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The harrowing chronicles of Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s shocking revelations had the whole world glued to their TV screens last month. In Lifetime’s limited series The Prison Confessions of Gypsy-Rose Blanchard, the now-famous activist and author details the inhumane abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother. At the time, healthcare professionals had no name for Dee Dee Blanchard’s mental illness, but it is nowadays known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
Munchausen syndrome, by proxy, describes a mental illness in which a caregiver creates imaginary and often severe health conditions in another individual, most often a young child. This behavior is inexplicably linked to the perpetrator’s desire for attention, wealth, or both. In many notable cases, the victims have died due to complications stemming from invasive surgeries and medications. Gypsy-Rose’s story was a highly publicized affair, but many more Munchausen syndrome by proxy nightmares never made headlines.
Beverley Allitt
Due to the heinous nature of her crimes, Beverley Allitt earned the nickname “The Angel of Death.” In 1991, Allitt was convicted of murdering four infants, all while attempting to murder three more. She was later found to have caused grievous bodily harm to another six. Allitt operated as a State Enrolled Nurse at Grantham and Kesteven Hospital in Lincolnshire, wherein she carried out the attacks. However, police were left stumped as to how precisely the murders were performed.
It was later determined that Allitt’s motive was garnering attention due to Munchausen by proxy. Allitt is currently serving thirteen concurrent life sentences at Rampton Secure Hospital in Nottinghamshire.
Wendi Michelle Scott
Born in Frederick, Maryland, mother of two Wendi Michelle Scott was charged in 2007 with intentionally sickening her four-year-old daughter. During her trial, Scott was found guilty of first and second-degree child abuse, as well as reckless endangerment. It was determined that Scott fed her daughter magnesium and withdrew blood to render her feeble. These precautions caused her daughter to suffer from bouts of severe diarrhea, blood loss, and vomiting.
Over 72 procedures were performed on Scott’s daughter, including blood transfusions and bone marrow tests — none of which were obligatory. Years prior to her hearing, Scott was discovered to have feigned cancer for about a year. She shaved her head, pluck her eyelashes, and deliberately use a wheelchair or walker.
Julie Gregory
Julie Gregory, author of Sickened, recounts the story of her Munchausen by proxy in the compelling memoir. As a “sick” child, Gregory would be force-fed pills by her mother, denied food, and even told to “act” sick. Gregory did as she was told to appease her mother. This led to her eventually believing her constant lethargy was in fact the result of a physical illness. Then, high on drugs and malnourished, Gregory would be transferred from hospital to hospital in search of “answers.”
It wasn’t until one day, during a lecture, that Gregory learns about Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Just as Gypsy-Rose Blanchard had come to her senses eventually, as did Gregory. Sickened uncovers the disturbing truth about an often overlooked form of child abuse.
Kathy Bush
Jennifer, the daughter of Kathy Bush, had undergone over 40 surgeries and spent over 600 days in hospitals by the time she was eight. As a result, Kathy earned public sympathy for her daughter’s supposed gastrointestinal disorders. Bush even received a visit from First Lady Hillary Clinton, who used Jennifer’s plight as evidence to reassess the healthcare system. However, by 1996, Bush was charged with child abuse and even found to be fraudulently claiming Medicare benefits.
She was eventually proven guilty of tampering with Jennifer’s medical equipment and even inducing or prolonging many of her illnesses. Post-arrest, Jennifer was moved into a foster home, where she slowly but surely regained her strength. Kathy served three years of her sentence and reconnected with Jennifer via correspondence in 2005.
Eminem
The autobiographical film 8 Mile details elements from Eminem‘s life that occasionally involve his fictional mother, Stephanie Smith, played by Kim Basinger. Eminem’s mother is depicted as an alcoholic, but according to the rapper, she was always unfit to parent. In his song “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” he specifies the exact illness in a lyric: “…going through public housing systems victim of Münchausen syndrome. My whole life I was made to believe I was sick, when I wasn’t ’til I grew up and blew up…”
Due to his mother’s instability, Eminem was awarded custody of his younger brother, Nathan, whom he also raised. Despite criticizing her mother in “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” Eminem repudiated his prior comments in his 2013 song “Headlights.” He even apologized to her for some of his past lyrics and no longer performs “Cleanin’ Out My Closet” at live shows.
