Victim JC, a 2 1/2-year-old boy suffered from asthma, severe pneumonia, mysterious infections, and sudden fevers. He was hospitalized 20 times during an 18-month period. Doctors were even concerned that he may have AIDS. However, they soon began to suspect that the mother may have caused the child's problems. Finally, when the boy complained to his mother's friend that his thigh was sore because "Mommy gave me shots," the authorities were called.

Upon searching the residence, investigators seized medical charts and information and hypodermic needles. It was also believed that material also entered the boy through a catheter doctors surgically inserted in the arteries near his heart to give him constant medication.

Family History

JC's mother was a 24-year-old homemaker and part-time fast-food restaurant worker. When the mother was 7 years old, an older sister died of a brain tumor at Children's Hospital. During her sister's prolonged illness, JC's mother, by necessity, spent long periods of time at the hospital. Although this occurred long ago, JC's mother remembered the experience vividly.

During JC's many hospitalizations, the mother seemed almost obsessively involved in medical matters and hospital routines. She spent hours in the hospital library reading medical texts. She had few friends outside the hospital, and the medical and nursing staff described her as an isolated person.

JC's father was a 24-year-old church janitor, afflicted with many health problems--the most notable being severe insulin-dependent diabetes. During JC's many hospitalizations, his father appeared distant and only marginally involved. JC's 7-year-old sister was in good health and was named after her mother's deceased sister.

Follow up

Since JC was removed from his home, he has been healthy. As in previous cases, only Mrs. C was present when the boy became ill, and until investigators showed evidence linking her to her child's illnesses, she denied any wrongdoing. Assault charges were filed, and Mrs. C's case is pending.

This article is reprinted from the June, 1992 issue of the FBI's Law Enforcement Bulletin