About the author
Anne Berit Vestby: Author and Filmmaker
Anne Berit Vestby is an accomplished storyteller who seamlessly blends her skills as a filmmaker and author. With roots in Selbu, Norway, where Belle Gunness’ chilling story began, Vestby has dedicated her career to uncovering the truth behind the mystery. She now presents the story of Belle—pieced together at last, a puzzle solved through years of dedicated and unique research.
Her history and approach to work
- Family roots in Selbu, Norway, where Belle Gunness’ story began.
- Grew up in her grandparents house, built on the same ground as Belle Gunness family originated.
- Directed "Only Belle - a serial killer from Selbu", considered the most accurate and in-depth documentary on Belle Gunness to date.
- An investigative journalist for many years, dedicated to uncovering the truth—with a keen ability to identify patterns and see the bigger picture that others often miss.
- Her work spans from investigations into complex issues in Russia, Brazil, Bangladesh, and the USA—to documenting profound human experiences across cultures and borders with a fearless approach to filmmaking.
- Her work is centered on the human mind, grounded in the understanding that some may appear ordinary, yet their brains are wired differently.
- The truth is out there. She doesn’t run from it—she chases it
I’ve spent years uncovering the untold truth of Belle Gunness—her story deserves to be heard because it illuminates the darkest corners of human nature and centers on a personality that, in many ways, reflects traits still admired today: relentless ambition, self-interest, and an unflinching determination to achieve the goals at any cost.
But this isn’t just Belle’s story. It’s also the story of Asle Helgelien—another Norwegian immigrant whose quiet persistence brought the truth to light. Without him, the world might never have known what truly happened in that farmhouse in La Porte. He represents the other side of this history: the ordinary individuals whose determination and courage ensure that darkness doesn’t remain hidden.
Through years of research and rare discoveries, I’ve pieced together the fragments of Belle’s life—and Asle’s—to offer a fuller, more human portrait of the lives caught in her orbit, and to explore why their stories still matters today.