Helen Holcomb
Helen Tate was born to a moderately affluent family in the Southern United States in 1885. She was a gifted painter and soon made a name for herself in her community. She married a wealthy businessman and moved away with him. Her new husband invested in a new hospital in a very small town. They moved to the small town to be closer to it. Helen tried to continue her artwork and sell it in town. Her husband hated the attention she drew and insisted that she stop. Helen began to paint for her own amusement. Her stifled creativity needed an outlet. Paintings soon covered their comfortable home. This also infuriated her husband.
Now devoid of her creative outlet, Helen focused on what was to come; a baby. Helen was expecting her first child. But, tragically, this was not to be. The baby died in the womb, and Helen fell into depression. With no support from her husband, she turned back to her art. Seeing the paintings he so despised once again, Mr. Holcomb flew into a rage. He became abusive and even more dismissive. Helen's anxiety and depression grew even worse. Mr. Holcomb had her committed to the hospital that he had invested in. She was diagnosed with "hysteria," and sent to the psych ward in 1907.
Helen spent eight years in a cell being tested and going through therapy. In the cell near her was a young girl named Lottie, and a strange young man named Joey. Helen felt a strangely maternal instinct toward Lottie; she felt like she needed to take care of her. Joey, on the other hand, was puzzling. He seemed very lost but pushed everyone away from him. Eventually, she and Joey had struck up a friendship, and had a shared interest in keeping Lottie's spirits up.
Helen was released from the hospital's psych ward in 1915 and sent back to her home. When she returned, she found the house was now run by a strange new group of people. They seemed strangely fixated on her and her art career. This was a nice change, so she didn't question it too much. Mr. Holcomb's abuse continued, however, so there was much strife in the house. One night, there was a terrible scream and Helen ran down to find Mr. Holcomb dead. One of the new assistants was standing over his body with a knife. He placed the knife in her hands and ran away.
The police were called to the Holcomb home. Mr. Holcomb was found on the floor and the murder weapon was in Mrs. Holcomb's hands. Helen was the primary suspect and was found guilty of his murder. She was sent back to the hospital and remained in the psych ward until her death in 1942.
Relationships
Life
1885
1942
57 years old
Circumstances of Death
Show spoiler
Died in hospital riot
Spouses
Mr. Theodor Holcomb
(Husband)
Siblings
Children
Gender
Female
Height
5'2"
Weight
115 lbs
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