Andrea Dunlop

During this time, the hospital's suspicions of medical child abuse prompted covert video surveillance and two reports to Child Protective Services, or HHSA, as it's known in California. The second of these reports leads to a court-ordered separation from Madison's parents, which takes us up to where we begin our episode today.

On February 5th, 2020, juvenile court judge Michael Imhoff dismissed the second Health and Human Services Agency, HHSA, complaint and returned custody of Madison to her parents, Bill and Dana. So importantly, we do not have a copy of this judge's order because it's not part of the public record. So we do not have the full story of why the judge made this decision.

On February 5th, 2020, juvenile court judge Michael Imhoff dismissed the second Health and Human Services Agency, HHSA, complaint and returned custody of Madison to her parents, Bill and Dana. So importantly, we do not have a copy of this judge's order because it's not part of the public record. So we do not have the full story of why the judge made this decision.

On February 5th, 2020, juvenile court judge Michael Imhoff dismissed the second Health and Human Services Agency, HHSA, complaint and returned custody of Madison to her parents, Bill and Dana. So importantly, we do not have a copy of this judge's order because it's not part of the public record. So we do not have the full story of why the judge made this decision.

But there are several interesting quotes included in the lawsuit that have also appeared in the media coverage that give us a bit of insight. As to the evidence presented at trial about the abuse itself, all we know is that the judge ultimately ruled that he found the allegations of Munchausen by proxy to be, quote, unfounded.

But there are several interesting quotes included in the lawsuit that have also appeared in the media coverage that give us a bit of insight. As to the evidence presented at trial about the abuse itself, all we know is that the judge ultimately ruled that he found the allegations of Munchausen by proxy to be, quote, unfounded.

But there are several interesting quotes included in the lawsuit that have also appeared in the media coverage that give us a bit of insight. As to the evidence presented at trial about the abuse itself, all we know is that the judge ultimately ruled that he found the allegations of Munchausen by proxy to be, quote, unfounded.

Now, as a reminder, the role of a juvenile court judge in a case like this is to determine whether or not the parents can provide a safe home for their child, which this judge evidently believed that they could at this time. Now, as we've discussed many times on this show, this judge's decision could mean a lot of things.

Now, as a reminder, the role of a juvenile court judge in a case like this is to determine whether or not the parents can provide a safe home for their child, which this judge evidently believed that they could at this time. Now, as we've discussed many times on this show, this judge's decision could mean a lot of things.

Now, as a reminder, the role of a juvenile court judge in a case like this is to determine whether or not the parents can provide a safe home for their child, which this judge evidently believed that they could at this time. Now, as we've discussed many times on this show, this judge's decision could mean a lot of things.

It could mean that he didn't find the evidence presented at trial to be convincing. It could mean that he didn't have any understanding of what Munchausen by proxy abuse is, which unfortunately is often the case with judges. It could also mean that he doesn't believe Munchausen by proxy even exists. Again, not as uncommon as one would hope.

It could mean that he didn't find the evidence presented at trial to be convincing. It could mean that he didn't have any understanding of what Munchausen by proxy abuse is, which unfortunately is often the case with judges. It could also mean that he doesn't believe Munchausen by proxy even exists. Again, not as uncommon as one would hope.

It could mean that he didn't find the evidence presented at trial to be convincing. It could mean that he didn't have any understanding of what Munchausen by proxy abuse is, which unfortunately is often the case with judges. It could also mean that he doesn't believe Munchausen by proxy even exists. Again, not as uncommon as one would hope.

And in fact, this order includes a pretty charged comment about Munchausen by proxy from Judge Imhoff, who said that Madison's parents, Bill Meyer and Dana Gaske, had been, quote, branded with their own scarlet letter, meaning that of being Munchausen by proxy perpetrators.

And in fact, this order includes a pretty charged comment about Munchausen by proxy from Judge Imhoff, who said that Madison's parents, Bill Meyer and Dana Gaske, had been, quote, branded with their own scarlet letter, meaning that of being Munchausen by proxy perpetrators.

And in fact, this order includes a pretty charged comment about Munchausen by proxy from Judge Imhoff, who said that Madison's parents, Bill Meyer and Dana Gaske, had been, quote, branded with their own scarlet letter, meaning that of being Munchausen by proxy perpetrators.

This judge also seems to have pretty strong feelings about the use of covert video surveillance, saying, quote, the way it was implemented was an unbelievable invasion of privacy, an insensitive invasion of privacy. And this covert video surveillance is pretty central to this lawsuit.

This judge also seems to have pretty strong feelings about the use of covert video surveillance, saying, quote, the way it was implemented was an unbelievable invasion of privacy, an insensitive invasion of privacy. And this covert video surveillance is pretty central to this lawsuit.

This judge also seems to have pretty strong feelings about the use of covert video surveillance, saying, quote, the way it was implemented was an unbelievable invasion of privacy, an insensitive invasion of privacy. And this covert video surveillance is pretty central to this lawsuit.

So what do we know about what was captured on this video surveillance, which took place while Madison was in the hospital with her parents? So during the juvenile court proceedings, county officials claimed that the footage showed, quote, Madison fabricating her symptomology and the mother being complicit.