The Widow Who Married Seven Brothers — And Outlived Them All

In the year 1849, New Orleans was a city alive with culture, wealth, and a hint of the supernatural.

Amidst this vibrant backdrop emerged a woman whose story would become a chilling tale of love, loss, and betrayal.

Her name was Elise Dala Valier, and she would marry not one but seven brothers from the powerful Devo family—a union that would end in tragedy for each of them.

At first glance, Elise appeared to be the perfect widow, a picture of grace and beauty who captured the hearts of the Devo brothers.

Yet, as the years unfolded, the truth behind her marriages revealed a darker narrative, one that the city would strive to forget.

The Devo family was a titan of the sugar and cotton trade, with a reputation that loomed large over New Orleans.

The brothers were known for their strength and ambition, each carving out a legacy in their own right.

When Elise first arrived in the city, she was an enigma—her origins shrouded in mystery, yet her presence commanded attention.

In the spring of 1849, she married Jean Luke, the eldest of the Devo brothers.

He was a formidable man, a patriarch in all but name, managing the family’s vast holdings with an iron grip.

Their marriage was seen as an odd but brilliant match, with Elise bringing a light into the Devo mansion that had not been seen in generations.

However, tragedy struck just six months into their union when Jean Luke fell ill.

Initially diagnosed with yellow fever, his condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to his untimely death in Elise’s arms.

The city mourned the loss, and Elise, now a grieving widow, inherited a portion of his estate, but the bulk of the Devo fortune remained under the control of his six surviving brothers.

Rather than retreating into quiet widowhood, Elise shocked the community by marrying again just eight months later.

Her second husband, Edian, was the artist and poet of the family, captivated by Elise’s beauty and grace.

Their union was met with scandal, as marrying a deceased husband’s brother was considered taboo, yet Edian defended his choice with fervor, claiming it was a way to protect Elise.

For a time, it seemed their romance flourished, with Edian painting her portrait obsessively and writing sonnets in her honor.

But less than a year into their marriage, tragedy struck again.

Edian, an accomplished horseman, died in a mysterious accident, found at the bottom of a ravine on the family plantation.

Once again, Elise donned black, her face a mask of dignified sorrow, and the whispers of a curse began to circulate among the townsfolk.

The rumors intensified when Elise married Remy, the third brother, a gambler known for his reckless lifestyle.

Their marriage was perceived as a desperate act of greed, as Remy sought not only a beautiful wife but also control over the significant assets Elise had inherited.

Despite the warnings from his brothers, Remy dismissed the rumors as superstition, believing he could save the family honor.

Their lavish lifestyle soon became a spectacle, yet Elise remained an enigmatic figure, detached from the chaos around her.

Six months after their wedding, Remy was found dead in a gambling den, his demise ruled a heart seizure, but witnesses spoke of a terror in his eyes that suggested otherwise.

With three husbands gone, the Devo family became an object of fear and pity.

The remaining brothers retreated into the shadows of their mansion, and Baston, the fourth brother, began to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

He sought rational explanations, questioning physicians and servants, but each inquiry led to frustrating silence.

Despite his logical approach, he found himself drawn into Elise’s web of sympathy, becoming her confidant as she encouraged his investigation.

Elise suggested that the Devo line possessed a fatal flaw, a weakness in their blood, and subtly convinced Baston that they needed a strong hand to guide them through the darkness.

In a moment of weakness, Baston proposed to Elise, becoming her fourth husband.

His health deteriorated rapidly, leading to his official death being recorded as a suicide, a note found on his desk lamenting the family curse.

Now only the twins, Antoine and Andre, remained, witnessing the horror of their brothers’ deaths.

Elise’s behavior toward the twins was chillingly maternal, isolating them from the world while fostering paranoia about rival families seeking to claim their fortune.

She began to treat them as one person, eroding their individual identities and creating a rift between them.

When Andre fell ill, Elise became his constant caretaker, whispering soothing words that masked a more sinister intent.

He died, officially from consumption, leaving Antoine as the last surviving Devo brother.

In a state of terror, Antoine understood that Elise had orchestrated the destruction of his family, yet he felt powerless to act against her.

His life became a waking nightmare, filled with fear and resignation, as Elise continued her role as the devoted guardian.

In a desperate bid for freedom, Antoine fell in love with Cecil, a woman who believed his story.

They planned to escape, but Elise learned of their intentions and cruelly gifted Antoine a locket for Cecil, which was found clasped in her hand the next morning.

Cecil’s death was ruled a tragic heart failure, but Antoine knew the truth—Elise had eliminated his hope.

Broken and defeated, Antoine proposed to Elise, not as an act of love but as a surrender.

Their wedding was a somber affair, and just a week later, Antoine was found dead, ruled a suicide.

The story of the Devo family reached its tragic conclusion, but there was one final brother, Luke, hidden away in a seminary, raised for the priesthood.

Upon learning of his brothers’ deaths, he renounced his vows, believing he could redeem his family’s name.

Elise welcomed him with open arms, proposing marriage as a means to unite their fortunes for good.

Luke, seeing her as a penitent seeking redemption, agreed, believing it was God’s will.

Their wedding was a grand affair, yet Luke’s health began to decline, and he eventually faded away, dying peacefully in his sleep.

With Luke’s death, Elise became the sole heir to the Devo fortune, her true nature concealed beneath layers of philanthropy and charity.

She lived for another 40 years, becoming a legendary recluse, her dark history buried under the weight of her good deeds.

When she died at the turn of the century, she was mourned as one of New Orleans’ greatest benefactors, her name etched into the walls of institutions she funded.

But the truth of her actions remained hidden, buried in a sealed file that detailed her calculated campaign against her husbands.

Elise had not simply taken their lives; she had dismantled their identities, using their virtues and vices against them.

She had erased seven men and crafted a legacy that ensured no one would seek the truth.

This is the story of Elise Dala Valier Devo, a woman who married seven brothers and outlived them all, leaving behind a legacy shrouded in darkness.