Megan Huntsman: Admitted Killing Her Six Babies
Megan Huntsman made the news yesterday after her estranged husband, Darren West, was at the house where her two young adult children and teenager lived. He was cleaning out the garage when he found a dead infant’s body in a box. He called the police. Upon investigation, police found six more more bodies for a total of seven deceased babies.
The story is absolutely mortifying. And when you read the news, its quite surprising to hear the neighbors speak well of Huntsman. She even babysat for the neighbor’s grandchildren! Chilling in hindsight.
For a woman to do this, you would think that she suffered some mental illness that other people might have picked up on.
Many of you are wondering what expression she is making in the photo above, which I suspect was taken when she was taken into custody.
First, I notice the stress in the forehead, which is indicated by the wrinkles.
Second, I notice her oblique eyebrows, which can indicate either stress, concern, or sadness. Or all of the above.
And last I notice her eyes which are unusually wide open, and display a fear look to me. They could also indicate surprise.
To me, her expression is indicative of a woman who is totally stressed out and concerned for her well-being, and has the potential to be suffering from a mental illness. Her expression is very unique to say the least and often odd expressions come from mental illness because the brain fires confusing signals that you and I don’t get.
I agree with you on the mental illness aspect. Of course, many people would say that of course she was mentally ill to do this, but there is a look. I have someone very close to me that struggles with mental illness. Her expressions in photographs are often very off, just like this, if she will even let me photograph her. It’s interesting if you cover one side of her face (in the picture above) at how different her eyes look. It’s almost like two different expressions in her eyes. Is there anything to that?
I have spent some time working in an environment with people with mental health issues and I have seen this expression a lot. She is frightened, anxious, confused and very upset. I suspect she is feeling quite distraught but is unable to cry or express that normally despite experiencing it, and I think this discovery has brought a lot of demons to the surface. My hunch is that she isn’t an evil person, but that she is very unwell and this awful revelation is a very sad, very complex and very loaded problem. I feel so sad for everyone in this situation, including Megan.
Her eyes remind me a lot of Stephanie Lazarus, the LA cop trial that Sprocket (a blogger on this site) covered.
http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608008872045448916&w=334&h=186&c=7&rs=1&pid=1.7
Sprocket here.
I’m sorry, but I don’t think that look is anything like the look Lazarus had when she was photographed in court during her arraignment.
My first thought when I saw this picture was mental illness and a lot of fear. I don’t know how she could have fooled all the neighbors to the point that she was allowed to babysit for them. I do know, however, that some mentally ill people can pull themselves together for short periods of time. Since she and her husband were separated, it could have been that her mental illness was enough to ruin that marriage.
The most money to hire an expert will win this case, States have deep pockets.
She is very stressed out as I know her youngest daughter and the girls have talked to her since she has been in jail and she is distraught and feeling very guilty and this women is very alone and very afraid. I am not trying to excuse what she has done but there is a story behind it and I would bet to say she was a victim of Domestic Violence and /or abuse if I was to bet. I feel so sad for her and her beautiful daughters. I pray for her to find peace as the truth comes to light. The estranged husband is no angel himself, as his past criminal history.