Locked in the attic for 26 Years!! - The TRUTH about Blanche Monnier

[@edith4189]

if she stayed there by her own will then why did they have locks on the attic door?

[@historyandhearsay]

100% agree! They never even gave an excuse for that (from what I could find) The court must have agreed also, since they said he was guilty… even though, sadly no one was ever punished for this terrible abuse!

[@nadiabarrett5195]

Thanks for the shout-out, that was very kind! I think it's possible that her brother was telling a half-truth. If Blanche had pre-existing mental illness, it seems strange that she would disappear from the public eye so suddenly. It seems entirely plausible to me that after such confinement she would grow to be afraid of leaving her room, or afraid to eat the rotten food which undoubtedly had made her ill in the past. I agree that regardless of why she was in that room, too many people ought to have known better.

[@historyandhearsay]

@@nadiabarrett5195 🥰 So true! Such a sad situation nonetheless!

[@genevievetaylor85]

I’m so disappointed that that isn’t really her in the picture bc I’ve heard this story a few times always with that picture… whoever is in that picture is absolutely stunning.

[@historyandhearsay]

@@genevievetaylor85 yes! I felt the same way, when I found this out!

[@Navyyy9]

Mee too 😢

[@aprilknerr4443]

I think it is unfair to give her the diagnosis of anorexia, schizophrenia, exhibitionism - I mean it wasnt her fault it was her confinement! She was left alone and naked for decades. I think her nasty mom wanted to hide her away for her mental condition and the brother was so scared to go against his mom. Thats why her attic room was chained shut from the outside. Then he didnt really know what the heck to do with his sister when he realized she was still there.

[@historyandhearsay]

@@aprilknerr4443 I agree!

[@ElizzzaB]

I don't believe she was mentally ill. The ones who did it to her ....were.

[@TattedIrishxxx]

“Exhibition” as a “diagnosis”… good lord people really are afraid of women… 🤦‍♀️

[@anaferro5723]

I'm sure the schizophrenia part was just because she probably didn't get any sleep or the traumatic experience caused her to hallucinate. Though the anorexia one is just not justified but again, maybe she just refused to eat but again malnourishment would have been a better word to describe her condition.

[@historyandhearsay]

@@anaferro5723 I agree! It’s odd to me, that they would diagnosis her with the trauma she had been through, all I can think is, maybe they didn’t know back then, how that effected people

[@LegallyMason]

I have a number of diagnosed mental illnesses; I’m lucky to have access to adequate treatment and support. Trauma and stress can absolutely act both in genesis of and as a catalyst for mental illness.

[@historyandhearsay]

I am so glad that it’s gotten easier for people to get the help they need, as the years have gone on. It’s still not perfect, but much better than it was in years past! I have people I love dearly who struggle & I’m glad they have resources 💕

[@ElizzzaB]

Not a choice. Her mother had her terrorized under complete total control. The mother manipulated and guilted her into giving up her life. It doesn't happen over night. Still happens. You don't even have to be locked in. This momster feared the daughter would leave or tell someone.....so locked her away. The child is seen as a possession as opposed to a person. Jealousy involved also. Mother sounds like a narcissist...they isolate, have victim declared insane, will keep you imprisoned, control and destroy relationships.

[@historyandhearsay]

@@ElizzzaB I agree, even if she was mentally ill & wanted to stay in her room a lot. Being locked in proves she was forced to stay there! Such a sad story!

[@Abdelk8der]

Anorexia just means that the person is severely underweight from malnourishment & not eating. Anorexia Nervosa is the eating disorder. They’re actually separate things. Also, she would have had schizo-affective disorder due to her trauma, not actual schizophrenia but that’s a relatively new diagnosis so schizophrenia would have been her diagnosis back then!

[@historyandhearsay]

They specifically said “Anerexis Nervosa” is what they diagnosed her with - which is why I was wondering about it 🤔 (I think I over edited the video and took out me saying nervosa cause I was worried I mispronounced it lol) The schizophrenia part makes sense, with the change in diagnosis!

[@Abdelk8der]

@@historyandhearsay that makes me wonder when they officially separated the two! Looks like I’ll have to go do some research 😂

[@historyandhearsay]

@@Abdelk8der Yes! I was wondering the same thing =)

[@tell-me-a-story-]

Really? I’ve only heard anorexia as an eating disorder. That’s interesting.

[@tell-me-a-story-]

@@historyandhearsay I didn’t even know anorexia was already diagnosis back then. Interesting.

[@Navyyy9]

The research on this case that you’ve done is mind blowing ❤

[@historyandhearsay]

@@Navyyy9 thank you! :))

[@sarahmoore5966]

I believe the medical use of the term anorexia was defined a little differently at the time. I think the diagnosis was more about the long term effects of her malnutrition than about the mental health side we think of today

[@historyandhearsay]

@@sarahmoore5966 that would make sense! Because they specifically said “anorexia nervousa” so I thought that was odd! But it would make sense, if they defined it differently

[@sarahmoore5966]

@@historyandhearsay additional, after finishing the video, perhaps there is some truth in what the family said, and maybe she was refusing to eat. They definitely miss treated her, but maybe she turned to anorexia to feel in control?

[@historyandhearsay]

@@sarahmoore5966 I could see that as well, since there was so much rotten food around her, or even just “losing her mind” from the isolation, could have made her not eat

[@charlotteackroyd6954]

Anorexia is a symptom that can be present in many physical & mental illnesses, it means loss of appetite. It’s often equated with Anorexia Nervosa (nervous loss of appetite) which is the eating disorder most people think of when they hear the word anorexia. There used to be another condition diagnosed which was Anorexia mirabilis which is anorexia specifically associated with religious beliefs instead of aesthetics or trauma.

[@charlotteackroyd6954]

Also after being malnourished for so long, eating would be awfully uncomfortable and difficult to keep down, and the person would become accustomed to a reduced calorie intake. So it wouldn’t be a surprise for someone in that state to not want to eat adequately even when able. So if she was refusing to eat/gain wait on top of being so severely malnourished then she would’ve easily revived and Aorexia Nervosa diagnosis

[@historyandhearsay]

@@charlotteackroyd6954 ohk, I often hear it described & diagnosed in as a mental health diagnosis, so I wasn’t sure how that would play out - since this was clearly don’t “to her” and not of her own choice. But from what you are saying, it sounds like there is a lot of nuance to it! Also, I’m sure ways of diagnosing have changed over the years as well

[@jessicaellis184]

She passed away the day my great grandmother was born.

[@tell-me-a-story-]

Where do you draw the line between normal religious fasting and a religious fasting eating disorder? Because there are definitely healthy ways to fast.

[@historyandhearsay]

@@tell-me-a-story- I guess it’s when it becomes “unhealthy” (the person becomes malnourished and/or underweight) because I am a faster myself & have seen amazing health benefits from it

[@norgrenarn]

25kg? I can't believe she survived. What a sad story, and what a horribel "mother" 😢 I am fairly new to your channel, I just want to say that it's always really interesting stories and I appreciate you and your work❤🤗

[@historyandhearsay]

Thank you so much! That really means a lot to me ☺️

[@laura6796]

Wow, this is one of the saddest stories I have ever heard. Her entire family was so evil 😢

[@historyandhearsay]

@@laura6796 just so awful 😢

[@kyote1089]

How can she be called an exhibitionist, too? 🤔 They diagnosed people with the most ridiculous things, often based on nothing more than a family member's word... which often wasn't of the best intentions.

[@historyandhearsay]

@@kyote1089 yeah, it really was a different time! I’m glad at least that has changed!

[@AaronD87]

It’s wild that it’s so easy to hide someone from the public so easily…😟

[@historyandhearsay]

@@AaronD87 right? Many theories think that people heard & “knew” but turned a blind eye

[@ElizzzaB]

​@@historyandhearsay Because everyone terrified by the Momster.....if she could do this to her own daughter.......what else would she be capable of?

[@historyandhearsay]

@@ElizzzaB so true, It does sound like people were terrified of her! But you would think, if you outside of her family, you would be “outside” of her control, ya know? Such a sad story!

[@z0mmbae]

look up lacey fletcher..

[@historyandhearsay]

@@z0mmbae I didn’t recognize her name, but I just looked her up and I know that story! So horrific!!!!

[@Navyyy9]

Good info.. I was remembering this story and imagining that beautiful woman went through so much pain and that beauty was wasted. ( and those pictures we’re coming in my head) Thanks for clearing that those pictures were not hers 😇

[@historyandhearsay]

@@Navyyy9 I wish we had her real photos!thank you for watching!

[@Laurie03]

My goodness! Blanche endured so much! The poor woman didn’t deserve to be treated so badly. My guess is that during those times families “hid” away family members who weren’t mentally healthy. It’s no excuse to treat others or to be treated like this. The chained up door, and the filthy room makes me think of the Turpin children whose parents chained them to the bed, the kids had very little food, the home was filthy, and the kids didn’t go to school. I can’t imagine what Blanche was going through, hurts the heart.

[@historyandhearsay]

Yes! The Turpin children, I just came across another video of them recently & was happy to hear they are doing so much better now, but so heart breaking for them… those scars never go away :(

[@BelleFlower15]

Hold on. Hold on. The nurse? Who stayed with her for like two decades? 🧐 An alternative theory: Blanche fell in love with a woman. Her mother couldn't handle the scandal. Blanche and her nurse lived together in secrecy. After the death of her partner, Blanche quickly declined. Her mother, angry and ashamed at her disgrace of a daughter, wouldn't allow her to return to the public eye. I'm quite taken with this theory. If nothing else, it would make a deliciously tragic novel.

[@historyandhearsay]

@@BelleFlower15 I wonder if there have been any novels written based on this! Or just using this as a base for fiction … That would be interesting! (I didn’t see anything when I was researching) but a very interesting thought!

[@BelleFlower15]

@@historyandhearsay I just happen to be a writer haha. 😉 Adding it to my list of ideas.

[@historyandhearsay]

@@BelleFlower15 yess!! :)

[@tammyguisingerderson5874]

Oh poor girl! Her Mom was the one with the mental health issues!!All of the things she had as her illness, was definitely because of her not leaving a room! Why would she not feed her own daughter?? That is sad, and her mom’s crazy self, I’m sure she NEVER CLEANED, so what was it to Mom if the maids cleaned Blanche room! This is all the crazy mom’s fault!! Omg 😱 poor life that could’ve been a very good life

[@historyandhearsay]

So so sad 😭

[@kaylastarr8440]

Maybe the anorexia diagnosis came because she wouldn't eat the food at the hospital

[@historyandhearsay]

@@kaylastarr8440 that would make sense, she might’ve been so accustomed to that that she wouldn’t eat once she was actually offered food!

[@kathleenroche5369]

My question is she’s able to come and go as she chooses. Why was the door locked? Not not only locked pad locked oh no that just seems odd.

[@historyandhearsay]

I agree, they tried to say she was free to go, but never explained that pad locked door!

[@kaseyharless6324]

I know this story. People be mean like that back then though. My bad this stuff does still happen today, they just try to keep it away from the news. I'm almost caught up lol

[@historyandhearsay]

@@kaseyharless6324 yes! There is evil in every generation,unfortunately. At least it’s somewhat harder for them to get away with it now days! Of course much is still covered up :( Youre zooming through these videos 😆

[@LuckySpinster.]

'anorexia nervosa' is an eating disorder characterized by food restriction, or restricting your own food, 'anorexia' is simply food restriction

[@historyandhearsay]

They specified ’anorexia nervosa’ in her diagnoses, I just didn’t fully say that, because we I originally recorded this, I didn’t realize there was a distinction between the two. But I think that maybe they blamed the restriction done by her family on her OR her mental health was so bad, she had started to refuse food on her own

[@LuckySpinster.]

@@historyandhearsay possibly. These days the nervosa isn't used as much anyway.

[@historyandhearsay]

@ yeah I left it out when speaking here, because I knew I would mispronounce it 🙈but some people have informed me in the comments of the differences, because of my speculations about why she was diagnosed with that… but in the source material it does say anorexic nervosa

[@ruipx]

Not even internet access?... Her mother was a real monster! (Despites my dad joke, that was a horrible fate for a person that didn't done anything wrong)

[@historyandhearsay]

😆 but yeah… for real! So sad!😭

[@notahumanbeing6892]

9:34 anorexia alone is only a term for severely underweight, anorexia nervosa is the name for the mental disorder that springs to mind

[@historyandhearsay]

@@notahumanbeing6892 they diagnosed her with anorexia nervosa, which is why I wonder if that was accurate 🤔 (I just didn’t say the whole thing in the video)

[@sourgreendolly7685]

correction: anorexia alone is a lack of appetite, one does not have to be underweight at all for that diagnosis

[@tell-me-a-story-]

I mean, the son and the servants where probably also abused. So I can’t really blame them for Blanch’s abuse.

[@historyandhearsay]

@@tell-me-a-story- it does make you wonder, that the son had left and gone to college and didn’t live with the family anymore. What she was found. But it is possible he was abused earlier in life, and therefore had a different perspective on the whole thing!

[@sonielesilva-vb1oy]

😢😢😧❤ 🙏🏼Deus

[@historyandhearsay]

😥

[@sushiinmotion]

All that drama! It was normal to lock people with mental ilnesses and it was normal to not talk about it. No family would want to admit that there was something wrong with their 'blood'. Who would want to marry the crazy ones? This case is interesting because it was made public.

[@historyandhearsay]

Yeah, I guess you are right! So very sad!😞

[@joshuasims7357]

we know that inbreeding happened in a lot of rich or royal families. you cant keep marrying off to the same 3 or 4 families over generations😂 wonder if this was a root cause of said issues?

[@historyandhearsay]

@@joshuasims7357 🤔 that is an interesting thought that hadn’t occurred to me!

[@joshuasims7357]

@@historyandhearsay only reason it occured to me is because i have been watching a lot of old crime content and have came across a few situations where there was a strong case for in reeding being the cause of mental health issues

[@historyandhearsay]

I have seen that a few times (in old stories) & it makes perfect sense to me!