Psychiatrists Suggest Lucy Letby May Not Be a Psychopath, Point to ‘Inadequacy’ Instead
Lucy Letby, the UK’s most prolific child killer in recent times, is currently serving 15 whole-life orders for the murders of seven infants and the attempted murders of seven others, including one child she tried to kill twice. However, experts examining her case have suggested she may not fit the profile of a psychopath, showing signs instead of being “inadequate.”
Psychiatrists have debated whether Letby exhibits traits typical of psychopathy. Dr. Michael Crawford, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, shared his view with The Mirror, stating that she lacks the characteristics usually associated with psychopaths. Although he was not involved in Letby’s case and cannot make a clinical diagnosis without personally assessing her, he commented: “She doesn’t seem psychopathic to me. She appears more like an inadequate woman who’s living a very empty life that has this real need for fulfilment.”
Professor Mark Freestone, an expert who has worked with some of the country’s most dangerous criminals, expressed a similar view for a new book on Letby. He explained that psychopathy is not as well understood in women, and antisocial behavior is less frequent. He elaborated, “Psychopaths are inherently quite chaotic. They don’t do ‘normal.’ They don’t make bedrooms look nice so they can live there. Everything is temporary; they’re usually quite promiscuous sexually. They’re pathological liars who don’t lie constructively. There’s pretty good evidence that there is a neurological problem in people with diagnostic psychopathy… I just don’t get any of that from Letby at all”, told the Daily Record.
Letby’s lack of alignment with these traits has led some experts to explore other possible conditions. Borderline personality disorder has been suggested as a theory, with its symptoms including a lack of emotion, which may have influenced her crimes.
Julia Quenzler, a court illustrator with over 30 years of experience drawing some of the UK’s most notorious criminals, observed a unique behavior in Letby during her trial. She noted that Letby appeared “vacant” and remained very still, showing no reaction or expression throughout the proceedings. “It was difficult to read anything from her – I don’t recall seeing anyone quite like that before,” she said, speculating that Letby might have been on medication.
Letby, 34, was convicted at Manchester Crown Court for her crimes committed at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016. She was found guilty of injecting air into infants’ stomachs through feeding tubes, which compromised their breathing. While her motives remain unclear, experts continue to debate her psychological profile, suggesting her actions may stem more from inadequacy and an empty life than from psychopathy.