Why Mothers Kill: A Forensic Psychologist's Casebook PDF
Preview Why Mothers Kill: A Forensic Psychologist's Casebook
Geoffrey R. McKee Why Mothers Kill A Forensic Psychologist’s Casebook 2006 OxfordUniversityPress,Inc.,publishesworksthatfurther OxfordUniversity’sobjectiveofexcellence inresearch,scholarship,andeducation. Oxford NewYork Auckland CapeTown DaresSalaam HongKong Karachi KualaLumpur Madrid Melbourne MexicoCity Nairobi NewDelhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto Withofficesin Argentina Austria Brazil Chile CzechRepublic France Greece Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan Poland Portugal Singapore SouthKorea Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam Copyright©2006byOxfordUniversityPress PublishedbyOxfordUniversityPress,Inc. 198MadisonAvenue,NewYork,NewYork10016 www.oup.com OxfordisaregisteredtrademarkofOxfordUniversityPress Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced, storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmitted,inanyformorbyanymeans, electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise, withoutthepriorpermissionofOxfordUniversityPress. LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData McKee,GeoffreyR. Whymotherskill:aforensicpsychologist’scasebook/GeoffreyR.McKee. p. cm. Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex. ISBN-13978-0-19-518273-6 ISBN0-19-518273-1 1.Filicide. 2.Infanticide. 3.Womenmurderers. 4.Mothers—Psychology. 5.Forensicpsychology—Casestudies. I.Title. HV6542.M382006 364.3'74—dc22 2005025827 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica onacid-freepaper Preface Fewimagesaremoresymbolicofoursenseofpeaceandsecuritythanamother protectivelyholdingherinfantchild.Ataculturallevel,thethemeofmaternal nurturinghasbeenrepeatedinallknownsocietiesthroughouthistoryinsto- ries,statues,plays,drawings,paintings,photographs,andfilms.Themothers inthiscasebookaretragicexamplesoftheothersideofthecoin. Mymotivationforwritingthisbookhasbeentohelpmedicalandmen- talhealthclinicians,legalandprotectiveservicesprofessionals,andthepub- licanticipateandideallyintervenebeforethesehorrificeventsoccur;thatis, topreventmaternalfilicide,infanticide,andneonaticide.AlthoughIhavein- cludedthemostrecentresearchfindingsandhighlightednumerouspractical methodsofinterventionwithinthisbook,Ibelievethatitmayultimatelybe themothers’storiesthatwillhelpusalltobetterunderstandthesefractured, fatalrelationships.Thechaptersthatfollowintroduce: Cathy, a 14-year-old stepfather-incest victim, who threw her newborn againstthewallaftergivingbirthaloneinherbedroom. Edna,acollegefreshman,whosuffocatedherminutes-oldbabyinanact ofdelayedabortion. Francine,age22,whodrownedher5-month-oldchildsothatshecould returntoherlifeofnightlyparties. Glenda, an exhausted 39-year-old obese mother of five, who ended her infantdaughter’slifebysuffocationwhilenursingherinherbed. AlcoholicHarriet,whoselastphysicalabuseofher4-year-oldsonresulted inhisdeath. Janet,who,inanisolatedfitoffrustration,shookherinfantsoviolently thatherbabyexpired. Kaye, a mother with mental retardation, whose unattended toddler son drownedinthebathtub. Barbara,whoseperceptionofrealitywassoimpairedbydelusionsthatshe believedhertwodemon-possessedchildrenhadtodiesothatshecouldsave themandherhusband. Impulse-riddenSusan,whoallowedthecarcarryinghertwosonstosink intothewatersofJohnD.LongLake. ChronicallydepressedMarilyn,who,followingherfavoriteson’sacciden- taldeath,killedherselfonhersecondtryafterpoisoninghertworemaining children. viii Preface Olivia,whosuffocatedhertoddlerdaughtertopreventhermother-in-law fromgainingcustodyonceagain. Pauline,who,withherequallygreedyex-convictboyfriend,drownedher preteen son in a staged accident to collect his inheritance from his deceased grandparents. Samantha,acrack-addictedmotherofa9-year-olddaughterwhomshe prostitutedfordrugs,whopushedherchilddownastaircasetokeepherfrom revealingthesexualexploitation. Rhonda,who,toobtainattentionandsympathyfromhospitalstaff,cov- ertlycreatedmedicalemergenciesbyseriallysuffocatingandrevivinghertwo sonsuntileachdied. Manypeoplehavehelpedmealongtheway.Gratefulappreciationisextended toKirkHeilbrunforhiswisecounselintheearlystagesofthebook’sforma- tionandforhiscarefulcritiqueofaninitialdraftofthebeginningchapters. Thanks,too,forLitaSchwartz’sthoughtfulcommentsandusefulsuggestions asthemanuscriptwastakingshape.Iwasfortunateaswelltohavehadmany activediscussionswithGeorgeHolmes,whoseprobingquestionshelpedmeto clarifymygoalsandobjectivesforthisproject—hisunselfishprofessionalism hasmadethisabetterbookindeed.JoanBossert,anexceptionaleditor,and herOxfordUniversityPressstaffcreatedanurturingenvironmentthatallowed thistoddlerauthortolearnhowtowalk.SpecialthanksgotoSueAnn,who hasbeenanunfailingsourceofencouragementandsupporttomethrough38 yearsofmarriage. Ialsothankmymotherandfather:a“goodstart”—finished. Contents 1 Introduction 3 2 Neonaticide,Infanticide,andFilicideResearch:WhatDo WeKnow? 9 3 ClassificationofMaternalFilicide:WhatDoWeKnow? 22 4 RiskAnalysisandtheMaternalFilicideRiskMatrix 34 5 PreventionandRiskInterventionPoints 54 6 DetachedMother,DenialType:Cathy 61 7 DetachedMother,AmbivalentType:Edna 74 8 DetachedMother,ResentfulType:Francine 87 9 DetachedMother,ExhaustedType:Glenda 100 10 Abusive/NeglectfulMother,RecurrentType:Harriet 111 11 Abusive/NeglectfulMother,ReactiveType:Janet 123 12 Abusive/NeglectfulMother,InadequateType:Kaye 135 13 Psychotic/DepressedMother,DelusionalType:Barbara 147 14 Psychotic/DepressedMother,ImpulsiveType:SusanSmith 156 15 Psychotic/DepressedMother,SuicidalType:Marilyn 175 16 RetaliatoryMother:Olivia 191 17 PsychopathicMother,FinancialType:Pauline 206 xContents 18 PsychopathicMother,AddictedType:Samantha225 19 PsychopathicMother,NarcissisticType:Rhonda238 20 FinalThoughts:WhatHaveWeLearnedandWhatDoWe NeedtoDo?253 References261 Index283 Why Mothers Kill 1 Introduction Barbarapeekedoutherlivingroomwindowandstaredatthestrangerswalk- ingby.Sheknewwhattheywerethinking.Theyweregoingtotakeawayher childrenandputherinamentalhospital.She’dseenothersintheneighbor- hoodlookingatherandmakingplanstoabducther.Shefeltexhausted,buta voicetoldhertostayvigilant.Sheknewheronlyplaceofsafetywasherhouse. Sherefusedtoallowherchildrentoplayoutside. Barbara’slifehadbecomeconfusingtohersincethebirthofherfirstchild, Marcus,4yearsago.ShehadbecomedepressedafterMarcuswasborn,buther doctor told her she was just having “baby blues” and would be better soon. TakingcareofMarcuswasmoredifficultthansheanticipated:Herarelyslept throughthenightandwasoftencrankyandcryingduringtheday.Although herhusband,Tom,helpedwhenhecould,hewasoftengoneonbusinesstrips, leavingheraloneathomewithMarcus.WhenTomwasoutoftown,Barbara wouldnotgetoutofbedinthemorningandwouldkeepMarcusinthebed- roomwithher.Formanyweeks,sherarelyshoweredandfeltunabletoclean, cook,andmanageherhouseholdduties.Marcuswoulddeveloprashesonhis bottombecauseBarbarawastooexhaustedtochangehisdiapers.Shebegan tohavepanicattacksandworriedconstantlyaboutwhethershewasorcould becomeagoodmother.Tombecameveryconcernedaboutherinabilitytocare forMarcusandarrangedforhertoseealocalpsychiatrist,whorecommended that she be hospitalized. Barbara was terrified about being sent to a mental hospital, believing that once she was admitted she would never be released. Sherefusedtogototheemergencyroombutdidacceptmedicationthatthe psychiatristprescribed. 3 4 WhyMothersKill Themedicationshelpedherbecomemoreenergetic,andforawhileshe felt more optimistic and self-confident. She was able to take care of Marcus andwashappyabouthermarriage.Shehadalwayswantedalargefamilywith Tom,sotheybegandiscussinghavinganotherchild.Whenshediscoveredshe waspregnant,Tomwasoverjoyedandbeganorganizingthesecondbedroom asanurseryfortheirnewbaby.ThoughBarbarawasinitiallythrilledatbeing pregnant,herworriesandanxietiessoonreturned. WhenTomwasgoneonbusinesstrips,shewasunabletostopherrecur- rentpanicepisodes.Shewouldawakeneachmorningwithasenseofdread. Shewasnauseouswith“morningsickness,”butherfrequentvomiting,dueto excessiveanxiety,continuedintohersecondandthirdtrimestersofpregnancy. Thoughdepressedanddespondentoverhernewmaternalresponsibilities,she didnothavesuicidalthoughtsbutoftenfeltshewasgoingtodieduringher attacksofpanic. ApproximatelytwoweeksafterHeatherwasborn,Barbarafearedthatshe waslosinghermind.Shebegantohearmumblingsandnoisesinthehouse.A fewweekslater,shebelievedshehadclearlyheardavoicetellinghershewasa badmother.Whenshereturnedtoherpsychiatricappointment,shedidnot tellherdoctoraboutthevoice,becauseshewascertainthathewouldputher inthehospital. Barbarabecamefearfulandexcessivelyanxiousaroundotherpeople;then shebeganbeingsuspiciousoftheirreactionstoher.Thevoicewhisperingin herearwasclearerandmorefrequent;occasionallysheheardother“persons” talkingtoher.Thoughthevoicesinitiallyscaredher,astimewentbyshebe- gantotrustthattheywereprotectingherfrompeoplewishingtoharmher. SherealizedthatMarcus,her4-year-oldson,andHeather,her8-month-old daughter,hadbeguntoactstrangelyandhadstoppedlisteningtoher.They hadbecomeunrulyandrebellious,andshefeltunabletomanagethem.They looked at her strangely and resisted her attempts to comfort them. Marcus begantowhispertoHeatherabouther,justliketheothersoutsideherhome whotalkedabouther. Aweekbeforeshekilledthem,Barbarawasfinallyabletounderstandwhat hadbeenhappeningtoher:MarcusandHeatherhadbecomedemonizedby evilforces.Theywerecrazyandhadmadehercrazy,too—herchildrenhadto bestoppedbeforetheyinfectedTom.Todaywasthedayshewoulddoit. Tom had left early for the office. He had seemed somewhat distant and distracted and had given her a funny look as he went out the door. Barbara knewthatTomwouldbesafefromthechildrenaslongashestayedatwork. ThehousewasquietbecauseMarcusandHeatherwerenotyetawake.Shewent intothechildren’sbedroomandwatchedthemsleep.Theylookedsoinnocent, but she knew differently: They were sleeping to trick her into letting down herguard.Avoicesaid“Doit,doitnow!”Shetookapillowfromthefloor andplaceditoverMarcus’sface.Hestruggledforonlyafewminutes.When Barbara raised the pillow, Marcus’s eyes were closed, and he looked to be at Introduction 5 1 peace.SheturnedtoHeather’sbedwiththepillow,andsoonherdaughterwas alsostill.SheknewherchildrenwerenowinHeaven,safefromthedemons. Shedressedthechildrenintheirfavoriteoutfits,madetheirbeds,andthen laidthemoutwiththeirhandscrossedovertheirchests.Barbarasmiledforthe firsttimeinmonthsandwalkeddownstairs.ShecalledTomatworktotellhim thatshehadsavedhimfromtheirchildren.ShewasalarmedbyTom’sshock anddisbelief.ShewasconfusedwhenTomtoldherthathewouldcallforthe police and an ambulance. She then realized that she had been too late, that the children had already done their damage to him. Barbara was devastated andbegantocryhelplessly.Whenthepoliceandambulancearrivedwithher husband,sheofferednoresistanceandwastakentothehospital. Parentalmurdersofchildrenhaveoccurredforcenturiesandhavebeen documentedinvirtuallyeveryknownsociety,fromadvanced,industrialized countriestoindigenousgroups.Filicidepertainstothekillingofchildrenolder than1yearofage.Infanticidereferstohomicidesofchildrenwhohavenotyet hadtheirfirstbirthdays.Neonaticideisreservedforchildrenwhoaremurdered ontheirfirstdayoflife. Few crimes generate greater public reaction than that of a mother who murdersherchild.AftercasessuchasthoseofSusanSmithandAndreaYates are reported by the media, we ask: “Why? How could a mother do such a thingtoherownchild?”Ourreactionsvaryfromcompassionandsympathy torageandanger.Wearerepelledyetmesmerizedbytheemergingdetailsof thecase.Wearemorbidlycuriousabouthowamothercoulddestroythisfirst andmostfundamentalrelationshipwehaveallhadinourlives.Thesecrimes oftenevokememoriesofourownchildhoods,whenwemayhavefearedour parents’anger:Wemaywonderwhetherourmothersmayhavehadintentions tokill,harm,orabandonus.Forthoseofuswhoareparents,wemayrecall episodesinourliveswhenwefeltsoenragedatourchildrenthatourphysi- caldisciplinewentbeyondacceptedlimits—wewereshockedtolearnthatwe werecapableofsuchviolence.Wemayalsoremember,withguilt,wantingto leavehometobefreeoftheburdensofinsistent,demandingchildren.Inour deepest,mostsecretthoughts,however,wemaybefearfulofwhetherwetoo, asparents,mightactonthisdarkestimpulseoffilicide. Thepurposeofthisbookistopreventmaternalfilicide,infanticide,and neonaticide.Thiscasebookhasbeenwrittentohelpmentalhealth,medical, legal, law enforcement, and protective services professionals, as well as the generalpublic,understand,analyze,andideallyintervenebeforethesetragic eventsoccur.Thecontentsofthebookderivefromtwosources:(1)myforensic psychologicalevaluationsof32teenagegirlsandadultwomenwhohavebeen chargedwithkillingtheirchildren;and(2)theprofessionalliteraturerelevant tothedescription,riskanalysis,andpreventionofmaternalfilicide. Because this book comprises actual cases of maternal filicide from my evaluationworkinnumerousstatesoverthepast26years,anumberofsteps have been taken to mask the women’s identities to conform to professional
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