Leonarda's bad luck started with birth. The result of an egregious act, Leonarda came into the world through blood and pain. She was beaten for existing by her mother. After finding a man who was kind and loved her, her mother scorned the relationship. Placing a curse on Leonarda, one that she took seriously. At time went on, the curse followed her where she went. When she finally bore a son, he was the apply of her eye. She didn't let him any freedoms as he grew, he felt the weight of her fear until early adulthood. Then when WWII broke out, he saw his own chance at freedom and joined the military. Leonarda for her part focused on how to keep him alive. A life for a life, that was right for her. Only the spells didn't work the first few attempts, until it was three lives for a life. When the police came knocking, it was for her son. She couldn't have that, confessing to all her crimes, once again keeping him safe.

Sources:

Green, Ryan. 2019. The Curse: A shocking true story of superstition, human sacrifice, and cannibalism

artoftheroot.com

https://medium.com/@rocknrollgeek1975/mother-dearest-the-crimes-of-leonarda-cianciulli-the-soap-maker-of-correggio-bc58c0567410

https://www.grunge.com/423095/details-you-didnt-know-about-serial-killer-leonarda-cianciulli/

https://murderpedia.org/female.C/c/cianciulli-leonarda.htm

https://allthatsinteresting.com/leonarda-cianciulli

https://theserialsisters.wixsite.com/home/post/episode-23-the-soap-maker-of-correggio-leonarda-cianciulli

https://husheduphistory.com/post/699235095917264896/keep-him-safe-the-awful-exchange-of-leonarda