Amelia Dyer “Baby Farmer” - Seneca Valley School ….pptxVIP

By: Samantha WeberPd. 7SociologyAmelia Dyer“Baby Farmer”BackgroundBorn in Bristol in 1939, to a respected working class family, by the name of Amelia HobleyYoungest of 5 (3 boys 2 girls)Mother had a mental illness due to TyphusAmelia witnessed her mother’s violent fits because she took care of her until 1848, when she died. Moved in with aunt: Father died in 1959Married George Thomas (age 59) at age 24 - Lied on marriage license that he was 48 and she was 30 Background (Continued)An example of what Amelia would put in the papers to promote the “Adoptions”.Trained to b a nurse after marrying George.After George’s death, Amelia married William Dyer.Began Baby Farming after learning about it from an acquaintance. Baby Farming - mean the taking in of an infant or child for paymentMurdersTold mothers that she would adopt the baby for a substantial one-off payment and clothes, for the child. Soon after the adoption, she would kill the baby by strangling he/she with white edging tape(used for dressmaking). She was caught in 1879 after a doctor was suspicious for the amount of death certificates he signed for children under her care. But their wasn’t enough evidence to charge her with manslaughter, so she was sentenced to 6 months of hard labor. Murders (Continued)After her sentence she tried to continue her nursing career, but was sent to a mental institution.Amelia knew how to behave in the hospital so that she was released.She also began to abuse alcohol and opium- based products.How she was caughtWhat Thames River would have looked like in the 19th Century. March 30, 1896- Body of Helen Fry was found in the ThamesThey found a label from Temple Meads Station with Amelia’s name and address on it. ( Mrs. Thomas, 26 Piggotts Road, Reading)April 3- Police raided her house and were struck by the stench of human decomposition, but there was no remains. How she was caught (Continued)West View of the Newgate Prison, in 19th Century, where Amelia was held and