IOWA CITY, Iowa — In a case that underscores the complexities of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, an Iowa mother has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for deliberately injecting her two-year-old son with insulin, causing him to fall severely ill.
This sentencing brings closure to a troubling series of events that began in early 2023.
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The distressing saga unfolded in March 2023 when Alexandra Marie Frost, now 27, brought her son to the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, reports WKRC. The child was treated for a series of unexplained medical issues, including dangerously low blood sugar levels. Medical staff initially responded with glucose administration, but the child’s condition continued to fluctuate inexplicably.
Court documents reveal that laboratory tests indicated abnormally high insulin levels in the toddler, prompting healthcare professionals to suspect medical child abuse, reports NDTV. This suspicion was compounded by the erratic nature of the child’s glucose levels, which would stabilize only to plummet again without apparent cause.
Hospital Installs Security Camera, Catches Mother Injecting Son
The breakthrough in the investigation came when hospital staff decided to install a surveillance camera in the child’s hospital room. On March 14, 2023, the camera captured footage of Frost entering the room, syringe in hand, and injecting a substance into her son’s foot, reports People. The child reacted immediately, becoming agitated and screaming. The used syringe was found discarded in the hospital’s “SHARPS” disposal container.
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Authorities confirmed the administered substance was insulin, a potentially lethal injection for someone without a medical need for it. Frost was arrested shortly thereafter.
Following her son’s removal from her care, the child’s glucose levels returned to normal, further substantiating the allegations against Frost.
What Is Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy?
Frost’s actions align with the characteristics of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental disorder where a caregiver causes or fabricates illness in another — often their child — to gain attention or sympathy. According to MedlinePlus, such cases often involve caregivers who are intimately knowledgeable about medical procedures, further complicating diagnosis and intervention.
In June, Frost pleaded guilty to child endangerment resulting in bodily injury and the administration of harmful substances.
