Glen Rose mother accused of medical child abuse

Kaitlyn Laura faces charges of serious bodily injury and medical fraud

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:22pm

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A 31-year-old Glen Rose, Texas woman named Kaitlyn Laura has been arrested and accused of medically abusing her 3-year-old son. Authorities claim Laura lied about her son's medical history to obtain unnecessary treatments at Cook Children's Medical Center and also created multiple GoFundMe accounts to fraudulently raise money for her son's supposed medical expenses.

Why it matters

Cases of medical child abuse, also known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, are difficult to investigate and prosecute, often going undetected. This case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in identifying and stopping this form of abuse, which can have severe consequences for vulnerable children.

The details

According to the affidavit, Kaitlyn Laura lied about her son's medical history in order to get him unnecessary treatments at Cook Children's Medical Center in both Fort Worth and Dallas. Detectives are also investigating potential medical fraud charges after finding at least three separate GoFundMe accounts created by Laura to raise money for both herself and her son's medical expenses.

  • Kaitlyn Laura was arrested on April 1, 2026.

The players

Kaitlyn Laura

A 31-year-old Glen Rose, Texas resident accused of medically abusing her 3-year-old son and fraudulently raising money through GoFundMe campaigns.

Bill Waybourn

The Tarrant County Sheriff, who stated that the medical abuse of a child is a 'horrific crime' and that his department remains committed to ensuring every report is taken seriously and every child receives protection.

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What they’re saying

“The medical abuse of a child is a horrific crime. These cases are often complex and challenging to investigate, which can lead to them being overlooked within the criminal justice system. We remain committed to ensuring every report is taken seriously and every child receives the protection they deserve.”

— Bill Waybourn, Tarrant County Sheriff

What’s next

Detectives are asking anyone who has donated to Kaitlyn Laura or exchanged text messages with her about the health of her children to contact the police to assist with the investigation.

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical need for greater awareness, resources, and coordination among law enforcement, medical professionals, and the public to identify and prevent cases of medical child abuse, which can have devastating consequences for vulnerable children.