'Multiple Personality' Mother Guilty of Murder

K A N S A S  C I T Y, Mo., Oct. 21, 2000 -- A woman who claimed her multiplepersonalities contributed to the abuse deaths of her two sons wasconvicted today on 12 counts, including two of second-degreemurder.

Lawyers for Mary Bass, 32, put up an insanity defense andinsisted until the end that Bass had severe psychosis that includeda personality named “Sharon” who controlled her actions.

Gary and Larry Bass, both 8, died in October 1999 after beingstarved and infected with burns. Officials said the motherroutinely locked the boys in a room and fed them little, andallegedly dipped the boys’ feet in scalding water as punishment.

Two defense medical experts called Bass profoundly mentally illand said she was inhabited by several personalities.

The weeklong trial was marked by strange outbursts from Bass.

At one point, assistant prosecutor Dan Miller asked a defenseexpert about “Sharon,” described as a cruel alter ego whosurfaces to control Bass.

Bass then yelled, “Well, what you don’t understand? Gee!” andwas quieted by her lawyer. She then tore at her hand with a pen,which was taken away. She then used her fingers to scratch herwrist until she bled.

On Friday, she was removed from the courtroom after she cursed aprosecutor and yelled, “No, no, no, no — I’d rather kill myselfthan kill my kids.” She later laughed to herself as a prosecutorasked jurors to send her to prison.

Children Were Starved, Burned

Defense lawyers have not disputed that Bass burned the boys’lower legs and feet on Oct. 15, 1999. The Kansas City woman alsotold police that she locked the boys in a room before that andstarved them for weeks to discipline them. Larry died five daysafter he was burned and Gary two days after that.

Psychologist Marilyn Anne Hutchinson, of Kansas City, testifiedthat Bass suffered from multiple personalities, post-traumaticstress syndrome and forms of schizophrenia and depression.

She said Bass developed her multiple personalities to cope withsexual and physical abuse as a child.

Bass, described as a suicidal person who punished herself withhot bath water or tearing her flesh, desperately wanted the love ofher sons, Hutchinson said.

But under cross-examination, Miller said child abuse is neverrational and that Bass gave authorities most of the information onher personalities.

Miller also noted Bass took about 45 credit hours of college with ahigh grade-point average and successfully raised three otherchildren. Witnesses said she worked for two years at a federalagency before her arrest.

And in closing arguments, prosecutors cited what Bass toldpolice the day they found Larry dead. Bass said, “I killed mybaby; I should go to jail.“‘

Defense’s Story ‘Too Convenient’

Prosecutors agreed Bass had mental problems, but insisted sheknew right from wrong. A prosecution expert said the appearance of“Sharon” was too convenient and rejected the multiple-personalitydiagnosis.

“Her motive was control over two rebellious children,” Millersaid.

Jurors had been picked in Phelps County in south-centralMissouri and were sequestered. They began deliberations Friday.

Bass’ boyfriend, Tony Dixon, 37, is also charged with childabuse and endangering a child in the case. His court date has notbeen set.

Medical experts had called the case one of the worst they hadseen.

When police arrived at the Bass home after a 911 call from oneof the Bass children, they found Gary upstairs lying on a filthymattress, emaciated and so badly infected that his burned toes andpart of his empty stomach had gangrene.

Gary died Oct. 22, 1999 — two days after Larry died frommalnutrition — because his body could not use the medicines tofight infection.

Bass’ three surviving children are in foster care.

The case also was an indictment of the way Missouri’s Divisionof Family Services handled abuse cases.

Records recently made public showed social workers thought MaryBass’ children had been abused repeatedly, but didn’t recommendremoving them before the two boys died.

Agency officials have said the state has since changed itsprocedures.

“I can’t go back and try to second-guess and rehash [theworkers’ decisions],” said Denise Cross, DFS director. “All I cantry to do is learn from them.”