Truer Crime Season 2, Episode: "Mother, Martyr, Manipulator: Introducing 'Nobody Should Believe Me'"

Release Date: April 10, 2025
Host: Celisia Stanton

Introduction

In the second season of Truer Crime, host Celisia Stanton delves into the intricate and unsettling story of Sophie Hartman, a seemingly devoted mother whose actions have sparked national controversy. This episode, titled "Mother, Martyr, Manipulator: Introducing 'Nobody Should Believe Me'," explores the depths of Sophie’s life, her mission in Zambia, the adoption of her two daughters, and the subsequent allegations of Munchausen by proxy that have rocked her family and community.

Sophie Hartman’s Journey to Zambia

Sophie Hartman, a young evangelical woman from a small town in Michigan, embarked on a mission trip to Zambia during her college years. Driven by a profound sense of purpose, Sophie returned to the United States with two orphaned sisters, aiming to provide them with a better life. Her memoir, Crowns of Beauty, offers a first-person account of her experiences abroad.

Sophie Hartman ([11:42]): "A memoir the strong ache in my stomach that felt like homesickness was for another country, a land where children ran freely and dust filled every crevice. A place so different and foreign, yet one where heaven met earth more clearly than I had ever seen before."

Sophie’s portrayal of Zambia is vivid yet controversial. She describes it as a "dusty and basically just kind of hellish" place, highlighting severe poverty and suffering.

Andrea Dunlop ([21:10]): "Sophie appears to have been in and out of Zambia from roughly 2008 to 2015, but the details of where she was and with whom are obscured in her memoir."

Adoption and Allegations of Abuse

Upon returning to the United States, Sophie adopted her two daughters, Em and C. However, allegations soon surfaced accusing Sophie of Munchausen by proxy—fabricating or inducing illness in her children to gain attention and sympathy.

Andrea Dunlop ([08:54]): "King county prosecutors are accusing Hartman of subjecting her daughter to medically unnecessary surgical procedures and restraints."

The legal battles culminated in the courts returning her children to her sister, Megan Carter, and eventually, the decision not to file charges against Sophie despite substantial evidence.

Analyzing the Narrative: Martyrdom and Savior Complex

Sophie presents herself as a martyr and savior, deeply entwined with her religious beliefs. Her memoir is replete with passages depicting her as a Christ-like figure, tirelessly fighting for the oppressed.

Sophie Hartman ([26:54]): "One afternoon in late 2010, I was walking home through the compound where I lived, dialoguing with Jesus about my day... I calmly approached her and gently placed my right hand on her head. She pulled away, falling down in the dirt, and immediately I could tell that the little girl inside was held captive by darkness."

Andrea Dunlop critically examines these portrayals, noting a lack of detail about daily life in Zambia and an overemphasis on crisis and suffering.

Andrea Dunlop ([24:36]): "Sophie's primary descriptor of Zambia is that it's, quote, dusty and basically just kind of hellish."

Expert Insights on Transracial Adoption

To understand the complexities surrounding Sophie’s adoptions, Truer Crime brings in Chad Golder Sojourner, a Seattle-based writer and educator specializing in transracial adoption.

Chad Golder Sojourner ([31:59]): "One of the misconceptions is that the white parent knows more... You have to prepare them to enter into the world they're going to live in."

Chad emphasizes the challenges and responsibilities inherent in transracial and international adoptions, highlighting the risk of children being perceived as commodities and the potential disconnection from their cultural heritage.

Chad Golder Sojourner ([34:21]): "There's a lot of stuff there that is still doesn't make sense... It just seems like who, like where, like where is that biblical?"

Red Flags and Discrepancies in Sophie’s Story

Andrea Dunlop identifies several red flags in Sophie’s account:

1. Obscured Details: Sophie changes names and locations in her memoir, limiting transparency about her time in Zambia.

   Andrea Dunlop ([15:20]): "In the beginning sections of the book... it's hard to get a grasp on what she was doing day to day in Zambia."

2. Lack of Specifics: The memoir lacks concrete details about daily activities, relying heavily on religious rhetoric instead.

   Sophie Hartman ([30:06]): "I declared under my breath that because Jesus made it clear in the Bible that visiting the orphan was true religion..."

3. Inconsistent Symptoms: Em, Sophie’s younger daughter, was diagnosed with alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC), a rare genetic disorder. However, Andrea points out inconsistencies in the severity of her symptoms.

   Andrea Dunlop ([41:37]): "Would it surprise you if I told you that AHC is not a terminal disease? Yes, it would."

Community and Legal Response

Sophie's actions garnered significant attention, both supportive and critical. Her church and local community initially rallied to her support, raising funds to assist with medical expenses.

Andrea Dunlop ([40:39]): "The church raised about around $30,000 something like that. I'd gone through a very traumatic experience having her children taken away."

However, legal investigations revealed extensive medical appointments and procedures that raised suspicions about the necessity and intent behind them.

Andrea Dunlop ([08:54]): "Records say the girl underwent more than 474 medical appointments since 2016 when the Sophie Hartman case broke."

Conclusion: A Complex Web of Faith, Altruism, and Manipulation

The episode paints a multifaceted picture of Sophie Hartman—a woman driven by faith and a perceived mission to save others, yet whose actions may have caused profound harm to her own children. Truer Crime challenges listeners to question the narratives presented by those in positions of authority and trust, emphasizing the importance of scrutiny and the complexities of familial and cultural dynamics in adoption.

Andrea Dunlop ([37:33]): "This is the troubling vein running through Sophie's book. It's the grandiosity of thinking that Zambia is a problem and it's one that she's equipped to solve."

As the season progresses, listeners are invited to explore deeper into Sophie's story, uncovering layers of truth and deception that make this case a compelling study in true crime and human psychology.

Notable Quotes

• Sophie Hartman ([11:42]): "A memoir the strong ache in my stomach that felt like homesickness was for another country..."

• Andrea Dunlop ([24:36]): "Sophie's primary descriptor of Zambia is that it's, quote, dusty and basically just kind of hellish."

• Chad Golder Sojourner ([31:59]): "One of the misconceptions is that the white parent knows more..."

• Andrea Dunlop ([37:33]): "This is the troubling vein running through Sophie's book..."

Final Thoughts

Truer Crime's exploration of Sophie Hartman's life serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding adoption, faith-driven missions, and the potential for manipulation within trusted relationships. By weaving together personal narratives, expert insights, and critical analysis, the episode encourages listeners to seek truth and question narratives that may seem too good to be true.