Obsessed with True Crime discussion

I'm really wanting to read some TC that deals with munchausen by proxy syndrome, but I can't find any. I checked the group shelf and didn't see that topic. Does anyone have any recs?

Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood

A Mother's Trial

From Cradle to Grave: The Short Lives and Strange Deaths of Marybeth Tinning's Nine Children

Good-Bye, My Little Ones: The True Story of a Murderous Mother and Five Innocent Victims

Will see if I can find a few more.

It's believed that Noe had munchausen by proxy, not sure if this book explores that at all but.... Cradle of Death

Cruel Deception

My Sweet Angel: The True Story of Lacey Spears, the Seemingly Perfect Mother Who Murdered Her Son in Cold Blood

Oh my gosh Caitlin! Thank you so much! I'll have to check these out!!

The memoir sounds incredibly interesting and Fishface left a 5 star review on Goodbye My Little Ones, so I can't wait to get my hands on those! Again, thank you so much for taking the time to find these for me! You're awesome!

Feel free to add these to the shelf and add the tag. But no pressure. If you don't I will add them myself, just don't know when ......

I think most or all of these are on the shelf already.

Except they've all fallen OFF the shelves in typical Goodreads fashion. Re-adding them, with a special shelf for this subject.

Thank you for sharing them added to my must read shelves!!

OK, some of them were still on the shelves. I panicked.

Ashleigh wrote: "The memoir sounds incredibly interesting and Fishface left a 5 star review on Goodbye My Little Ones, so I can't wait to get my hands on those! Again, thank you so much for taking the time to find ..."

I also cannot recommend A Mother's Trial too highly.

I've added that one to my TBR also. To your knowledge, do any of these talk about the reasoning/mental health of the mothers?

Ashleigh wrote: "I've added that one to my TBR also. To your knowledge, do any of these talk about the reasoning/mental health of the mothers?"

They try, but there's rarely very much to work with. The moms deny everything saying you don't understand how sick my little girl is, only I can see it -- which is no doubt part of the psychology right there.

Fishface wrote: "OK, some of them were still on the shelves. I panicked."

There were a lot of clues dropped in A Mother's Trial. Fascinating stuff.

This makes me wonder whether regular Munchausen's -- faking illness in yourself -- ever rises to the level of a crime. Insurance or disability fraud, for example, or maybe bringing phony complaints against doctors who refuse to do unnecessary operations.

Any cases anyone knows about (she asked hopefully)?

Is it considered Münchhausen, when people say they have cancer and then accept money and gifts?

Because I know you can be charged for that, but I don't know if those people actually think they have cancer? or are they knowingly scamming people?

Erin wrote: "Is it considered Münchhausen, when people say they have cancer and then accept money and gifts?

Because I know you can be charged for that, but I don't know if those people actually think they ha..."

With Munchausen's you knowingly fake illnesses to get attention. The situation you describe would definitely qualify if it is a hardened pattern in the person's life, something they don't know how to stop. Someone just using GoFundMe to scare up money for cancer he doesn't have on a one-time basis is probably just a ripoff artist, though.

I loved that book called Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood

Christine wrote: "I loved that book called Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood"

Agreed.

Christine wrote: "I loved that book called Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood"

I was riveted with the book Sickened and it one of the the most cruel and devious books I've read about Munchausen.

The cruelty in that book is nothing compared to what I saw in A Mother's Trial.

Fishface wrote: "The cruelty in that book is nothing compared to what I saw in A Mother's Trial."

I read this book quite some time ago but I need to refresh my memory.

Fishface I need to read that book called A Mother's Trial and Rita I hope you liked the book called Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood

Christine wrote: "Fishface I need to read that book called A Mother's Trial and Rita I hope you liked the book called Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood"

Oh yes Christine I did and was a little overwhelmed by the cruelty of this woman. I find it remarkable that Juliie had the courage to survive in spite of that witch. I am fascinated with the whole concept of Munchausen by Proxy cases and if you come across others I hope you post them here. Thanks Christine!

I agree with you Rita and that book was so good and I loved how Julie Gregory wrote about her whole life and I felt so bad for her and her brother and I will post other Munchausen by Proxy cases and your welcome

Christine, what other cases are you aware of???

With respect to From Cradle to Grave: The Short Lives and Strange Deaths of Marybeth Tinning's Nine Children and the monstrous Marybeth Tinning:

She was just paroled from prison after serving 30 years and immediately reunited with her feckless & faithful husband, who continued to visit her without interruption over the course of her incarceration.

I can’t stomach HIM either!

(Waving hello to everyone, I just joined the group, happy to be here to discuss our shared obsession with TC)

Well, she wasn't faking illness with her kids. She was just flat-out killing them.

Fishface wrote: "Well, she wasn't faking illness with her kids. She was just flat-out killing them."

It’s been a long time since I read the book, but as I recall she worked the SIDS angle masterfully. She became addicted to the avalanche of pity and commiseration she received from the community. So many babies dying under her eye, must be genetic, right? a tragic family curse, yes? The SIDS diagnosis became problematic when an adopted child died. And then I think it was a 3 y/o at some point.

Even the death of the adopted son didn't tip them off, if I'm remembering right. She went right ahead and offed a couple more kids before anyone raised an eyebrow.

This, despite the fact that the two cases that "proved" SIDS ran in families had already been shown to be multiple infanticides just like Tinning's case. Pathetic!

Christine wrote: "I agree with you Rita and that book was so good and I loved how Julie Gregory wrote about her whole life and I felt so bad for her and her brother and I will post other Munchausen by Proxy cases an..."

Great Christine and thanks so much! This is one of my all-time favourites to read when it comes to women killers.

Your welcome Rita and I agree with you

Christine wrote: "Fishface here are the other cases about Munchausen by Proxy

Sharp Objects
Have You Found Her
Just What Kind of Mother Are You?"

Two of these books are fiction. The non-fiction book: Have You Found Her is about Munchausen Syndrome not Munchausen by Proxy

‘Have You Found Her” sounds really interesting!

Wanted to give a heads up about this special which will be aired on the ID channnel 11/06:

https://www.investigationdiscovery.co...

There had been a docu done on this case which was excellent. For those who don’t about this story: Gypsy was a victim of her mother, who not only sickened her for years for the usual Munchausen by Proxy ‘pleasures’, but who also made Gypsy’s torture their livlihood. Until the night an adult Gypsy and her boyfriend said “Munch on this, Mommy” and stabbed her to death.

Lucille wrote: "‘Have You Found Her” sounds really interesting!

Wanted to give a heads up about this special which will be aired on the ID channnel 11/06:

https://www.investigationdiscovery.co......"

Yes it does. And I have heard of Gypsy and her mother.

Oops I’m sorry if I got it wrong Lady ❤️ Belleza

Christine wrote: "Fishface here are the other cases about Munchausen by Proxy

Sharp Objects
Have You Found Her
Just What Kind of Mother Are You?"

Christine, these look not unlike fiction. Are they true stories?

Fishface wrote: "Christine wrote: "Fishface here are the other cases about Munchausen by Proxy

Sharp Objects
Have You Found Her
Just What Kind of Mother Are You?"

C..."

Fishface, please see my post above (message 42: by Lady ♥ Belleza, Gif Princesa). The only non-fiction book is Have You Found Her. It is also not about Munchausen by Proxy.

I saw that story about Gypsy and her mother on the ID channel and that story made me sick and it made me very angry

Lady ♥ Belleza wrote: "Fishface wrote: "Christine wrote: "Fishface here are the other cases about Munchausen by Proxy

Sharp Objects
Have You Found Her
[book:Just What Kind of Mother Are Y..."

Oops, missed that. But Munchausen's is very interesting in itself, too.

Has anyone mentioned this recent MbyP case? My Sweet Angel: The True Story of Lacey Spears, the Seemingly Perfect Mother Who Murdered Her Son in Cold Blood. 4 stars from me.

I know it's gotten mentioned by somebody at some point...

Lucille wrote: "Has anyone mentioned this recent MbyP case? My Sweet Angel: The True Story of Lacey Spears, the Seemingly Perfect Mother Who Murdered Her Son in Cold Blood. 4 stars from me."

Yes message #3

Erin wrote: Is it considered Münchhausen, when people say they have cancer and then accept money and gifts?

I’m rather late to the discussion here, but this is one of my ‘pet’ interests and I read tons about it!

Erin, what you’re describing is called Malingering. It’s when a person feigns or exaggerates an illness for gain. It may be drugs, money, time off from work, insurance. This is not considered a mental illness, or a factor IOU’s disorder like Munchausen’s. The whole phenomenon is such a rabbit hole to go down. Try searching for ‘Munchausen by Internet’ too, a new problem in our day and age, fascinating!

Ana wrote: "Erin wrote: Is it considered Münchhausen, when people say they have cancer and then accept money and gifts?"

That's called "lying like a rug." :)

It's Münchausen's if they do it strictly to be the center of a medical drama or to get sympathy from their relatives.

Do you think more women get munchausen but they are strong enough to fight it? Would the thoughts and desire to get the achievement of sympathy still be consider munchausen, or do they need to take that step of actually bringing them to the doctor for a bs illness?

I think the syndrome probably exists in a lot of people we never hear about. I know a few myself. One in particular goes on and on about how much danger her children are in from this or that deadly illness, but when something actually happens to the kids she doesn't even notice.

Just this minute I learned online that Eminem has accused his mother of drugging him with benzos to make him seem developmentally delayed as a child. I even found a book at GR, written by his mom, denying everything and talking about how she made him a star. Just wondering if this is the book I should read to find out about this, or is another one better?

The most popular true crime story I’ve seen with this was the gypsy rose Blanchard case definitely look it up I haven’t seen any books yet but looking into it 📚🤗