Episode 13: The Tragic Tale Of Rhoda Derry

In this haunting episode of From A Dark Place, we uncover the deeply disturbing and heartbreaking story of Rhoda Derry- Born in the mid 1800's, Rhoda's life spiraled into darkness after a forbidden love and an alleged curse from arrival family. What followed was decades of unimaginable suffering, confinement and abuse in an Illinois' mental health facility. Join us as we trace Rhoda's journey from a bright young woman to a soul lost in the cracks of a failing system. We explore the cruelty she endured, the myths surrounding her madness and the shocking truth about how society once treated those deemed "insane". This is not just a story about mental illness -- it's about injustice, humanity and the desperate need for reform.TRIGGER WARNING: this episode contains descriptions of abuse, neglect and mental health.sources:-Rhoda Derry; a tragedy of Illinois insane asylums by Mark D. Davis-Historical records from the Adams County Poor Farm -Illinois state hospital archives-"Dr George Zellar and the Moral Treatment Movement" Illinois State Historical Society