1. The Death of Margret Schlosser, Postpartum Psychosis and CIT
Peer Support
The Death of Margret Schlosser, Postpartum Psychosis and CIT  
Sergeant A.D. Paul, Plano PD
Nicole Bowers, LCSW, Plano PD

2. This Presentation I. Case study of the Margret Schlosser Homicide
II. Other Texas Cases
III. Postpartum Psychosis/Depression
IV. Building collaborations with LEO CIT/Families/Providers/CPS

3. The Commitment of Dena Schlosser
On January 9th Dena Schlosser gives birth at home to Margret Schlosser.
January 15, 2004, Welfare concern call.
Dena Schlosser is APOWW after fleeing from her 5 year old child on a public sidewalk and being unresponsive to responding officers. Texas CPS is also referred after baby is found to be home alone.
w/m 35 (software sales), w/f 36 (Social worker, BA in Psychology), three daughters 9,6, 10 month old. Family moved to Plano to join The Water of Life Church after losing home in Ft. Worth. Struggle finding employment “let God take their lives”. *No history of mental illness. APOWW 11/22/2004, Mother running away from her 5 year old, found at major intersection non-responsive. New born left at home and cuts on wrist week old. CPS Contacted. “Family Preservation Case Opened. Cased closed Aug 9th,2004…Lifepath, PISD and family to use church and friends as support system.

4. Dena Schlosser Circumstances
Husband’s loss of job in Ft. Worth.
Moved to new town (Plano) after job loss to be near church.
Becomes estranged from friends and family (except for church).
Had “baby blues” after births of first two children.
Gives birth to third child at home with mid-wife and doesn’t sleep for three (3) days after birth and then just for few hours a night. Dena cuts wrist, but not reported by husband.

5. The Homicide
911 Call

6. The Homicide The response and crime scene. The Arrest.
Prosecution & Trial (ASSOCIATED PRESS : McKINNEY, Tex., April 7 (AP) — A woman charged with murder for cutting off her baby daughter's arms in what her lawyers portrayed as a religious frenzy was found not guilty by reason of insanity Friday by a judge. The woman, Dena Schlosser, 38, will be sent to a state mental hospital and held until she is no longer deemed a threat to herself or others. "My own expectation is that she will remain at the hospital for many, many years," David Haynes, her lawyer, said
April 8, 2006
Texas Mother Who Killed Baby Is Acquitted on Insanity Grounds
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
McKINNEY, Tex., April 7 (AP) — A woman charged with murder for cutting off her baby daughter's arms in what her lawyers portrayed as a religious frenzy was found not guilty by reason of insanity Friday by a judge.
The woman, Dena Schlosser, 38, will be sent to a state mental hospital and held until she is no longer deemed a threat to herself or others.
"My own expectation is that she will remain at the hospital for many, many years," David Haynes, her lawyer, said

7. The Homicide
Baby dies after mother allegedly severs arms - US news - Crime & courts | NBC News#.V0XN2KAo674

8. The Church
The Word According to Doyle Davidson - D Magazine

9. Other Texas Cases ANDREA YATES Houston – June 20, 2001 DEANNA LANEY
37 y/o
drowned her 5 children (Noah-7; John-5; Paul-3; Luke-1; Mary-infant)
History of Postpartum Depression and Psychosis (treatment began 1999)
Believed she was protecting them from Satan.
NGRI; Rusk State Hospital.
DEANNA LANEY
Tyler (New Chapel Hill)– May 10, 2003
39 y/o
Bludgeoned 3 sons with stones, killing two (8 y/o and 6 y/o) and seriously injuring the other (14 month old)
Delusional Disorder, Grandiose Type
Believed God told her to do it
Laney was found NGRI; Vernon State Hospital
Released May 2012

10. Other Texas Cases PADMAJA ENJETI Plano – November 2007
37 y/o; diagnosed with Psychotic Disorder, N.O.S., in May 2007; December 2007 (after incident) diagnosed with Depression with Psychotic Features
Called Plano PD and reported “I tried to kill her”
Dropped her 1-1/2 y/o daughter from the second floor onto hardwood floor 14 feet below, called the police and then did it a 2nd time while on the phone with dispatchers
2008 jury found her guilty of attempted capital murder, aggravated assault and injury to a child
Spent 3 years in prison under psychiatric care & was released in 2011

11. The Postpartum Period
~ 85% of women experience some type of mood disturbance.
Symptoms are typically mild and short-lived
10 to 15% of women develop more significant symptoms of depression or anxiety
Postpartum psychiatric illness is typically divided into three categories:
I. Postpartum blues
II. Postpartum depression
III. Postpartum psychosis.

12. Postpartum Blues
~50 to 85% of women experience postpartum blues during the first few weeks after delivery
Most professionals consider this a normal experience following childbirth rather than a psychiatric illness.
Rather than feelings of sadness, women with the blues more commonly report
mood dysregulation
tearfulness
anxiety or irritability
These symptoms typically peak on the 4th or 5th day after delivery; may last for a few hours or a few days, typically remitting spontaneously within 2 weeks of delivery.

13. Postpartum Depression
PPD typically emerges over the first 2-3 postpartum months but may occur at any point after delivery.
Some women actually note the onset of milder depressive symptoms during pregnancy.
Postpartum depression is clinically indistinguishable from depression occurring at other times during a woman’s life.

14. Postpartum Depression
The symptoms of postpartum depression include:
Depressed or sad mood
Tearfulness
Loss of interest in usual activities
Feelings of guilt
Feelings of worthlessness or incompetence
Fatigue
Sleep disturbance
Change in appetite
Poor concentration
Suicidal thoughts

15. Postpartum Psychosis
Is a rare event that occurs in approximately 1-2/1000 women after childbirth.
Its presentation is often dramatic, with onset of symptoms as early as the first 48 to 72 hours after delivery.
The majority of women develop symptoms within the first 2 postpartum weeks.
5% will commit suicide; 4% will commit infanticide

16. Postpartum Psychosis cont.
Symptoms most closely resemble those of a rapidly evolving manic (or mixed) episode; high mood, racing thoughts
Depression
Severe confusion
Loss of inhibition
Delusional beliefs are common and often center on the infant.
Auditory hallucinations that instruct the mother to harm herself or her infant may also occur.
Risk for infanticide, as well as suicide is significant in this population.

17. “When the Bough Breaks”
Angela Thompson
Sonia Hermosillo

18. Child Protection Services
TEXAS FAMILY CODE
SUBTITLE E. PROTECTION OF THE CHILD
ABUSE:
D) failure to make a reasonable effort to prevent an action by another person that results in physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child;

19. Child Protection Services
Neglect - placing a child in or failing to remove a child from a situation that a reasonable person would realize requires judgment or actions beyond the child's level of maturity, physical condition, or mental abilities and that results in bodily injury or a substantial risk of immediate harm to the child;

20. CIT Resources Postpartum Support International
Children’s Advocacy Centers…
Under one roof they house law enforcement (e.g., Family Violence Units) , Child Protective Services, therapists, caseworkers, interns, nurses and volunteers. Additionally, they work hand-in-hand with the District Attorney’s office to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
Plano Police Department Mental Health Coordinator.
Houston Police Department Mental Health Division

21. HB 2466 Passed in 2017 Texas legislative session
Postpartum screenings by pediatrician during well-baby appointment
Payable by Medicaid

22. Bottom Line
Postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency and requires long term attention and follow-up to ensure the safety of the mother and child.

23. Contact Us A.D. PAUL SERGEANT PLANO POLICE DEPARTMENT APAUL@PLANO.GOV
OFFICE:
NICOLE BOWERS, LCSW
MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR
OFFICE:
REBECCA SKILLERN, M.A., LPC-S
POLICE OFFICER/INSTRUCTOR
HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
OFFICE: