Vanessa Richardson

But instead of meting out healthy discipline, she threatened suicide, hid from her children, or fell despondent. By 1983, 38-year-old Wanda wanted out of her life. It seems she came to the conclusion that since she hated her life so much, it was time to draft an exit plan and leave. Wanda's youngest daughter, Lu-Rei, was about to turn eight.

But instead of meting out healthy discipline, she threatened suicide, hid from her children, or fell despondent. By 1983, 38-year-old Wanda wanted out of her life. It seems she came to the conclusion that since she hated her life so much, it was time to draft an exit plan and leave. Wanda's youngest daughter, Lu-Rei, was about to turn eight.

Around her birthday, her mother insisted she get baptized. Wanda stitched a new dress for Lu-Rei, styled her hair, and promised to let her ride in the front passenger seat to the ceremony. In the weeks leading up to the baptism, Wanda seemed almost happy. But when Luray's day finally arrived, Wanda was in a state. All the kids could feel it.

Around her birthday, her mother insisted she get baptized. Wanda stitched a new dress for Lu-Rei, styled her hair, and promised to let her ride in the front passenger seat to the ceremony. In the weeks leading up to the baptism, Wanda seemed almost happy. But when Luray's day finally arrived, Wanda was in a state. All the kids could feel it.

Their mom was teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Still, despite not wanting to go to church at all, the Thompson kids piled into her car. On the family's arrival, Wanda dropped the kids off at the entrance. She told them she'd be in after she found a parking spot. She watched her six children walk into the building. Behind her a line of cars honked to encourage her to move on.

Their mom was teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Still, despite not wanting to go to church at all, the Thompson kids piled into her car. On the family's arrival, Wanda dropped the kids off at the entrance. She told them she'd be in after she found a parking spot. She watched her six children walk into the building. Behind her a line of cars honked to encourage her to move on.

When Luray finally stepped up to the altar to be baptized, she looked at the congregation, but Wanda was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, she knew. Her mom was gone, and she had a hunch Wanda wouldn't be returning home anytime soon. Wanda drove to her mother's and begged to stay. Dora eventually caved. Every day she suggested Wanda contact her kids, but the days piled up.

When Luray finally stepped up to the altar to be baptized, she looked at the congregation, but Wanda was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, she knew. Her mom was gone, and she had a hunch Wanda wouldn't be returning home anytime soon. Wanda drove to her mother's and begged to stay. Dora eventually caved. Every day she suggested Wanda contact her kids, but the days piled up.

Wanda never picked up the phone. After months of hiding out, she finally found the guts to face her children and husband. But it was too late. Wanda's family had given up on her. The kids pulled away, ultimately refusing to see her. They knew they couldn't rely on her to be a real mom. Talmadge ignored her too. In 1984, a year later, he filed for divorce. The children stayed with him.

Wanda never picked up the phone. After months of hiding out, she finally found the guts to face her children and husband. But it was too late. Wanda's family had given up on her. The kids pulled away, ultimately refusing to see her. They knew they couldn't rely on her to be a real mom. Talmadge ignored her too. In 1984, a year later, he filed for divorce. The children stayed with him.

Ashamed and angry, Wanda retreated deep into herself. Her dissociative behaviors flared up. Wanda knew she'd never repair the damage she'd done to her kids, so she stopped reaching out. She tried to make a fresh start instead. To that end, Wanda saw a doctor who prescribed psychotropic drugs, but she hated the idea of chemically altering her mind and simply refused to take them.

Ashamed and angry, Wanda retreated deep into herself. Her dissociative behaviors flared up. Wanda knew she'd never repair the damage she'd done to her kids, so she stopped reaching out. She tried to make a fresh start instead. To that end, Wanda saw a doctor who prescribed psychotropic drugs, but she hated the idea of chemically altering her mind and simply refused to take them.

To her, pills weren't the answer. God was. Devout as ever, she sought help through a group therapy program within the Mormon church. Even there, Wanda had trouble making friends. Still, she worked on picking up the pieces of her broken life. She secured a tiny apartment and volunteered as a church organist. She took typing courses and found a temp job, too.

To her, pills weren't the answer. God was. Devout as ever, she sought help through a group therapy program within the Mormon church. Even there, Wanda had trouble making friends. Still, she worked on picking up the pieces of her broken life. She secured a tiny apartment and volunteered as a church organist. She took typing courses and found a temp job, too.

Though she was starting from scratch at 40 years old, Wanda was optimistic. But her positive outlook may have been the result of something else, meeting a handsome new man at group therapy. Brian David Mitchell was a thin man with gray eyes. Eight years Wanda's junior, 32-year-old Mitchell was a recovering LSD and heroin addict. Despite this, Wanda and Mitchell had quite a bit in common.

Though she was starting from scratch at 40 years old, Wanda was optimistic. But her positive outlook may have been the result of something else, meeting a handsome new man at group therapy. Brian David Mitchell was a thin man with gray eyes. Eight years Wanda's junior, 32-year-old Mitchell was a recovering LSD and heroin addict. Despite this, Wanda and Mitchell had quite a bit in common.

They were both the black sheep of their families and both trying to get over troubled marriages. Like Wanda, Mitchell was timid in his demeanor and found it difficult to make friends. They were both artistic. Mitchell designed jewelry and Wanda played the organ and could sew. And they shared a commitment to the Mormon church.

They were both the black sheep of their families and both trying to get over troubled marriages. Like Wanda, Mitchell was timid in his demeanor and found it difficult to make friends. They were both artistic. Mitchell designed jewelry and Wanda played the organ and could sew. And they shared a commitment to the Mormon church.

But more than anything, Wanda and Mitchell connected because they were nursing shattered egos. Add that to their broken confidences and how much they feared being alone, and you had a match made in despair. Unlike her previous husband, Mitchell was a leader. Despite this, he was soft-spoken. He appeared steady, kind, too wonderful to be true.

But more than anything, Wanda and Mitchell connected because they were nursing shattered egos. Add that to their broken confidences and how much they feared being alone, and you had a match made in despair. Unlike her previous husband, Mitchell was a leader. Despite this, he was soft-spoken. He appeared steady, kind, too wonderful to be true.