Member-only story
Mothers who commit the unthinkable crime of killing their children.
“Killer moms” refer to mothers who commit the unthinkable crime of killing their own children. These cases are rare but particularly horrifying because they defy deeply ingrained societal expectations of motherhood as nurturing, protective, and self-sacrificing.
The reasons and psychological motivations behind such crimes are complex and vary greatly from case to case. Many “killer moms” suffer from mental health disorders, traumatic backgrounds, or deeply rooted emotional disturbances.
Understanding these cases often requires exploring psychological, social, and cultural factors.
Common Psychological Factors in “Killer Moms”
- Postpartum Disorders: Some mothers who kill their children suffer from severe postpartum mental illnesses.
Postpartum depression and psychosis are extreme forms of mental health disorders that can occur after childbirth.
In postpartum psychosis, a mother may experience hallucinations, delusions, or a break from reality, which can lead her to commit violent acts, including harming her child. Andrea Yates, who drowned her five children in 2001, is an infamous case of postpartum psychosis leading to child murder.
