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Munchausen’s Syndrome also worth considering here, in which case the family would certainly already be known to medical services,
though probably unlikely if Dad is a medic.
Worth mentioning also two other categories:
Mercy killing – a murder committed out of love, usually to spare a child suffering, which could be caused by disease or perhaps the
potential loss of a mother if the mother herself is contemplating suicide. It’s not unusual for a parent or parents to take their own life
simultaneously in this scenario.
Spouse revenge filicide – the killing of a child in ‘revenge’ for something, often infidelity. The aim is to ‘get back’ at the spouse.
Please bear in mind that these are first thoughts only but they should give you something to go on. I’d be on the lookout for custody
disputes, previously existing psychological or psychiatric issues; previous involvement with social services; mother’s predisposition to
suicide; revenge impulses pertaining to her husband (did he cheat on her?); and check out her support network. No doubt you’ve done
many of those things already.
I would need to come and meet Rachel Jenner if you want to progress these any further in terms of getting a detailed psychological
picture of her. On the basis of what I saw in the press conference, she certainly possesses the capacity for uncontrolled outbursts of
anger and a potential impulse for revenge (i.e. her threats to Ben’s abductor).
Of course none of this rules out the possibility that the perpetrator of this crime (whether it be abduction or murder) is a non-family
member – which DI Fraser and I have spoken about. I’m currently formally writing up my thoughts on that and will send directly to DI
Fraser and cc you in on.
Please give me a call if you’d like to discuss.
Best, Chris
Dr Christopher J Fellowes
Senior Lecturer in Psychology
University of Cambridge
Fellow of Jesus College
‘Forward it to me please, Jim,’ she said once she’d read it. ‘There’s some good stuff in there. I’ll
edit and pass on to the rest of the team. We should also take note of his point about the wider family.’
‘The sister interests me, but that’s all the wider family there seems to be. There’s also a friend,
Laura Saville, who Emma’s met at the house.’
‘Has she been interviewed?’
‘Not yet, but she’s a priority. And on top of that the school have sent over a very long list of people
that Ben could have had contact with.’
‘Anybody stand out?’
‘I met with the head teacher and Ben’s class teacher. They were very obviously stressed out, but
trying to be helpful. The Head’s a little defensive I’d say, it’s obviously a nightmare for him,
especially because he’s only been in the job since the beginning of this school year. They raised one
or two concerns about Rachel Jenner that you already know about.’
‘You mean the broken limb that the child had?’
‘Yes, but I can’t see any evidence of wrongdoing there. I do think she’s been depressed though,
that’s pretty clear, and it might be the most significant thing from our point of view.’
‘Teacher?’
‘Late twenties I’d say, eager to assist, perhaps not the sharpest tool in the box, but seems perfectly
nice. They’re behaving like people struggling to cope in a difficult situation.’
‘Understandably.’
‘The only one who rang a few alarm bells was the teaching assistant.’