One of the most studied serial false accusers in the historical record is Treva
Thornberry. Her convincing emotive manner in which she delivered her tales of woe and abuse spanned decades. Treva's false claims gained her charity, favor and support from social services, churches, well meaning families, schools, counselors, therapists and most of all the police in 5 different states over 15 years. Her stay repeatedly ended with betrayal and false allegations prior to her disappearance. Her emotive (but fraudulent) presentations were so convincing that psychologists and psychiatrists now point to her case as an example of an extremely rare "factitious disorder" (Muchausen Syndrome).
Her journey began in 1986 when at 17 years old she suddenly accused her father of repeatedly raping her at gunpoint. After investigation the police cleared the father and family. After expressing suicidal ideation she was sent to a state hospital where she was given Xanax
& Trilafon and then sent to a foster home in Witchata Falls where she attended high school. In 1987 she was sent to a new foster home in Fort Worth, graduated high school and was released from juvenile care. She lived briefly with a single mother and her three children. She disappeared.
In 1992 Treva emerged as "Keili
T. Thorneberry
Smitt" in Corvallis, Oregon. She claimed to be 16 and was taken in by kind families. She told horrid stories of her father from Dallas who would force her into the car and assault her. She was supported and aided but police were unable to verify her identity of the identity of her father. She disappeared.
In 1993 Treva emerged as "Keili T. Thorneberry Smitt" who claimed to be 16 (now 23) in Portland Oregon. She told stories to those who took her in of being abused by her father, a Portland police officer. The police were unable to locate the officer or verify details of her story. She disappeared.
In 1994 Treva emerged as "Cara Leanna Davis"claiming to be 16 (actually 24) in Coeur
d’Alene, Idaho. She claimed her abusive father had murdered her mother and was a satanic cult leader. She was cared for by families and disappeared after 2 months.
Later in 1994 Treva emerged as "Kara Williams" claiming to be 16 (actually 24). She told police she was 16 years of age and detailed numerous claims of assault
including a young staffer at a shelter. She went to three different high
schools and lived in numerous foster care homes at state expense. When confronted by social services about her identity she
confessed to nothing. Her protests were so adamant, and so tearful,
that more than one person watching her came to the conclusion that
she truly believed what she was saying.“ Kara
was discharged from juvenile care. She disappeared.
In 1996 Treva emerged as "Stephanie
Danielle Lewis" claiming to be 16 (actually 26). She found help by a religious underground to escape "satanist parents". She was provided
juvenile care services. After 18 days of investigation police determined her real identity.
She was arrested for fraud and released. She disappeared.
In 1997 Treva emerged as "Brianna Stewart" who claimed to have lived near Mobile, Alabama with mother and Navajo step father who murdered her mother. She was looking for real father and hitchhiked
as a 13 year old to area She was taken
in by a family at a church she attended and enrolled in high school
wanting to “have a normal life”. She filed
charges of rape against a security guard who was imprisoned and found
guilty (later released and exonerated). She also accused her host family father spying on her with video cameras while undressing
and sexually
assaulting her. After investigation police dismissed the charges. She vehemently insisted
she was telling the truth and taken in by mother of a police officer
even after investigators could not corroborate claims.
In 2001 Treva still claiming to be "Brianna Stewart" went to trial charged with fraudulent collection of juvenile services (she was 32 at this time). She fired her lawyers who sought to claim innocence with an insanity plea. "Brianna" decided to represent herself. The prosecutor confronted her with a number of matching methods. Her hand writing matched that of the teenager Treva Thornberg. Brianna's dental exam matched the dental records of Treva Thornberry. Photos of Treva were presented to jury by Treva's mother that showed unmistakable similarities (Treva paused in the courtroom when shown the pictures). Finally Brianna accepted a DNA analysis which came back with an overwhelming positive match with the married couple from Electra Texas. This couple gave birth and raised Treva Thornberry until her mental illness struck when she was 17 (read more about mental illness at "Elephant Illness"). "Brianna" in her defense submitted a report by a therapist that stated an opinion that "Brianna" was 20 years old. The jury found her guilty of all 7 charges. Treva Thornberry was sentenced to 3 years in prison.
While being escorted after the trial Treva (who still called herself Brianna) said in a loud voice "“I’m
nineteen! I’m not guilty of anything except being a teenager!”
In 2003 Treva was released
after serving
2
years and 3 months of
the sentence. She appeared on an ABC news and
stated: "I'm
not Treva Thornberry," Stewart said. "I just want to
reiterate that I am not, no matter how much that family wants to
suddenly produce their family member, no matter what they do, what
they say, I am not Treva Thorneberry nor will I ever be Treva
Thornberry.
Because you can't make another person into somebody else. You just
can't."
In 2016 Treva emerged as "Brianna McKenzie" in Lacey, Washington. She went to police and accused a man of attempting rape while working at a hotel. Investigation revealed her true identity. Investigators found inconsistencies who then "Brianna" claimed doubts about identity of attacker. The accused man named Canton claimed that a hotel maid attempted to steal his meth. Canton was eventually released. Brianna now claims her attacker had more hair.
She and others like her are out there. Some of the convincing accusers actually believe the delusions and fantasies they imagine. Anyone, even the kind and well meaning, can become a victim of false accusations by the mentally ill.
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