La’son & Edson Brito, Johntavious & Ameer Newell, & Noe Medina, Jr - Brockton, MA, Chicago, IL, & La Habra, CA | Before there was Lindsay Clancy...
Episode 73: La’son & Edson Brito, Johntavious & Ameer Newell, & Noe Medina, Jr - Brockton, MA, Chicago, IL, & La Habra, CA | Before there was Lindsey Clancey... Lindsay Clancy's case has received so much attention, but why we weren’t having this conversation before her? In this episode, we look at three mothers who also encountered severe mental illness, crisis, and missed opportunities for intervention, with the most devastating consequences. Episode Summary In this episode of True Crime Unwind, Mercedes takes us across Massachusetts, Chicago, and California to examine three cases that received far less national attention than the case of Lindsay Clancy. Lindsay Clancy’s case has sparked widespread conversations about postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, maternal mental health, criminal responsibility, and the healthcare system. But as her trial has dominated headlines and social media, we wanted to ask a different question: Why did this case become such a massive national conversation when other mothers experiencing severe mental-health crises received comparatively little attention? To explore that question, we look at the stories of Latarsha Sanders, Aleah Newell, and Sonia Hermosillo. Latarsha Sanders Latarsha Sanders was a mother of five whose mental health deteriorated dramatically before the deaths of her two youngest children, Edson and La'Son. Her family described increasingly disturbing behavior, paranoia, conspiracy theories, and episodes in which she appeared disconnected from reality. Aleah Newell Aleah Newell was only 20 years old and was the mother of two young boys. In the days leading up to the deaths of her children, Aleah had already attempted suicide, had been diagnosed with a mood disorder, and reportedly sought help at an emergency shelter because she did not feel capable of caring for her children. Unfortunately, this ended in her taking the lives of her two sons- two-year-old Jontavious Newell and seven-month-old Ameer Newell. Sonia Hermosillo Sonia Hermosillo's story offers perhaps the most direct comparison to the postpartum mental-health discussion surrounding Lindsay Clancy. After giving birth to her son, Noe, Sonia experienced a dramatic deterioration in her mental health. Her family sought treatment for her, she was hospitalized on an involuntary psychiatric hold, and she was considered a danger to herself. But her family struggled to maintain consistent treatment because of financial and insurance barriers. Sonia ultimately killed her infant son, and her defense argued that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis. Click here to check out our new merch! A percentage of all proceeds is donated to Safe Alliance, Charlotte. Connect With Us: • Instagram: @TrueCrimeUnwind • TikTok: @TrueCrimeUnwind • Facebook @TrueCrimeUnwind Support the Show: • Rate & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify • Share with fellow true crime fans • Tag us while you listen and let us know your theories!