Seattle author Gregg Olsen wrote about the Nickell case in his 1993 book Bitter Almonds: The True Story of Mothers, Daughters and the Seattle Cyanide Murders. The case was also featured in episodes of Autopsy, Forensic Files, The New Detectives, Mysteries at the Museum, and Snapped, as well as two episodes of Deadly Women.
The murders are discussed in the Jodi Picoult novel House Rules, published in 2010. It was also featured in episode 93 of Casefile True Crime Podcast in August 2018. The case was referenced in an episode of In Plain Sight titled "Kill Pill", which aired November 23, 2018 on the Investigation Discovery channel.
Education
There is minimal information available regarding Stella Nickell's educational background. Given her early legal troubles and the obsession with her criminal case, further details on her education have often taken a backseat in public interest.
In conclusion, Stella Nickell's life continues to be marked by her past crimes, overshadowing many personal details that might have defined her otherwise. As we move through 2025, she remains a figure of both caution and intrigue in the annals of American crime.
