Baby Doe: The Psychology the Jury Never Heard | Jessica Earnshaw

In this episode of True Crime, Authors and Extraordinary People, David McClam sits down with award-winning documentary filmmaker and photojournalist Jessica Earnshaw, director and producer of Baby Doe.

Earnshaw’s work explores criminal justice, family relationships, trauma, and the lives of women whose stories are often reduced to headlines. Her previous documentary, Jacinta, followed a mother and daughter navigating incarceration, addiction, and generational trauma. Baby Doe turns its attention to the case of Gail Ritchie, whose life changed dramatically when DNA evidence connected her to the death of her newborn nearly three decades earlier.

David and Jessica discuss the difficult and often misunderstood phenomenon of pregnancy denial, including how a woman can remain unaware of a pregnancy until very late in pregnancy or even labor. Jessica explains that her interest in the subject began with the case of Emily Weaver, whose experience led her to explore whether these cases were isolated or part of a broader pattern.

The conversation examines Gail’s childhood, her religious upbringing, the fear and shame surrounding premarital pregnancy, and the emotional isolation that Jessica believes played an important role in Gail’s experience.

They also discuss Gail’s fragmented memories surrounding the birth, including her recollection of giving birth while believing she was having a bowel movement, placing the baby and placenta into a bag, and experiencing what Jessica describes as a dissociative state.

One of the central questions in Gail’s trial was whether the baby had been born alive. Jessica explains the competing forensic testimony surrounding air found in the baby’s lungs and why she believes the evidence did not conclusively establish whether the child had taken a breath before death.

David and Jessica also discuss why psychological testimony concerning pregnancy denial was excluded from Gail’s trial and whether jurors were being asked to evaluate behavior without the context necessary to understand it. Jessica argues that understanding the psychology behind Gail’s actions was essential to understanding the case.

The interview does not shy away from one of the case’s most difficult revelations: Gail also described another possible pregnancy and newborn years earlier. Jessica discusses why experts believe pregnancy denial can happen more than once, particularly when the underlying fear, shame, and emotional conditions remain unresolved.

The conversation also explores religion and its complicated role in Gail’s life. While some of the shame surrounding pregnancy and premarital sex was connected to her religious environment, Jessica explains that Gail herself does not view the church simply as a villain. Faith later became one of Gail’s strongest sources of support, including during her prosecution and incarceration.

David and Jessica discuss Gail’s life in the decades following the incident, including her marriage, children, grandchildren, and the difficulty of reconciling the person Gail became with what happened when she was a young woman.

They also examine the plea deal Gail rejected, the possibility that she may not have fully understood the consequences of going to trial, and whether her defense team should have spent more time discussing the potential outcome with her.

Jessica ultimately hopes viewers walk away from Baby Doe understanding that cases involving pregnancy denial, maternal mental health, and reproductive trauma are rarely as simple as the headlines surrounding them.

Her message is one of education, empathy, and conversation.

Sometimes understanding what happened requires first understanding everything that happened before it.

Baby Doe is available on Apple TV and Prime Video, with additional screenings taking place around the country.

Content Warning: This episode discusses the death of a newborn, pregnancy, childbirth, trauma, and maternal mental health.