From mothers who poisoned their children to nurses who became serial killers, these are the most disturbing cases of caregivers who made their victims sick for attention, sympathy, and personal gain.

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IN THIS EPISODE: We’ll look at the disturbing case of Dee Dee Blanchard who suffered from a horrible mental condition that caused her to torture her daughter – and we’ll look at similar, terrifying cases of other people doing the same to those under their care and supervision. It’s the sinister truth of Munchhausen by proxy. (The Disturbing Truth Behind ‘Mommy Dead and Dearest’) (Other True Cases of Munchhausen by Proxy) *** It was 1909, and Bud and Temple Abernathy rode their horses, just the two of them, from Oklahoma to Santa Fe… and then made the return trip home. A 1,300-mile horseback trip. Big deal you say? That’s what life was like back then, you say? What if I told you that Bud was only 9 years old, and Temple was only five? (The Astounding Adventures of the Abernathy Boys) 
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Lead-In
00:01:26.414 = Show Intro
00:03:04.459 = “Mommy Dead And Dearest” and Other True Cases of Munchhausen by Proxy
00:25:24.607 = Astounding Adventures of the Abernathy Boys
00:44:34.961 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break
SOURCES and RESOURCES – and/or --- PRINT VERSION to READ or SHARE:
“The Disturbing Truth Behind ‘Mommy Dead and Dearest’” by Stefanie Hammond for Graveyard Shift: https://tinyurl.com/yxhgf866
“Other True Cases of Munchhausen by Proxy” by Carly Carano for Unspeakable Times: https://tinyurl.com/y485ykp5
“The Astounding Adventures of the Abernathy Boys” by M.J. Alexander for 405 Magazine: https://tinyurl.com/y5c8grn9
=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: January 06, 2021
EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/MunchausenByProxy
ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
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