Latest news with #Alyssa
The Sun
11 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Mum caught committing sick act on her frail daughter, 3, as she lay in a hospital bed – & it exposed an even darker past
LYING in her hospital bed, three-year-old Alyssa was desperately ill – painfully thin and dehydrated, her little frame covered with tubes. Her apparently doting mother Brittany Phillips sat by her side. But, when the nurses' backs were turned, she did the most unspeakably depraved act to her defenceless little girl. 4 4 When no one was looking, Phillips smeared human faeces onto Alyssa's feeding tube in a bid to make her MORE ill. She was aping a case she read about online concerning Emily McDonald, a 23-year-old mother from Austin who, four months earlier, had been sentenced to 20 years in prison for poisoning her daughter by putting poo onto her IV catheter. It was later revealed that Phillips had keyed in terms to her computer like 'poo in the feeding tube' and 'pee in veins'. Sick poisoning Hours later, Alyssa developed a rare and extremely dangerous blood infection caused by her mother's perverted act. Without the swift actions of doctors at Cook Children's Medical Centre – she could have suffered from heart failure, a stroke or even death. And that was just the tip of the iceberg of the horrendous abuse Phillips had put her daughter through in her short life. Phillips had insisted that Alyssa had to be in leg restraints for medical reasons. She also said she needed to be fed by a tube as she choked if she ate solid food. The little girl was emaciated and her growth stunted. Several family members had been so concerned that they'd filed reports with the CPS in Fort Worth, Texas, but no action was taken. Distant family members Bill and Laura Waybourn had been suspicious ever since they'd seen Alyssa at a family party a few months before. 4 They'd heard Phillips warn everyone that Alyssa couldn't eat anything, if she did, she'd choke. "We witnessed her eat a piece of cake and she didn't choke at all. She appeared to be very hungry," Waybourn said. And his wife, a CPS worker "was suspicious". "She got a close-up look at Alyssa and felt like something wasn't right. But nobody had any idea what was really going on behind the scenes, which was actually torturous," he told The Daily Mail. It transpires Phillips had Munchhausen by proxy – also known as medical child abuse – where a parent or care giver fakes, exaggerates and even causes illness in their child for the purpose of getting attention or some other benefit. A later search of her laptop revealed pages and pages of online research into the illnesses and symptoms she then tried to manufacture in her defenceless young daughter. It also showed her prolific activity on mums' internet forums – where she catalogued Alyssa's many 'illnesses' in a bid for sympathy. The day that changed everything In August 2011, a few weeks after that family party, Alyssa was taken to Cook's hospital, where her mother told medics she had dehydration. This was one of many hospital visits Alyssa had endured by the time she was three, so much so, she had spend much of her life in hospitals, and was worryingly underweight and short for her age. Despite concerned friends and family filing several reports to CPS over the years, it was this hospital visit that set off alarm bells with medical staff. During that day, Phillips repeatedly tried to stop Alyssa from eating, claiming she would choke, despite medical staff observing otherwise. She was aggressive and rude, and she piled blankets on her daughter then claimed she had a fever. She appeared to paint Alyssa's mouth blue and then claimed she was alarmingly cold. Then, Phillips suddenly demanded blood tests on her daughter. The blood test results revealed a life-threatening infection that doctors said had to have been caused by the three-year-old being poisoned. Medics feared Phillips was abusing her child, so moved Alyssa to another room which had surveillance cameras monitoring any activity inside. Phillips quickly noticed the cameras and was furious. Alyssa, on the other hand, under the watchful eye of a camera, rapidly got better. So much so, hospital staff alerted the authorities and Alyssa was taken out of Phillips' care and an investigation was launched. Following a brief period in foster care, the Waybourns took the little girl into their home, later adopting her. In an interview, Bill Waybourn said they 'saw tremendous improvements immediately' adding: 'She started eating by mouth everything in sight. The doctors were blown away by how well she was doing.' But over time, the Waybourns noticed trauma manifesting in Alyssa's behaviour. 'She was really protective of her food. If she had a plate of food and got down from the table for a minute and came back and the plate was gone, she would be extremely upset,' Waybourn recalled. 'She also had a funny gait where she would walk on her toes. We had to coach her out of doing that, to walk on her whole foot.' Alyssa's reaction to medical staff and treatments was also telling. British cases of Munchausen Syndrome revealed In August 2016 a woman from south London has been jailed for fraud and child abuse after causing her children to undergo surgery for fictitious medical problems. Croydon Crown Court heard the mother of six, who cannot be named for legal reasons, persuaded doctors to prescribe copious medication and provide equipment for her children worth more than £145,000, which - as they did not require it - was potentially dangerous for them, the prosecution said. She also convinced them to perform invasive operations and insert feeding tubes into her son and daughter's stomachs. Serial killer nurse Beverly Allitt, dubbed the Angel of Death was given 13 life sentences in 1993 for murdering four children, attempting to murder another three and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to further six at Grantham and Kesteven hospital in Lincolnshire. The former nurse was diagnosed as suffering from Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP) when she carried out the attacks between 1991 and 1993. In January 2010, Lisa Hayden-Johnson was sentenced to three years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to charges of child cruelty and perverting the course of justice – in one of the most notable examples of Munchausens by proxy. Hayden-Johnson began her deceitful actions shortly after the birth of her son Matthew in 2001. Claiming he was afflicted with numerous severe health issues, including cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and severe food allergies, she subjected him to unnecessary medical procedures and interventions. These included the use of a wheelchair, feeding tubes, and numerous hospital visits, totalling over 325 medical encounters. 'If you took her to a doctor or a paediatrician - even for something small like an earache - she would just totally freeze up,' he said. 'Those were all things we saw in the beginning. That went on for a long time.' Waybourn says a 'big fear' for him and Laura was that Phillips would try to regain custody of Alyssa. Terrifyingly she was allowed to visit at the beginning – up until the time Alyssa developed a rash after her mother had given her new toys. The Waybourns were sure she had put a substance on them to cause it. After that she wasn't allowed to see her. Over the years Alyssa has told her adopted parents some of what she endured. She confided that her mother used to pull her feeding tube in and out. She also coached her to choke in the doctor's surgery. In 2015, aged seven, she testified against her mother in court. Cuddling a teddy bear, she raised her T-shirt to reveal the physical evidence of her mother's torture – a scar on her stomach from unnecessary surgery to insert the feeding tube. Mental scarring No one will ever know the extent of the mental scarring. Despite her mother's actions though, Alyssa, who's now 17, is flourishing. 'Alyssa is not a victim,' Waybourn says. 'She is a thriving little woman and I couldn't be more proud of her.' Phillips' original court case was declared a mistrial. But soon after, in exchange for a five-year prison sentence, Phillips pleaded guilty to serious bodily injury to a child. In April 2022, a couple of years after she was released from prison, Phillips was found dead from an apparent overdose. According to Waybourn, Alyssa was initially teary. She went for some time alone in her room, and then when she came out she said: 'I'm free, free at last.' Finally she knew that her mother could never hurt her again. Alyssa's story is told in a book by Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber entitled The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception and Munchausen by Proxy. Mike Weber, a now-retired Tarrant County investigator worked on Phillips' case. 4
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Mum caught committing sick act on her frail daughter, 3, as she lay in a hospital bed – & it exposed an even darker past
LYING in her hospital bed, three-year-old Alyssa was desperately ill – painfully thin and dehydrated, her little frame covered with tubes. Her apparently doting mother Brittany Phillips sat by her side. But, when the nurses' backs were turned, she did the most unspeakably depraved act to her defenceless little girl. Advertisement 4 Brittany Phillips, pictured in court in 2015, did depraved things to her three-year-old daughter Credit: Getty 4 Brittany was inspired by Emily McDonald's (pictured above) own sick child abuse methods Credit: When no one was looking, Phillips smeared human faeces onto Alyssa's feeding tube in a bid to make her MORE ill. She was aping a case she read about online concerning Emily McDonald, a 23-year-old mother from Austin who, four months earlier, had been sentenced to 20 years in prison for poisoning her daughter by putting poo onto her IV catheter. It was later revealed that Phillips had keyed in terms to her computer like 'poo in the feeding tube' and 'pee in veins'. Advertisement Sick poisoning Hours later, Alyssa developed a rare and extremely dangerous blood infection caused by her mother's perverted act. Without the swift actions of doctors at Cook Children's Medical Centre – she could have suffered from heart failure, a stroke or even death. And that was just the tip of the iceberg of the horrendous abuse Phillips had put her daughter through in her short life. Phillips had insisted that Alyssa had to be in leg restraints for medical reasons. She also said she needed to be fed by a tube as she choked if she ate solid food. Advertisement The little girl was emaciated and her growth stunted. Several family members had been so concerned that they'd filed reports with the CPS in Fort Worth, Texas, but no action was taken. Distant family members Bill and Laura Waybourn had been suspicious ever since they'd seen Alyssa at a family party a few months before. 4 Distant family member and Sheriff Bill Waybourn (pictured) and his wife Laura adopted Alyssa Credit: Getty They'd heard Phillips warn everyone that Alyssa couldn't eat anything, if she did, she'd choke. Advertisement "We witnessed her eat a piece of cake and she didn't choke at all. She appeared to be very hungry," Waybourn said. And his wife, a CPS worker "was suspicious". "She got a close-up look at Alyssa and felt like something wasn't right. But nobody had any idea what was really going on behind the scenes, which was actually torturous," he told It transpires Phillips had Munchhausen by proxy – also known as medical child abuse – where a parent or care giver fakes, exaggerates and even causes illness in their child for the purpose of getting attention or some other benefit. A later search of her laptop revealed pages and pages of online research into the illnesses and symptoms she then tried to manufacture in her defenceless young daughter. Advertisement It also showed her prolific activity on mums' internet forums – where she catalogued Alyssa's many 'illnesses' in a bid for sympathy. The day that changed everything In August 2011, a few weeks after that family party, Alyssa was taken to Cook's hospital, where her mother told medics she had dehydration. This was one of many hospital visits Alyssa had endured by the time she was three, so much so, she had spend much of her life in hospitals, and was worryingly underweight and short for her age. Despite concerned friends and family filing several reports to CPS over the years, it was this hospital visit that set off alarm bells with medical staff. During that day, Phillips repeatedly tried to stop Alyssa from eating, claiming she would choke, despite medical staff observing otherwise. She was aggressive and rude, and she piled blankets on her daughter then claimed she had a fever. She appeared to paint Alyssa's mouth blue and then claimed she was alarmingly cold. Advertisement Then, Phillips suddenly demanded blood tests on her daughter. The blood test results revealed a life-threatening infection that doctors said had to have been caused by the three-year-old being poisoned. Medics feared Phillips was abusing her child, so moved Alyssa to another room which had surveillance cameras monitoring any activity inside. Phillips quickly noticed the cameras and was furious. Alyssa, on the other hand, under the watchful eye of a camera, rapidly got better. So much so, hospital staff alerted the authorities and Alyssa was taken out of Phillips' care and an investigation was launched. Advertisement Following a brief period in foster care, the Waybourns took the little girl into their home, later adopting her. In an interview, Bill Waybourn said they 'saw tremendous improvements immediately' adding: 'She started eating by mouth everything in sight. The doctors were blown away by how well she was doing.' But over time, the Waybourns noticed trauma manifesting in Alyssa's behaviour. 'She was really protective of her food. If she had a plate of food and got down from the table for a minute and came back and the plate was gone, she would be extremely upset,' Waybourn recalled. 'She also had a funny gait where she would walk on her toes. We had to coach her out of doing that, to walk on her whole foot.' Advertisement Alyssa's reaction to medical staff and treatments was also telling. British cases of Munchausen Syndrome revealed In August 2016 a woman from south London has been jailed for fraud and child abuse after causing her children to undergo surgery for fictitious medical problems. Croydon Crown Court heard the mother of six, who cannot be named for legal reasons, persuaded doctors to prescribe copious medication and provide equipment for her children worth more than £145,000, which - as they did not require it - was potentially dangerous for them, the prosecution said. She also convinced them to perform invasive operations and insert feeding tubes into her son and daughter's stomachs. Serial killer nurse Beverly Allitt, dubbed the Angel of Death was given 13 life sentences in 1993 for murdering four children, attempting to murder another three and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to further six at Grantham and Kesteven hospital in Lincolnshire. The former nurse was diagnosed as suffering from Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP) when she carried out the attacks between 1991 and 1993. In January 2010, Lisa Hayden-Johnson was sentenced to three years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to charges of child cruelty and perverting the course of justice – in one of the most notable examples of Munchausens by proxy. Hayden-Johnson began her deceitful actions shortly after the birth of her son Matthew in 2001. Claiming he was afflicted with numerous severe health issues, including cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and severe food allergies, she subjected him to unnecessary medical procedures and interventions. These included the use of a wheelchair, feeding tubes, and numerous hospital visits, totalling over 325 medical encounters. 'If you took her to a doctor or a paediatrician - even for something small like an earache - she would just totally freeze up,' he said. 'Those were all things we saw in the beginning. That went on for a long time.' Waybourn says a 'big fear' for him and Laura was that Phillips would try to regain custody of Alyssa. Terrifyingly she was allowed to visit at the beginning – up until the time Alyssa developed a rash after her mother had given her new toys. Advertisement The Waybourns were sure she had put a substance on them to cause it. After that she wasn't allowed to see her. Over the years Alyssa has told her adopted parents some of what she endured. She confided that her mother used to pull her feeding tube in and out. She also coached her to choke in the doctor's surgery. In 2015, aged seven, she testified against her mother in court. Advertisement Cuddling a teddy bear, she raised her T-shirt to reveal the physical evidence of her mother's torture – a scar on her stomach from unnecessary surgery to insert the feeding tube. Mental scarring No one will ever know the extent of the mental scarring. Despite her mother's actions though, Alyssa, who's now 17, is flourishing. 'Alyssa is not a victim,' Waybourn says. 'She is a thriving little woman and I couldn't be more proud of her.' Phillips' original court case was declared a mistrial. But soon after, in exchange for a five-year prison sentence, Phillips pleaded guilty to serious bodily injury to a child. Advertisement In April 2022, a couple of years after she was released from prison, Phillips was found dead from an apparent overdose. According to Waybourn, Alyssa was initially teary. She went for some time alone in her room, and then when she came out she said: 'I'm free, free at last.' Finally she knew that her mother could never hurt her again. Alyssa's story is told in a book by Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber entitled The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception and Munchausen by Proxy. Mike Weber, a now-retired Tarrant County investigator worked on Phillips' case. Advertisement 4 Alyssa's story is told in a book by Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber Credit: Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber
Mint
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
'Killin It Girl' music video: BTS' J-Hope's dance partner, Alyssa Santos, thanks the idol and ARMYs for their support
Alyssa Santos, who starred alongside BTS's J-Hope in the newly released 'Killin It Girl' music video, has shared a heartfelt note of thanks to J-Hope and the BTS fanbase, known as ARMY, for their love and support. Taking to social media, Alyssa expressed her excitement and gratitude after the video's release, calling the experience "so incredibly honoured" and 'life changing.' But she especially made sure to thank J-Hope and ARMYs directly in her post. "To @uarmyhope (J-Hope's Instagram handle), I think it's safe to say we killed it. I've had so much fun dancing with you! Thank you (sic)," she wrote. She continued, 'And thank you Army! I am overwhelmed by all of the love. I know I'm new here so thank you for making me feel so welcomed into your world. I appreciate you all (sic).' Check out her post below: The choreography version of 'Killin It Girl' is now out and has been widely praised by fans for its powerful moves and chemistry between the dancers. Alyssa's post also gave special thanks to the choreographers behind the piece. 'I am so incredibly honored. I don't think words can even do it justice right now. Thank you thank you THANK YOU (sic),' she wrote, mentioning choreographers @ and @todd_williamson, saying she had looked up to them for a long time. Alyssa also expressed gratitude to the entire dance team and creative crew, naming several dancers and stylists involved in the project. 'Such a talented, friendly, and special cast to travel the world with. Love you guys (sic),' she wrote. As the video continues to gain views and support online, Alyssa's message has been warmly received by ARMYs, many of whom are celebrating her passion and dedication to the performance.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Indonesian rock icon Ahmad Dhani's eldest son weds sweetheart of 8 years
JAKARTA: Indonesian rock icon Ahmad Dhani's eldest son, Al Ghazali Kohler, 27, has married his long-term girlfriend of eight years, Alyssa Daguise. Al Ghazali, whose mother is singer Maia Estianty, exchanged vows with Alyssa in a ceremony held at 10am yesterday in the Indonesian capital. The couple looked elegant in traditional Sundanese attire. As part of the dowry, Al Ghazali presented Alyssa with 16.6g of gold and silver, along with 2,025 Euros (RM9,909.77). Both Al Ghazali's parents and his siblings were present at the ceremony. Al Ghazali, a member of the Indonesian rock band Lucky Laki, began his relationship with Alyssa, who is of French and Indonesian heritage, in 2016. He proposed to her last month at Lake Como, Italy. Ahmad Dhani and Maia have three sons, aged 27, 25, and 24.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'So cleverly written': This Netflix show with dark, psychopath-driven plot is nearly impossible to pause once you start
Weekend is finally here and Netflix subscribers may be looking to watch some thriller or a good drama to binge over. Netflix have released a number of incredibly documentaries on fascinating topics this week. Let's just assume they have already made their way through the outstanding newly added British detective thriller Dept Q and they've watched the new docs about Astroworld and the Titan Sub, TV fans may be left looking for a weekend binge. People on Reddit have found a beloved cult classic series on Netflix for people looking for the perfect show to tear through this weekend. With a dark psychopath plot, easy-to-tear-through, 20-minute episodes, and a near perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, The End of the F***ing World has had fans raving. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo ALSO READ: Friday 13th is here: Why people think it's unlucky and what's the mystery behind it? What is The End of the F***ing World about? The story of 'The End of the F***ing World' follows a 17-year-old boy, James, who believes himself to be a psychopath. "A budding teen psychopath and a rebel hungry for adventure embark on a star-crossed road trip in this darkly comic series based on a graphic novel," its description on official Netflix site reads. Live Events He meets Alyssa, an angry and rebellious classmate of his, after years of finding himself trapped by this potential realisation. Both of them travel together to try and find her father and along this journey, various incredibly dark and disturbing things happen along the way. ALSO READ: Karen Read case and the story behind the high-profile Massachusetts murder trial: Explained in 10 points The show, created by Charlie Forsman and Charlie Covell, stars Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden, and the pair are joined by a number of beloved British character actors and rising stars such as Wunmi Mosaku, Jonathan Aris, Naomi Ackie, Gemma Whelan, and Christine Bottomley. Many were calling for it to stay for a one-season mini-series after a beloved finale cliffhanger, and yet the unexpected season two went on to shock fans and critics, receiving rave reviews. Why is the ending criticised? One fan on the r/NetflixBestOf subreddit recently asked about the best shows on Netflix, with one of the highest rated comments suggesting The End of the F***ing World. Another posted in the same subreddit asked if they'd enjoy the show and was met with thousands of comments recommending it. One said: 'Usually I'm not really into these kind of series, although I started and loved both seasons. Definitely worth a try and see for yourself.' ALSO READ: Trump's hilarious response on 'No Kings' protests planned on his birthday, says 'I have to go through hell...' Another commented: 'Seriously it is so cleverly written, and tastefully depicts mental disorders, I connect to this show so much.' The series received rave reviews from critics, with an 8.0 on IMDb and a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. One review of the first season by Vulture gave it a perfect five stars, saying: 'The likeability factor of TEOTFW, as far as I'm concerned, is nigh zero on paper, but it's astronomical onscreen. I'm genuinely excited to see where it goes.' The Hollywood Reporter gave it a similarly positive review, saying: 'The twisted, efficient story that The End of the F***ing World tells is a nicely contained thing that requires no additional embellishment and it should be binged and cherished in its tart glory.'
