What is the episode about?
Danske Drabssager presents in the episode 'A MOTHER'S MURDEROUS PLANS' one of the most taboo and tragic criminal cases in recent Danish history. Journalist and author Kristina Antivakis takes listeners into a case where a Danish woman systematically poisoned her newborn children over several years. By adding crushed sleeping pills to the children's bottles, the mother managed to take the lives of several infants without the surroundings or the healthcare system initially suspecting the sudden deaths. The episode focuses on how these actions could take place and what ultimately led to the revelation when the woman attempted to use the same method against her one-year-old twins.
The case behind the episode
The case of the child murders is unique in Danish criminal history due to the profile of the perpetrator and the lengthy process before the truth came to light. To understand the psychological mechanisms behind such extreme actions, the podcast includes two of the country's leading experts: forensic psychiatrist Mette Brandt-Christensen and forensic psychologist Tine Wøbbe from Psychiatric Center Sct. Hans. Through their analyses, the complex motives that can drive a parent to harm their own children are illuminated, including discussions about personality disorders and the possibility of Munchausen by proxy. The investigation of child murder in Denmark often shows that relatives have difficulty accepting the suspicion, which in this case allowed the tragedy to repeat itself several times. The episode also examines the institutional failures that meant the pattern in the earlier deaths was not detected more quickly by doctors and authorities.
About the podcast
Danske Drabssager is one of Denmark's most popular true crime podcasts, produced for RadioPlay. The series stands out by allowing the professionals who have been closest to the cases to tell the stories. This includes investigators, forensic experts, and psychologists, which provides a high degree of professionalism and authenticity. Host Kristina Antivakis ensures a sober and respectful review of the cases, even when the subjects are as violent as in this case of