Young and beautiful, Rhoda Derry wanted nothing more than to live a happily life with the love of her life. Fate sadly would have other plans. Rhoda was pushed into insanity by the threat of witchcraft from the mother of her betrothed. Once young and beautiful a life of abandonment in poor houses left crippled and disfigured a shell of a human. Below you can find some additional imagery and information that helps provide additional context to the full story you can listen to it here.

Illinois State Hospital for the Insane

When Rhoda was judged to be insane, she was first placed in this facility in Jacksonville, IL. Due to overpopulation, a policy was introduced that after 2 years of observation/treatment if no progress was made to helping the patients, there were deemed incurable and released back into their family’s care. This was Rhoda’s fate, given up on placed back in her family’s care.

image credit: https://www.asylumprojects.org/index.php/File:Jackson17.png

Adams County Alms House (Poor House)

Rhoda spent 44 horrific years at this facility that was located in Coatsburg. The majority of Rhoda’s self-imposed
disfigurement occurred during her time here.

image credit: https://hsqac.pastperfectonline.com/media/271DA5B5-14F4-4CBE-92DD-770293556674

Illinois Hospital for the Incurable Insane

(top image shows at the time of construction, bottom image shows the facility as it stands today)

After 44 horrific years in the Alms house in Coatsburg, Dr. George Zeller the superintendent of this facility saw to it that Rhoda was placed under it’s care. Rhoda’s treatment was top notch and though she only lived in this facility for around 2 years she was treated like a queen and shown the utmost care and respect.

image credit: https://imgur.com/gallery/iAeD5

Dr. George Zeller

Dr. Zeller was the superintendant of the Illinois Hospital for the Incurable Insane. Dr. Zeller essentially was Rhoda’s savior, moving her from her tortuned existence to his facility. Dr. Zeller was a pioneer in revolutionizing Mental Health Care, providing real treatment and stopping mistreatment of afflicted by Mental Illness. It was only in Dr.Zeller’s presence that Rhoda ever seemed to smile and show any type of happy emotion.

image credit: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52542664/george-anthony-zeller

Rhoda Derry

Below is the only officially documented photograph of Rhoda Derry. Taken in her final years of life at the Illinois Hospital for the Incurable Insane, This photo shows the horrible disfigurement she endured after 44 years of isolation entrapped in what was essentially a cage. At this point she had removed her own eyes, her legs had atrophied leaving her unable to walk, she had knocked out her front teeth after rages of self abuse and she had lost the ability to speak possibly due to developing a condition called Pica, which is a fixation where the afflicted attempt to digest all matters of things edible and inedible. It’s possible her tongue or vocal chords were lacerated leaving her unable to talk. The photo is blurry due to her constantly being in motion. Though this image is shocking, her treatment in the final years of her life was absolutely top notch. She was however so far beyond repair there was practically nothing that could be done to reverse her condition at this point.

image credit: https://horrorhistory.net/2017/10/09/rhoda-derry-and-the-mistreatment-misunderstanding-of-the-mentally-ill/

Rhoda Derry’s Grave

Rhoda Derry Died of Tuberculosis on October 9th, 1906 she is buried on the grounds of the former Illinois Hospital for the Incurable Insane in Bartonville, Illinois.