Vanessa Richardson

Perhaps if Wanda hadn't been so smitten, she'd have noticed his flaws. To others, Mitchell was a hopeless addict, sexually twisted and narcissistic. But she was blind to any red flag. The courtship was rocket-quick, and in 1985, Mitchell proposed. On November 29, 1985, the very same day Mitchell's divorce from his previous wife was made official, he and Wanda married.

Perhaps if Wanda hadn't been so smitten, she'd have noticed his flaws. To others, Mitchell was a hopeless addict, sexually twisted and narcissistic. But she was blind to any red flag. The courtship was rocket-quick, and in 1985, Mitchell proposed. On November 29, 1985, the very same day Mitchell's divorce from his previous wife was made official, he and Wanda married.

But almost immediately, Wanda noticed a change in her groom's personality. While he never hit her, Mitchell's timidity gave way to bouts of screaming. Temper tantrums were now common. Wanda kept these rages to herself. She wanted others to think she'd found the perfect mate this time, but at home she felt alone again.

But almost immediately, Wanda noticed a change in her groom's personality. While he never hit her, Mitchell's timidity gave way to bouts of screaming. Temper tantrums were now common. Wanda kept these rages to herself. She wanted others to think she'd found the perfect mate this time, but at home she felt alone again.

So in the fall of 1986, 41-year-old Wanda reached out to her children and asked them to live with her. Only the three youngest, Derek, Mark, and Lou Ray, gave her the time of day. They still lived with their father while the older kids were out on their own. Life under Talmadge's roof was still hard for the children, even in Wanda's absence.

So in the fall of 1986, 41-year-old Wanda reached out to her children and asked them to live with her. Only the three youngest, Derek, Mark, and Lou Ray, gave her the time of day. They still lived with their father while the older kids were out on their own. Life under Talmadge's roof was still hard for the children, even in Wanda's absence.

He hadn't found reliable work, and his temper was formidable. They thought it worthwhile to give their mom another shot. So by By the new year, the three kids moved in with Wanda and Mitchell. Wanda was elated, determined to prove she could be a better mother now. She even let Mark bring his dog, and little Lou Ray bring her pet bunny, Peaches.

He hadn't found reliable work, and his temper was formidable. They thought it worthwhile to give their mom another shot. So by By the new year, the three kids moved in with Wanda and Mitchell. Wanda was elated, determined to prove she could be a better mother now. She even let Mark bring his dog, and little Lou Ray bring her pet bunny, Peaches.

But when the kids settled into the newlyweds' apartment, they noticed their mom was acting even weirder than before. For starters, Wanda was even more withdrawn than they remembered. She never looked them in the eye. She ignored their attempts at conversation. Within days of their return, she unearthed an old crutch, her dusty, discarded baby doll collection.

But when the kids settled into the newlyweds' apartment, they noticed their mom was acting even weirder than before. For starters, Wanda was even more withdrawn than they remembered. She never looked them in the eye. She ignored their attempts at conversation. Within days of their return, she unearthed an old crutch, her dusty, discarded baby doll collection.

Once again, she began to care for them, as if they were alive. While we can't be entirely certain what led Wanda back to this coping mechanism, she may have been afraid of a second rejection from her children. If they went back to live with her father, she'd have to face her shortcomings as a mother a second time. But her dolls would never leave her.

Once again, she began to care for them, as if they were alive. While we can't be entirely certain what led Wanda back to this coping mechanism, she may have been afraid of a second rejection from her children. If they went back to live with her father, she'd have to face her shortcomings as a mother a second time. But her dolls would never leave her.

Dr. Susan Morrow and Mary Lee Smith at the University of Utah Department of Educational Psychology conducted a study. They found that being sexually abused can produce intense emotions of grief, pain, and rage. Their research showed that to avoid threatening feelings, some victims nurtured themselves by playing with stuffed animals or dolls.

Dr. Susan Morrow and Mary Lee Smith at the University of Utah Department of Educational Psychology conducted a study. They found that being sexually abused can produce intense emotions of grief, pain, and rage. Their research showed that to avoid threatening feelings, some victims nurtured themselves by playing with stuffed animals or dolls.

One participant in the study confessed to playing with paper dolls. She said, As if she'd never missed a day caring for the stuffed babies, Wanda picked up right where she left off. She sewed new clothes for the dolls and swaddled them in cozy blankets. Wanda spoke to the dolls and marked their responses. She even carried them with her outside or buckled them into a car seat when she ran errands.

One participant in the study confessed to playing with paper dolls. She said, As if she'd never missed a day caring for the stuffed babies, Wanda picked up right where she left off. She sewed new clothes for the dolls and swaddled them in cozy blankets. Wanda spoke to the dolls and marked their responses. She even carried them with her outside or buckled them into a car seat when she ran errands.

Her actual kids were keenly aware that something wasn't right with their mom. But it wasn't like they could bring their concerns to their mom's new husband. They noticed that something wasn't right with Mitchell either. He practiced hypnotism. He locked up the television at night. He even shot Mark's pet dog with his hunting rifle.

Her actual kids were keenly aware that something wasn't right with their mom. But it wasn't like they could bring their concerns to their mom's new husband. They noticed that something wasn't right with Mitchell either. He practiced hypnotism. He locked up the television at night. He even shot Mark's pet dog with his hunting rifle.

When Mark asked why he would kill a sweet dog, Mitchell remarked the creature had gone mad. Beyond Mitchell's obvious oddities, 12-year-old Lou Ray was frightened by something in him she couldn't describe. His glances at her were invasive, as if he was staring past the surface of her body to make his way into her soul. If she gave him a hug goodnight, he held her just a tad too long.

When Mark asked why he would kill a sweet dog, Mitchell remarked the creature had gone mad. Beyond Mitchell's obvious oddities, 12-year-old Lou Ray was frightened by something in him she couldn't describe. His glances at her were invasive, as if he was staring past the surface of her body to make his way into her soul. If she gave him a hug goodnight, he held her just a tad too long.