NINE Children Die ~ A Case of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy ? Or Pure Evil??? Part 1
Hi Everyone. Today's story is going to be a gut wrenching one. It involves the death of 9, yes, you read that right... NINE CHILDREN!!! I read about this case many, many moons ago and it still tears at my heart and my eyes get misty. I have no other way to start this one, other than to simply dive into the facts of the case. This is the second case I am writing about Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSbP)... I will leave it up to you to decide whether you feel this fits the case, or not...
I will begin with the perpetrator...
This is going to be a shocking case of a serial killer, who is not just female, but a mother; and all her victims are her own children!!!
Marybeth Roe Tinning. She was born September 11, 1942 to Ruth and Alton Lewis in Duanesburg, New York, USA. Her childhood was not one of stability, as her father was often deployed overseas during World War II, It seems that she was shipped from one relative's home to another, as her mother worked to provide for her and her younger brother. Marybeth was always reminded that she was unwanted and her brother was the preferred one.
When Alton Lewis completed his active duty overseas and on homeland, he got a job working for General Electric (GE) which was the source of most people's employment in the area. At one point (1986), Marybeth would tell the authorities that her father would beat her and keep her in a locked closet; but later retracted the lie, admitting that he only used a flyswatter on her because he had terrible arthritis in his hands. He DID lock her in her room, but she now explained that she probably deserved it.
As for an education, Marybeth was just an average student who did complete highschool, but worked low paying jobs that didn't require any type of skill; until she got a job as a nurse's assistant at Ellis Hospital which was about 10 miles away from her hometown.
Marybeth married Joseph Tinning (Joe) in 1965, quickly folloing was the birth of their first child, Barbara (May 1967) and Joseph Jr. (January 1970). Tragedy followed in October 1971, when Alton Lewis passed away from a heart attack.
Marybeth was already displaying disturbing behaviour by 1974, where her husband, Joe was rushed to the hospital, where it was revealed that he was poisoned from barbiturate (anti-depressant, also used for hypnotics and anti-seizures). Oddly, Joseph knew that Marybeth tried to kill him, but he chalked it up to them being in a bad space at the time. She had stolen the medication from a friend's daughter, who had epilepsy. No charges were filed and Joe remained mum about it.
(Maybe it is just me, but I feel everything that occurred after that time could have been prevented. I, personally feel, Joe is just as responsible as Marybeth for what happens next!!!)
To be continued....
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