Beth Thomas: The Six-Year-Old Who Tried To Murder Her Little Brother

beth thomas

Adolescent of Fury Experts discovered the unsettling reason behind Beth Thomas behavior, which included terrorizing both her adoptive parents and her younger brother.

beth thomas

When Beth was just six years old, she confessed on camera to a professional psychologist that, given the chance, she would murder her biological sibling and adoptive parents. Tim and Julie Tennant, her adoptive parents, were scared of what their little daughter would do, so they confined her in her room at night.

Unbeknownst to the couple, their adopted daughter had endured horrendous abuse at the hands of her biological father. It wasn’t until Beth began seeing a psychologist that she was able to start recovering from her ordeal.

Video recordings of Beth’s treatment sessions with Dr. Ken Magid were eventually assembled into the HBO documentary Kid of Rage (1990), which exposed the traumatizing consequences of severe sexual abuse and neglect on a kid.

Beth Thomas Childhood

Though there aren’t many specifics available, it’s thought that Beth Thomas was born in the US in or around 1982. Her birth father was aggressive and cruel, abandoning her and her baby brother Jonathan to live alone with their father when she was barely a year old.

For several months, Beth’s biological father mistreated her sexually. He was ignoring her when he wasn’t hitting her. He mistreated Jonathan as well. Both of the children had been taken from their father’s house by February 1984. Two potential adoptive parents were then informed by the Department of Social Services that they had two young children available for adoption.

An Unexpected Journey into Parenthood

Tim Tennant (often spelled Tennent), a preacher at a tiny Methodist church in the American South, and his wife Julie were these potential adoptive parents. Tim and Julie, who had been married for more than ten years and were childless, were thrilled to have 19-month-old Beth and seven-month-old Jonathan in their family. They were informed that the kids were “normal and healthy,” but they didn’t know anything about the children’s past.

However, Beth Thomas started acting “psychopathic” not long after she was adopted. When she was a toddler, she took a nest of young birds out of a tree, despite Julie’s warning that the mother would not return if the nest was gone. Beth then killed all of the baby birds by squeezing them.

Beth’s abuse of her brother, both physically and sexually, is even more upsetting. The Daily Star claims that she made many attempts to murder Jonathan, including hitting his head on a concrete floor. She said out loud that she wanted to harm her adoptive parents and that she wanted to kill her sister. She was also masturbating inappropriately, sometimes even in public when she wasn’t threatening to use violence.

Fearing their adoptive daughter lacked morality, Tim and Julie Tennant confined Beth to her room nightly to protect the family. Unable to endure constant fear, they sought professional help for Beth when she was six years old.

Beth Thomas Who Shocked America

Beth Thomas received a diagnosis of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), a severe trauma reaction observed in children who fail to form an emotional bond with their caregivers. Clinicians ultimately diagnosed her with this mental health disorder. The Cleveland Clinic estimates that approximately 1% to 2% of children are believed to have RAD. However, it is thought that the percentage is higher for children in the foster care system. Beth, under Dr. Ken Magid’s guidance, revealed trauma from severe maltreatment by her father. The HBO documentary “Child of Rage” aired in 1990.

In addition, Beth said that she had abused Jonathan sexually and declared her intention to kill her biological sibling. She responded, “I hurt it,” to Magid’s question about what she had done with Jonathan’s genitalia. I squeeze it. Give it a squeeze. Take it out.

Beth Thomas Successful Treatment

After Dr. Ken Magid met with Beth Thomas, he concluded that the girl required more extensive therapy for a complete recovery and recommended her temporary removal from her adoptive family. Subsequently, Connell Watkins, a therapist specializing in intense behavioral modification therapy, took charge of her care, as reported by news.com.au.

Beth had to ask Watkins’s permission for almost everything, including eating and using the restroom. Watkins was quite rigorous with her. She also kept her overnight in a bedroom that was locked. Because of this, Beth had to put forth the effort to gain Watkins’ and the other employees’ trust in order to receive their assistance. Beth wouldn’t get privileges or greater latitude to do as she pleased until then. Under Watkins’ guidance, she thrived and at last started expressing regret for the suffering she had caused her brother and her adoptive parents.

But during her therapy, Beth was adopted again by Nancy Thomas and did not go back to the house where she had spent her formative years. From then on, Beth kept doing well, eventually earning a nursing degree from the University of Colorado.

From Nurse to Babysitter: Beth’s Remarkable Transformation

In 2005, she became a registered nurse at Flagstaff Medical Centre in Arizona. Formerly “Child of Rage,” Beth Thomas now babysits and volunteers with Families By Design, led by her second adoptive mother.

Despite the controversial therapy with Connell Watkins, her life appears to be a happily ever after.

In 2001, Watkins was convicted of neglectful child abuse linked to the death of 10-year-old Candace Newmaker during a “rebirthing” therapy session. Despite receiving a 16-year jail term, he was released after seven years.

What is the height of Beth Thomas?

The nurse weighs around 117 pounds (59 kilograms) and is 5′ 6′′ (168 centimeters) tall. Her striking blue eyes and brown hair are what set her apart.

She has achieved distinction in the nursing field as the Modern-Day Florence Nightingale Nursing Excellence Award winner. Her upbeat mindset is evident in her outstanding approach to resolving disputes, offering corrections, and correcting faults.

She also actively helps many families who are attempting to navigate the difficulties of parenting children with behavioral issues.

Beth Thomas gained fame due to severe behaviors from childhood, stemming from verbal, sexual, and physical abuse she endured.

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