A Texas Woman Charged in Disturbing Medical Child Abuse Case
A Texas woman has been charged with falsifying her infant’s medical history and manipulating healthcare professionals into performing unnecessary procedures, including the surgical insertion of a feeding tube. Authorities have labeled this case as egregious medical child abuse.
The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday that Caitlin Rose Laura, 31, faces charges of injury to a child and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Sheriff Bill Wayborn condemned the alleged medical abuse, describing it as a “horrible crime.”
Wayborn observed that such cases can be intricate and challenging to investigate, making them vulnerable to falling through the cracks of the criminal justice system. He expressed his disgust, stating that “it’s disgusting that someone would intentionally torture a child.” Notably, he shared that his own adopted daughter had previously been a victim of similar medical abuse.
This investigation was referred to Tarrant County in February after the Glenrose Police Department, where Laura resides, indicated it lacked the resources to pursue the case further. As of now, court records remain unavailable, and it is unclear if Laura has engaged legal representation.
A Pattern of Deception
According to an arrest affidavit, Laura allegedly misled medical professionals regarding her 3-year-old son’s health in a systematic manner to secure a feeding tube. She purportedly claimed to doctors at Cook Children’s Medical Center that her son stopped eating solid foods at the age of two and described a traumatic birth that required high levels of oxygen and medication. However, these assertions conflict with existing medical records.
During a medical examination in March 2025, Laura reported that her son had always struggled with weight gain and meeting his BMI. She specifically requested a gastrostomy tube (G-tube), asserting that another healthcare provider had recommended it. Investigators found no documentation to corroborate this claim.
In the following months, Laura repeatedly insisted that her son was refusing solid food, was vomiting, and was experiencing a deterioration in his health. Medical staff characterized her as “very pushy” about the G-tube and “extremely resistant” to exploring alternative treatments. A G-tube was surgically placed on May 20, 2025, but ten days later, Laura returned to the hospital with complaints regarding the tube.
Evidence Captured on Surveillance
During the hospitalization, staff observed the child successfully consuming multiple meals orally. As concerns over potential medical child abuse arose, the boy was moved to a room equipped with secret video surveillance. Footage revealed Laura claiming her son had refused all food, including his favorites, while no such behavior was captured in the recordings. Once staff expressed suspicion, tube feeding was discontinued, and the boy managed to eat all his meals orally for three consecutive days.
The affidavit noted that these meals, which included items like French toast, pancakes, and chicken, led to weight gain prior to his discharge. Furthermore, caregivers reported that Laura persistently insisted on administering medication, despite her son’s calm demeanor, and requested he be confined to a specialized hospital bed with a tent-like enclosure accessible only from the outside.
Incident Initially Overlooked
The incident was first reported to the Fort Worth Police Department, responsible for the hospital area, but was later forwarded to the Glenrose Police Department. The Glenrose authorities subsequently referred the case to the District Attorney’s Office. Child Protective Services (CPS) initially closed the case without removing the child from Laura’s custody, at which point she transitioned her son to Children’s Medical Center Dallas.
Due to medical privacy laws, Cook Children’s staff were unaware of Laura’s actions, limiting their ability to discuss concerns without her consent. In October 2025, a teacher at the boy’s school filed another CPS report, observing that the child did not exhibit the medical issues Laura had described. The teacher noted that his development significantly exceeded Laura’s portrayal, as he could move independently and eat normally. Following this report, Laura withdrew her son from school.
Subsequent Actions and Final Intervention
By December 2025, Laura allegedly continued to provide false information regarding her son’s condition while seeking further treatment at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. She requested a gastrojejunostomy tube (GJ tube), designed for direct feeding into the intestines. Following the procedure, the child was hospitalized from December 26 to January 9, 2026, and later readmitted in February due to complications from a leak in his GJ tube.
During this hospital stay, Laura inquired about total parenteral nutrition (TPN), which would necessitate a central line placement for her son. The affidavit indicated that he showed no medical need for such intervention, prompting yet another CPS report. Ultimately, the child was removed from Laura’s custody on February 14.
In foster care, he began eating normally and no longer required a wheelchair. His adoptive mother, a nurse, reported that he experienced no difficulties consuming food and had not needed a feeding tube since his discharge.
Fundraising Efforts and Family Dynamics
Investigators discovered several GoFundMe campaigns launched by Laura to raise funds for her son’s alleged medical condition. The affidavit revealed discrepancies in the descriptions provided on these fundraising pages, including false claims regarding the child suffering from a “heart cord” and being diagnosed with cerebral palsy. A pediatrician specializing in child abuse at the Children’s Medical Center Dallas contested these assertions in a formal affidavit.
Interviews with Laura’s husband revealed that he was unaware of her attempts to secure TPN for their son or her inquiries about hospice care during 2025, expressing shock upon learning this information. The affidavit stated that Laura had previously worked in the home health sector, equipping her with medical knowledge, while her spouse managed care for their other children. The other children, however, were not removed from the home.
