Marybeth Tinning: 14 Years Killing Her 9kids, What Happened To Her

Marybeth Tinning is widely known as an American female murderer and suspected serial killer. Marybeth was convicted in New York State for the murder of her ninth child, a 4-month-old daughter called Tami Lynne. She had been murdering her kids, most of whom were infants and toddlers. She was previously working as a nursing assistant. After six parole denials, Marybeth was granted parole at her seventh hearing in July 2018 and was released on August 21 of that year.

Marybeth Tinning: Bio Summary

Marybeth Tinning: Early Life

Marybeth Tinning was born Marybeth Roe Tinning to her parents Ruth Roe and Alton Lewis Roe. Her date of birth is September 11, 1942. Marybeth was born in the small town of Duanesburg, New York. Her father, Alton was deployed overseas fighting in World War II, while her mother worked. Growing up, Marybeth’s parents were both not around oftentimes so she was often passed from relative to relative.

Marybeth Tinning was told that no one wanted her and she was an accidental child by one elderly relative. Her father also worked as a press operator in a nearby General Electric factory, after he completed his active duty. Marybeth Tinning made claims during a police interview in 1986, that her father abused her when she was a child.

According to her, her father would beat her and lock her in a closet. During court testimony, she denied that her father had bad intentions. “My father hit me with a flyswatter,” she told the court, “because he had arthritis and his hands were not of much use. And when he locked me in my room, I guess he thought I deserved it.” However, in October 1971, Marybeth’s father died of a heart attack.

Did Marybeth Tinning Attend School?

Yes, Marybeth Tinning did have an education. She attended Duanesburg High School and was an average student. She graduated in the year 1961. Per sources, she wanted to attend college but her grades were considered to be so average so she was not accepted.

After high school, Marybeth worked at low-paying, unskilled jobs and eventually got employed as a nursing assistant at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, New York, ten miles north of Duanesburg.

Who Did Marybeth Tinning Marry?

Marybeth Tinning was married to Joseph Tinning. She met Joseph on a blind date in 1963. They were seeing each other for a while and after that, they got married. The pair got married in the year 1965 two years after they met. They gave birth to their first child, Barbara, in May 1967, followed by Joseph Jr in January 1970.

Did Marybeth Tinning Poison Her Husband?

Well, Marybeth Tinning’s husband, Joseph Tinning was admitted to the hospital in 1974. He was admitted to the hospital with a near-fatal case of barbiturate poisoning. Joseph and Marybeth’s marriage was in turmoil when the incident transpired. Marybeth put barbiturate pills she took from a friend with an epileptic daughter, into her husband, Joseph’s grape juice. Joseph refused to press charges against his wife.

Marybeth Tinning’s Children: How Did They Die

Marybeth Tinning’s child Jennifer Tinning was born a few months after Marybeth’s father passed away. Jennifer suffered hemorrhagic meningitis and brain abscesses in the womb. She died on January 3, 1972. Marybeth’s 2-year-old son, Joseph Jr was rushed to the Ellis Hospital emergency room due to a seizure, just two weeks after Jennifer’s death.

The doctors couldn’t find a cause for his seizure and choked on his vomit. The Doctors found nothing wrong with him so he was later released. Marybeth brought Joseph Jr back to the hospital and this time around, Joseph Jr was dead on arrival. His death was suggested to be cardiopulmonary arrest. Marybeth’s child almost five years old child Barbara was also rushed to Ellis Hospital.

Barbara had gone into convulsions and she died the following day after being in a comatose state for hours. Her death was mentioned to be Reye syndrome. Marybeth’s son Timothy was brought back to the same hospital dead after barely a month after his birth. According to Marybeth, she found her son lifeless in his crib.

Timothy’s death was said to be sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Marybeth’s fifth child, Nathan, was born in March 1975. He died in the car while out with Tinning. Marybeth went on to adopt a newborn, Michael. She later gave birth to her biological child, Mary Frances. Mary Frances was her sixth child. Mary Frances was rushed to the emergency room. Marybeth claimed her child was having a seizure.

The staff was able to revive her, reporting “aborted SIDS.” Mary Frances was taken back to the hospital a month later in full cardiac arrest. Mary got revived but had irreversible brain damage. She died two days later after being taken off life support. Marybeth’s eighth child, Jonathan, was born in the fall of 1979 and died in March 1980, after being kept on life support in Albany for four weeks.

In February 1981, Marybeth’s adopted child Michael fell down the stairs and suffered a concussion. He was taken to the hospital on March 2 because he wouldn’t wake up. Michael was dead when she arrived. Marybeth went on to give birth to Tami Lynne on August 22, 1985. Tami also died of being smothered.

What Happened To Marybeth Tinning After Her Children’s Death

Marybeth Tinning was suspected to be involved in the premature deaths of her children, all of which took place within fourteen years. She was taken to the Schenectady Police Department for questioning. Her husband, Joseph Tinning was also taken but separately. This happened after Tami Lynne’s death.

Also Read: Jason Worley: Ex-wife Murdered Their 2 children, Where is he now?

Marybeth and Joseph were separately taken for questioning about Tami Lynne’s death. Marybeth confessed that she had murdered Tami Lynne, Timothy, and Nathan. She was arrested and charged with Tami Lynne’s murder. Later, Marybeth claimed that the police threatened her which is why she said she had killed her children.

Marybeth added that she repeatedly asked for a lawyer but she was denied. She made her $100,000 bail payment and was released from custody until her trial date. She was released on parole on August 21, 2018, after serving 31 years. All this while her husband Joseph supported her believing in his wife’s innocence.

Marybeth Tinning was ordered to remain under parole supervision for the rest of her life. A Department of Corrections spokesperson stated Tinning lives in Schenectady County. She has a curfew and must attend domestic violence counseling.