In the ever-expanding genre of true crime, some stories make you intrigued, some terrify you half to death, and then there are some that break your heart. This chilling true crime tale of child mutilation sadly falls into the third category.
The beginning
John & Dena Schlosser were a well-off couple who moved from Illinois to the upscale neighborhood of Fort Worth, Texas, in 2000. John worked as a software designer while Dena was a stay-at-home mom to their two daughters, Breana & Kelsie.
Water of Life
Before they lost their house, John & Dena Schlosser had discovered the Water of Life Church through friends. The couple must have found the church and its teachings appealing because soon after their introduction, they reportedly made the 120 miles round trip several days a week to attend the church.
Davidson’s impact
Doyle Davidson, the pastor at the Water of Life Church, was a former veterinarian and often laced his teachings with lessons he’d learned while doctoring animals. He believed he was a prophet who was sent to Plano, TX, where the Water of Life Church was located, to spread the message of God.
Davidson stated he believed a Jezebel spirit had infected the city of Plano, and that the spirit of the Biblical pagan prophetess operated through the town’s women to subjugate men.
Margaret’s arrival
In the spring of 2003, Dena Schlosser became pregnant again. Considering the couple’s highly influenced views on medical science, Schlosser gave birth to her third daughter Margaret in her home with the help of a midwife.
Schlosser later claimed she had given birth to twins, a boy, & a girl, but the boy had died during the birth and returned to God. Previously, Schlosser had suffered from minor postpartum depression after giving birth to her first two daughters. And by the looks of it, Schlosser was again experiencing some kind of mental struggles, but a lack of clinical care only served to worsen the situation.
Dena’s deteriorating condition
Five days after her suicide attempt, Dena Schlosser burst out of the apartment and took off running while Kelsie was watching The Little Mermaid on TV. Dana believed that the characters on the TV were talking & laughing at her.
Dena Schlosser wanted to stay in the mental health facility a little longer, but John declared Dena would find herself more comfortable at home. CPS barred Dena from having unsupervised contact with her children for two months and kept tabs on her for the following months. Eventually, her prescribed medicine did its job and Dena was off the CPS’s radar.
Aftermath
Dena’s mental condition began deteriorating. She was caught making animal noises by growling & hissing. The Water of Life’s teachings were also having a serious impact on Dena’s condition. She started acting strange and keeping a distance from family members who did not agree with her lifestyle or Davidson’s views.
Her fascination with Davidson knew no bounds. In her eyes, he could do no wrong. One day, while she was getting the children ready for church, Dena dressed Margaret in white and said she wanted Davidson to marry the baby. Though John convinced his wife to put another outfit on the child, he failed to notify CPS about Dena’s worsening mental state.
When the police arrived at the scene, they were shocked at what they found. Dena Schlosser was calmly sitting with bloodied hands and singing Christian Hymns. Hours after her arrest, she was heard repeatedly chanting, “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord.” The court found Dena not guilty by reason of insanity. She was committed to the North Texas State Hospital and was later released to outpatient status.
