Special Report

Moms to Monsters

Unraveling secrets and lies of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, the most diabolical form of child abuse

The story of Hope Ybarra

It started with one lie, then another and another. Soon the Fort Worth woman, by all appearances a loving mother, would put her youngest daughter at great risk and ended up behind bars.
Video: Hope's prison interview, in depth

Hope Ybarra has spent five years in a Gatesville prison, where she told the Star-Telegram that she felt "like a monster" for what she did to her daughter.
Tarrant County tough on medical child abusers

While many prosecutors shy away from going after the perpetrators of medical child abuse, Tarrant County has filed criminal charges in six cases since 2009.
A look at four of the mothers charged in Tarrant County

Three moms received probation and one had the charges dismissed.

Exploring Munchausen, past and present

A look at the history of Munchausen syndrome and Munchausen syndrome by proxy, including two national cases of medical child abuse.