Mike Weber | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Bio

Mike Weber has investigated 21 cases of Munchausen by Proxy, leading to 6 prosecutions and 6 convictions with 2 cases pending. Mike Weber authored “Investigating Medical Child Abuse” for the FBI law Enforcement Bulletin (August 2018), a peer reviewed publication. Weber also co-authored “Munchausen by Proxy: Clinical and Case Management Guidance” published in the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children’s (APSAC) Advisor Journal (March 2018). In the same issue of the Advisor Journal, Weber authored "Investigations of Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another or Medical Child Abuse.” The Advisor is also a peer reviewed journal.

Mike Weber’s investigations on medical child abuse were featured in a special section of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

http://media.star-telegram.com/Munchausenmoms/

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s editorial board also endorsed Weber’s work:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.star-telegram.com/opinion/editorials/article51176180.html

Mike Weber’s Investigation of Hope Ybarra was featured on episode one, season one of HLN’s “Something’s Killing Me.”

CNN also publishes an article on Mike Weber’s work:

https://www-m.cnn.com/2017/08/15/health/munchausen-proxy-mental-illness-child-abuse/index.html

Mike Weber was the recipient of the 2016 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Texas Hero for Children’s Award for his work on Munchausen by Proxy and for his investigation into 20 year old sexual assault allegations which led to the conviction of Geronimo Aguilar, powerful leader of the Richmond Outreach Center Church in Richmond, VA.

Mike Weber provides training on how to investigate Munchausen by Proxy for all disciplines that may touch this criminal act. Weber’s trainings are flexible to fit audiences he is addressing. Weber uses real case examples from cases he investigated to illustrate both proper and improper techniques in these complicated criminal investigations.

Mike Weber can be contacted at [email protected] (direct link in social media tab on left of this page).

Current position (2)

Detective

Tarrant County Sheriff's Office

Owner

Mike Weber Consulting

Achievements (2)

State of Texas Master Peace Officer Certification

Highest level of Certification for a Texas Police Officer that relies on a combination of education level obtained, continuing education courses attended, and years of experience

State of Texas TCOLE Law Enforcemnt Instructor's License

Must have a certain amount of years service time combined with attendance and completion of the TCOLE Instructor course.

Presentations

Presentations (5)

The Poison of a Mother's Love: The Hope Ybarra Investigation

This presentation examines the proper investigative procedures for law enforcement and Child Services when investigating a case of Munchausen by Proxy. The Hope Ybarra investigation, one of Weber's earliest Munchausen by Proxy investigations, is used to illustrate both proper and improper investigative techniques for both law enforcement an Child Services. Hope Ybarra presented her daughter as ill for all 6 years of her young life. Hope falsified medical history in order to obtain a gastric feeding tube placement. Hope didn't stop there. Weber will take you down the winding evidentiary road that led to the discovery that Ybarra had faked cystic fibrosis in the victim, introduced pathogens she obtained from work into the victim, and used an unneeded central line to remove the victim's blood in order to present the victim as anemic. You will see parts of Weber's interview of Hope, which led to admissions. You will here from Hope in a prison interview after the conviction.

A Multi-Disciplined Approach to Medical Child Abuse

Mike Weber will discuss the roles of each discipline that will touch a case of Munchausen by Proxy (Medical Child Abuse). Weber will highlight the importance of a true multi-disciplined approach to these very unique and complicated investigations. These disciplines include child services, medical, police, forensic child interviewing, prosecution, civil removal of children from offenders, issues in family court, and victim counseling. All of these disciplines must have a plan and work together for an effective outcome on this abuse.

The All-American Girl: Medical Child Abuse Across State Lines

Mike Weber will examine the proper investigative procedures for law enforcement and Child Services when investigating a case of Munchausen by Proxy. Weber will use the case of Elisabeth Hunnicutt as a training tool. Hunnicutt, a military wife of 2 boys who starved the youngest until and feeding tube was placed and then used the powerful sedative clonidine to drug the youngest and then use those symptoms to present the youngest as having hydrocephalus, causing a intracranial pressure monitor to be needlessly placed inside the victim's skull. We will discuss the father's journey, which included pushing police for 6 months before a offense report was finally generated and having to spend $80,000 in family court, even after Elisabeth had been arrested and charged in two states for child abuse.

A Copycat Case of Medical Child Abuse: The Brittany Phillips Investigation

Mike Weber will examine the proper investigative procedures for law enforcement and Child Services when investigating a case of Munchausen by Proxy. Weber will use the case of Brittany Phillips as a training tool. Phillips presented her child as ill and unable to gain weight, which led to the placement of a gastric feeding tube and a main line. Even after this placement, the victim still did not gain weight, causing medical personnel to become suspicious. 4 separate reports of Munchausen by Proxy were made to CPS. CPS conducted a minimal investigation before closing out all 4 complaints. One year later Phillips brought the victim to Cook Children's Hospital for dehydration. The victim developed numerous polymicrobial blood infections during this hospitalization, which caused doctors to report again for medical child abuse. This case ended up on Weber's desk. Weber will walk you through the process that revealed Phillips was placing feces in her child's IV line to cause blood infection.

Red Flags for Medical Child Abuse

This presentation is designed for school teachers, school nurses, in home health care, day care employees, church staff, nannies, and any other professionals who may care for children, if even for a couple of hours at a time. Weber will explain what this form of abuse is and will then go through numerous red flags for recognizing this abuse. It is important to remember that a red flag is just that and nothing more. A full review of medical records by a medical professional and a competent law enforcement investigation are needed to confirm this abuse, but this presentation will let these professionals know when to consider this abuse and when to alert authorities.