Offender Record · OFF-2026-194
Patricia Allanson (photo from the Radford University biography)
Patricia Vann Allanson
Also known as Mary Linda Patricia Vann, Pat Taylor, Pat Radcliffe
Sex
Female
Race
White
Born
1937
Custody
Released
States
GA, NC, VA, GE, PH, DE
Distinguishing featuresCalled 'The Deadly Magnolia' in media reports; described as petite and delicate in appearance
Custody
Released from Hardwick Correctional Institute in Milledgeville, Georgia in November 1984 (parole after serving approximately 7-8 years of a 20-year sentence); released from second prison term in 1999 after serving approximately 8 years; status after 2008 probation disposition unknown.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Where a record says named by police, no charge was ever filed: the record rests on a law enforcement agency's public identification of the deceased person, cited below. Not guilty by reason of insanity means the court found the act proven but the person not criminally responsible. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Patricia Vann Taylor Allanson was charged with and convicted of the attempted murder of her elderly husband's grandparents in Georgia in 1976, poisoning them with arsenic. She was sentenced to twenty years (two consecutive ten-year sentences). Released in 1984 after serving approximately seven years, she was later charged in 1991 with aggravated assault with intent to murder, theft, and impersonating a registered nurse in connection with injuries to and theft from an elderly Atlanta couple. She pleaded guilty to those charges and received an eight-year sentence, released in 1999. In 2008, she was charged with unauthorized distribution of controlled substances but received probation only.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date 1974, Zebulon, Henry County, Georgia
Attempted murder
Henry County Sheriff's Office, Georgia · Henry County Superior Court, Georgia · Arrested Aug 06, 1976 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Two consecutive 10-year sentences, total 20 years
Patricia Allanson administered arsenic-laced food to her husband's elderly grandparents, known as 'Paw' and 'Nona' Allanson, beginning in 1974. Both victims survived the poisoning attempt. Allanson befriended the elderly couple, became their primary beneficiary in their wills, and administered the poison over time. During this period, Allanson's house and barns burned down and she forged her husband's signature to collect insurance payments.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Allanson, Patricia; ALLANSON Patricia Vann Taylor - Serial Killer Database; Patricia Allanson (Pat Taylor), Serial Killer by Proxy – Georgia, 1976; Patricia Allanson
Aggravated assault with intent to murder
Fulton County District Attorney, Georgia · Fulton County Superior Court, Georgia · Arrested Apr 17, 1991 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Eight years (by plea agreement to seven counts including theft, attempted murder, unlawful acquisition of drugs, and practicing nursing without license)
Patricia Allanson and her daughter Debbie worked as caregivers for James Crist Sr. and his wife Betty Crist of Atlanta. James Crist died around Christmas 1988 and the family suspected poisoning, though the prosecution could only prove theft. Allanson obtained arsenic and other poisons, falsely represented herself as a registered nurse, and stole money and valuables from the Crist household. By plea agreement, she was not charged with Crist's murder or investigated further for Tom Allanson's parents' murders.
SourcesPatricia Allanson (Pat Taylor), Serial Killer by Proxy – Georgia, 1976; Patricia Allanson; Patricia Allanson: The Deadly Magnolia; Patricia Allanson: The Deadly Magnolia
Unauthorized distribution of controlled substances
Georgia law enforcement · Unknown · Arrested Feb 2008 · Charged (pending) Charged (pending) · Sentence: Probation only (plea agreement)
In February 2008, Patricia Allanson, age 70, was arrested for doctor shopping and fraudulently obtaining over 3,700 pain pills in less than one year. She was charged with three felony counts of unauthorized distribution with bail set at $22,500. She entered a plea agreement with a sentence of probation only.
SourcesPatricia Allanson (Pat Taylor), Serial Killer by Proxy – Georgia, 1976; Patricia Allanson; Patricia Allanson: The Deadly Magnolia
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
0
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
2
Victims suspected
Active years
1974–1991
Victim profile
Elderly, Family members, Acquaintances
Stated motive
Financial gain
Range from home
local
Accomplice
Yes
Education
some high school
Marital history
Married, Divorced
Children
3
Agencies
Law enforcement, prosecutors and corrections agencies the records show dealing with this person. An investigator working a case with a possible connection can start here.
Fulton County Grand Jury · GA
Indicted Patricia Allanson and daughter Debbie on April 17, 1991 on seven counts for crimes against the Crist family.
Source: Radford University Department of Psychology, Unknown Gender History blog
Henry County Superior Court · GA
Tried and convicted Allanson of attempted murder; sentenced to two consecutive 10-year terms on May 16, 1977.
Source: Radford University Department of Psychology, Killer.Cloud
Henry County Sheriff's Office · GA
Arrested Patricia Allanson on August 6, 1976 for the attempted murders of her husband's grandparents.
Source: Radford University Department of Psychology, Unknown Gender History blog
Georgia Department of Corrections · GA
Housed Patricia Allanson at Hardwick Correctional Institute in Milledgeville from 1977 until her parole on November 1, 1984.
Source: Radford University Department of Psychology, Killer.Cloud
Fulton County District Attorney's Office · GA
Prosecuted Allanson and her daughter Debbie for crimes against the Crist family; presented indictment on April 17, 1991 for aggravated assault with intent to murder, theft, and other charges. Negotiated plea agreement on June 12, 1991.
Source: Unknown Gender History blog, Murderpedia
Fulton County Superior Court · GA
Accepted Allanson's guilty plea on June 12, 1991 and sentenced her to eight years in prison.
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
DE
Germany
approx. 1963 – 1965 · Military family station
GA
Zebulon, Georgia
1973 – 1974 · Lived with husband Tom Allanson after meeting him
Henry, Georgia
1974 – Jul 03, 1974 · 52-acre farm property, named 'Kentwood Morgan Farm,' later 'Tara'
Milledgeville, Georgia
May 16, 1977 – Nov 01, 1984 · Hardwick Correctional Institute
Atlanta, Georgia
approx. 1982 – 1991 · Released from prison and worked as nurse caregiver for Crist family
GE
Georgia
approx. Jun 12, 1991 – 1999 · Second prison sentence for Crist family charges; facility unknown from sources
Georgia
approx. 1999 – present · Lived with stepfather and his new wife; operated doll shop called Pat's Pretty Playthings
NC
Wilmington, North Carolina
approx. Aug 22, 1937 – 1942
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
approx. 1942 – 1957
North Carolina
approx. 1958 – 1959
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
approx. 1965 – 1973
PH
Philippines
approx. 1957 – 1958 · Military family station
VA
Falls Church, Virginia
approx. 1959 – 1963
Timeline
Aug 22, 1937
Patricia Vann Taylor born in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Sep 06, 1952
Patricia, age 15, married SGT Gilbert 'Junior' Taylor in Atlanta, Georgia.
1973
Patricia met Tom Allanson in Georgia after leaving her first family.
1974
Patricia began administering arsenic-laced food to Tom's elderly grandparents (Paw and Nona Allanson); her house and barns burned down and she forged Tom's signature to collect insurance payments.
1974
Patricia and Tom purchased 52-acre farm in Zebulon, Georgia and named it Kentwood Morgan Farm; began raising Morgan horses.
May 09, 1974
Patricia married Tom Allanson in Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler-themed ceremony at Stone Mountain, Georgia.
Jul 03, 1974
Tom Allanson killed his parents, Walter and Carolyn Allanson, in their home; he was arrested and later convicted and sentenced to life.
Aug 06, 1976
Patricia Allanson arrested for the attempted murders of Paw and Nona Allanson.
May 02, 1977
Patricia Allanson's attempted murder trial begins.
May 06, 1977
Jury finds Patricia Allanson guilty of attempted murder.
May 16, 1977
Judge Holt sentences Patricia Allanson to two consecutive 10-year sentences to be served at Hardwick Correctional Institute in Milledgeville, Georgia.
1982
Patricia released from prison and changed her name to Pat Taylor; joined daughter Debbie working as nurse caregiver for wealthy clients including Crist family.
Nov 01, 1984
Patricia Allanson released on parole after serving approximately seven years.
1988
James Crist Sr. dies around Christmas; family suspects poisoning by Patricia Allanson.
Apr 17, 1991
Patricia Allanson and daughter Debbie arrested; Fulton County Grand Jury indicts them on seven counts including aggravated assault with intent to murder, theft, and practicing nursing without license.
Jun 12, 1991
Patricia Allanson pleads guilty to charges in plea agreement; sentenced to eight years in prison with proviso she not be charged with James Crist's murder or investigated for Tom's parents' deaths.
1999
Patricia Allanson released from prison; opens doll shop called Pat's Pretty Playthings and lives with stepfather.
2008
Patricia Allanson pleads guilty in 2008 drug case; receives probation only.
Feb 2008
Patricia Allanson, age 70, arrested for doctor shopping and fraudulently obtaining over 3,700 pain pills; charged with three felony counts of unauthorized distribution.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Killer.Cloud ·
Patricia Allanson - The Deadly Magnolia“She was arrested on August 22nd 1976 (Age 39), convicted on May 6th 1977 (Age 39), sentenced to two 10-year prison sentences at Hardwick Correctional Institute in Milledgeville, Georgia, US.”
News report · HubPages Discovery ·
Patricia Allanson: The Deadly Magnolia“Taking full responsibility for the thefts, Pat pleaded guilty to multiple charges in June 1991. She was sentenced to serve another eight years in prison.”
News report · Serial Killer Calendar ·
Patricia Taylor Allanson: The Deadly Magnolia“Convicted in 1977 of poisoning Tom Allanson's grandparents and served about eight years; later pleaded to seven counts in the Crist case and got eight years; released 1999.”
News report · Murderpedia ·
Patricia Allanson“She was sentenced to eight years. Patricia Taylor Allanson, the Deadly Magnolia, was released from prison in 1999. In February 2008, Patricia Taylor Allanson, age 70, was arrested and charged with doctor shopping for thousands of pain pills over the past year.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Allanson, Patricia“Pat Allanson arrested for the attempted murders of Paw and Nona Allanson (Tom's grandparents) on 08/06/1976; Jury finds Pat guilty of attempted murder on 05/06/1977; Judge Holt sentences Pat to two 10-year prison sentences to be served consecutively on 05/16/1977”
News report · Serial Killer Database Wiki ·
ALLANSON Patricia Vann Taylor - Serial Killer Database“In a shrewd and controversial plea bargain, she would agreed to seven charges, including theft, attempted murder, and posing as a registered nurse, if she would never be charged with the murder of Mr. Crist or investigated for the murder of Tom's parents. She was sentenced to eight years.”
News report · The Crime Wire ·
Patricia Allanson: The Deadly Magnolia“After notifying the authorities of her suspicions, tests showed that Nona and Papaw both had arsenic in their systems and a surprise testimony from Pat's daughter, Susan, claiming she saw her mother put arsenic in the elderly couple's food and drink caused Pat to finally face the consequences for her actions.”
News report · Unknown Gender History blog ·
Patricia Allanson (Pat Taylor), Serial Killer by Proxy – Georgia, 1976“Aug. 6, 1976 – Pat Allanson (39) arrested for the attempted murders of Paw and Nona Allanson (Tom's grandparents). May 6, 1977 – Jury finds Pat guilty of attempted murder. Nov. 1, 1984 – paroled.”
Other · Ann Rule / Simon & Schuster ·
Everything She Ever Wanted: A True Story of Obsessive Love, Murder, and Betrayal“For their wedding portrait, petite Pat Taylor and handsome Tom Allanson posed as Rhett and Scarlett. Both came from fine Southern families and dreamed of the Tara-like plantation where they would grow roses, raise horses, and move in the genteel circles of Atlanta society.”
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