Summary of "The Con: Kaitlyn's Baby | Episode 3: Fifty Doulas"

Released on January 28, 2025 by CBC and BBC World Service

Introduction

In the gripping third episode of Season 2 of The Con: Kaitlyn's Baby, host Sarah Trelevin delves deep into the unsettling case of Kaitlyn Braun, a young woman whose fabricated pregnancies have left a trail of emotional and financial devastation among dozens of doulas. This episode, titled "Fifty Doulas," uncovers the intricate web of deception Kaitlyn wove and explores the profound impact her actions had on the professionals who trusted her.

The Unraveling of Kaitlyn's Deception

Initial Shock and Discovery

The episode begins with Terri Murphy, a seasoned doula from north of Toronto, recounting her shock upon learning about Kaitlyn's deceit.

Terri Murphy [00:56]: "I know she was really shook up. I think we were both just stunned. And I'm like, oh, my God. Oh, my God."

Terri had mentored Shauna, whose first client was Kaitlyn Braun. The revelation that Kaitlyn was faking her pregnancy and labor only became clear after an ultrasound exposed the truth.

Terri Murphy [01:55]: "So we're like, pretty freaked out about all of that."

The Quest for Answers

Terri's Determination

Terri's instinct was to seek the truth behind Kaitlyn's actions. She reached out to Kaitlyn, seeking clarification.

Terri Murphy [02:16]: "I said, you really need to pick up the phone and call me. I need to speak with you."

Despite Kaitlyn's tearful apologies and promises to seek therapy, Terri sensed the need for a deeper investigation. Her pursuit led her to Kaitlyn's mother, uncovering further layers of deception.

Terri Murphy [04:21]: "I think that has finally sunk in, in this time, that she is affecting other people."

Connecting the Dots

Terri's exploration revealed that Kaitlyn's initial claims of experiencing a stillbirth intertwined with previous trauma from an actual loss in June. However, inconsistencies began to surface, suggesting Kaitlyn's manipulations went beyond personal grief.

Terri Murphy [05:52]: "She was supporting a stillbirth, a 20 week stillbirth through a rape."

Community Mobilization and Rising Concerns

Formation of the Doula Group Chat

Terri and Shauna took proactive steps to warn other doulas about Kaitlyn's deceit by creating a group chat.

Shauna [07:38]: "We created the group chat in November and every week or every few days we would find another victim and add them to the group chat."

Voices of the Affected Doulas

Amy Silva, another doula, shared her harrowing experience of being duped by Kaitlyn over an extended period.

Amy Silva [08:11]: "How long has she been doing this? Why aren't the police involved? Why, why? Why?"

Randy from Calgary recounted Kaitlyn's alarming behavior during supposed labor, which initially left her believing Kaitlyn was in a coma.

Randy [09:08]: "This is a bad one. This is really, really, really bad."

Escalation and Realization

Pattern of Manipulation

As more doulas came forward, it became evident that Kaitlyn's manipulations were widespread, extending beyond professional relationships to personal circles.

Shauna [12:04]: "As more and more of these stories piled up. Things began to feel like they were spiraling out of control."

Economic and Emotional Toll

Many doulas not only endured emotional trauma but also faced financial losses due to unpaid services.

Amy [12:15]: "Some of the doulas didn't charge Kaitlin for helping to deliver a stillborn, but some did charge for their time, and often Kaitlin would just disappear and not pay them."

The Turning Point: Police Involvement

Attempts to Seek Legal Recourse

Despite overwhelming evidence, initial attempts to involve law enforcement yielded little progress. However, persistence paid off when a victim services worker validated the doulas' experiences, leading to a formal investigation.

Amy [15:18]: "That we were not the first, that he knew who she was, that this has been going on."

Arrest and Charges

Eventually, Kaitlyn Braun was arrested by Brantford police on numerous charges, including criminal harassment, fraud, and sexual assault. This development brought a sense of relief to the affected community, though many questions remained unanswered.

Amy [24:42]: "She was arrested by Brantford police on Monday. She has like 13 charges and one of them is sexual assault and the rest are like false pretense and harassments and things like that."

Aftermath and Ongoing Impact

Media Coverage and Public Awareness

Kaitlyn's case garnered extensive media attention, with local, national, and international outlets covering the saga. This exposure not only highlighted her deceptive practices but also shed light on the vulnerabilities within the doula community.

Unanswered Questions

Despite the arrest, the motives behind Kaitlyn's actions remain unclear. Doulas like Shauna ponder the psychological factors that drove Kaitlyn to orchestrate such elaborate deceptions.

Shauna [25:49]: "I wish that I knew that, honestly. It's one part of me feels like, you know, she's sick and she has some sort of like disease or illness or something."

Community Healing and Prevention Efforts

Doulas like Amy Silva have taken steps to prevent future incidents by sharing their stories and advocating for safety measures within the profession.

Amy Silva [17:29]: "I made the TikTok because I wanted to protect other doulas. It was never about naming Caitlin or shaming Caitlyn."

Conclusion

"Fifty Doulas" serves as a poignant exploration of trust, deception, and the profound impact one individual's actions can have on an entire community. Through firsthand accounts and meticulous investigation, the episode underscores the importance of vigilance and support within professional networks to safeguard against such intricate cons.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Terri Murphy [02:16]: "I need to speak with you."
• Randy [09:08]: "This is really, really, really bad."
• Amy Silva [08:11]: "How long has she been doing this? Why aren't the police involved?"
• Shauna [07:38]: "We created the group chat... find another victim and add them to the group chat."
• Amy [24:42]: "She has like 13 charges and one of them is sexual assault..."
• Shauna [25:49]: "I wish that I knew that, honestly. It's one part of me feels like... she's sick..."
• Amy Silva [17:29]: "I made the TikTok because I wanted to protect other doulas."

Credits

This episode was written, researched, and produced by Sarah Trelevin and Kathleen Goldhar, with additional production support from Andrew Friesen and Alexis Green. Sound design and scoring were crafted by Mitchell Stewart, and Emily Quinnell served as the digital coordinating producer. Veronica Simmons acted as the senior producer, while Emily Mathieu ensured factual accuracy as the fact checker. The executive producers were Cecil Fernandez and Chris Oak, with Tanya Springer as the senior manager and Arif Narrani directing CBC Podcasts for the BBC World Service. Cat Collins contributed as the senior producer, and John Mennell oversaw podcast commissioning as editor.