The Dena Schlosser Case: Water of Life Obsession Results in Murder of Infant

John and Dena Schlosser moved to Illinois from Fort Worth in 2000. John worked as a software designer while Dena served as a stay-at-home mom for the two kids shared by the well-to-do couple.

The Water of Life Church

John lost his job shortly after the move, forcing him into freelance consulting to cover the bills and care for his family. The family joined the Water of Life Church about this time.

The teachings of the church appealed to the couple who traveled 120-miles round trip to attend services. The pastor often used information he learned while working as a veterinarian in his teachings. He believed he was a prophet sent to Plano to the Water of Life church to spread the word of God.

The freelance consulting gig sufficed the family for a short while but the home went into foreclosure and they were forced out. The couple took the opportunity to move closer to the church where they found an apartment.

The fascination with the Water of Life church and its pastor, Doyle Davidson, grew after the move. They soon learned Pastor Davidson believed a Jezebel spirit infected the city of Plano. He taught members that medicine is witchcraft and told them everything could be healed through prayer.

John and Dena soon followed in Pastor Doyle’s beliefs and used prayer, not medicine, in their home. She even birthed the couple’s third child, Margaret, at home with help from a midwife.

A Troubled Woman

Dena atttempted suicide the day after Margaret’s birth. John found her lying on the bathroom floor covered in blood but said he did not think it was severe enough to take her to the doctor. Instead, he bandaged her wounds and prayed.

Days later, Dena claimed that she gave birth to twins, but the boy died and was returned to God. She had suffered postpartum psychosis after the birth of her other two kids and while people around her knew something was strange, they refused to seek medical treatment for the woman. Her condition worsened.

Five days after the attempted suicide, Dena ran out of the house while her daughter watched a cartoon. She believed the cartoon characters were laughing at her. The five-year-old Kelsie chased her mother out of the house but could not catch her. Police later found the woman who started screaming. They took her to a hospital where doctors diagnosed her with postpartum psychosis and admitted her to a mental hospital.

John Takes Dena Home

Dena's condition improved while in the hospital but John soon took her out, saying Dena would be more comfortable at home. Despite her objections, John took her home. Yet, CPS barred Dena from being around the kids unsupervised and followed the case.

Dena continued to take her medicine and things went well during the two months CPS followed the case. Soon, CPS dropped the case and Dena went on to live her life with the kids free of restrictions.

She stopped taking her medicine under the belief that it was “evil.” Soon, Dena began having delusions again. She and John faithfully attended Water of Life, and cut off family members and friends who thought it negatively impacted Dena’s mental health.

Dena Wants to "Give Her Baby to God"

One day while getting dressed for church, Dena dressed Margaret in all white and asked Pastor Davidson to marry the baby. John convinced her that it wasn't appropriate but did not notify CPS about Dena’s deteriorating mental state. After church, Dena said she wanted to “give her baby to God,” a message also ignored by John.

The next morning, Dena insisted God wanted her baby. She turned on gospel music in the apartment, retrieved a 9” knife from the kitchen and grabbed baby Margaret. She cut off both the baby’s arms, killing her in the process.

She then called a daycare worker and confessed what she had done. That worker called 9-1-1. Police found Dena sitting on the sofa, the knife still in her bloodied hands, singing Christian songs. At the station, police heard Dena chanting, “Thank you Jesus, Thank you Lord.”

Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity

Dena was found not guilty by reason of insanity. After spending time at North Texas State Hospital, she was released on outpatient status.