How a Mother’s Deception Led To Tragedy – The HEARTBREAKING Case of Olivia Gant

How a Mother’s Deception Led To Tragedy: The Heartbreaking Case of Olivia Gant

This video footage is deceiving. What seems like a loving mother is actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing. These videos of a terminally ill little girl having her final wishes granted hold a disturbing secret—a secret only her mother knows. This is the story of a mother’s worst betrayal.

Olivia Gant won our hearts as the “Bat Princess,” living out her wish as a superhero on a Make-A-Wish day in 2017. Now, her mother is fighting charges that she faked her daughter’s illness and murdered the girl when Olivia was only seven years old.

“Happy birthday to you… and I’m Olivia, and we’re making a cake, right?”

“Yes. She opened her eyes, looked at me, recognized me, and said, ‘Papa, I’m hungry.’ She was hungry. Two days later, she died.”

A Mother’s Love Turned Deadly

A mother’s love can be one of the most powerful forces in the world. Most mothers would give their own lives to protect their children. The love between a mother and child can be one of the strongest, most beautiful bonds. Even in the animal kingdom, a mother can become a deadly force to be reckoned with if she feels her offspring is in danger.

I think that’s what makes Olivia’s story so horrific. She lived only seven short years, and every single day she was on this earth, she was wrought with pain and suffering—all at the hands of her mother. Olivia’s mother, Kelly Turner, medically tortured her since birth and played twisted games with medical professionals. She was somehow able to convince doctors to perform unnecessary procedures on Olivia that eventually led to her death.

Olivia Gant was born on June 21, 2010, in Pasadena, Texas, where she lived with her mother Kelly Turner, her two sisters, and her father John Gant. She left an indelible mark on those who knew her and was described by her grandfather, Lonnie Grotto, as a deeply loving child. She had a great imagination and absolutely loved playing with her dolls. Olivia’s vibrant energy, caring nature, and zest for life made her a joy to be around. She was affectionately called “Livy” by her family, and she, in turn, referred to her grandfather as “Papa.”

Olivia was absolutely adorable and never met a stranger. She should still be here. She would be 14 years old now, probably getting ready to start high school. The only consolation I find in her death is that she is no longer experiencing pain at the hands of Kelly Turner.

The Journey of Deception: The Online Blog

From the moment of Olivia’s birth, Kelly would constantly find things she claimed were wrong with Olivia and bring those issues to her doctors’ attention. In 2011, when Olivia was just a year old, Kelly started an online blog detailing Olivia’s alleged medical issues to garner sympathy and support.

The first page of the blog was titled “A Little Background.” In it, she talks about when Olivia’s medical conditions supposedly started and describes them in meticulous detail. Let’s read through some of this blog, as it gives us a deep insight into what was going on in Kelly’s head and how this journey of deception and betrayal truly began:

“Olivia was born premature and was otherwise a healthy little girl—or so we thought. At around her nine-month checkup, her pediatrician noticed that she was not developing mentally or physically, and that her head was growing off the chart. After a trip to the orthotics clinic and a referral to the neurologist, we thought we would simply get a helmet to reshape her skull and all would be well. Don’t ever count your chickens before they hatch.

An MRI of the brain at the neuro office showed that Olivia had an inoperable vascular malformation of the brain. What came with that? The possibility of seizures, blindness, aneurysms, strokes, or death. It was decided that she would be monitored every few months. The next MRI led them to do an ultrasound because something in her neck looked different. We have now discovered that there is a tumor on the parotid gland in her neck. What comes with that, you may wonder? Deafness in the right ear, trouble swallowing, and trouble chewing.

So, from the time Olivia began seeing the doctor for specific things in her short life, we have now turned two in June, extended our diagnosis list, and have been to several doctors before we found one actually able to test and treat Olivia. And we found them in Denver, Colorado.”

Doctor Shopping and Unnecessary Surgeries

If a physician or specialist did not agree with what Kelly thought was wrong with Olivia, she would do what is called “doctor shopping.” Most doctor shoppers go to different physicians to get prescriptions for controlled substances, but in Kelly’s case, she was doctor shopping for physicians who would give her the exact terminal diagnosis she was looking for.

She apparently found some medical professionals in Colorado who would go along with her claims, so she relocated to Littleton, Colorado, with her daughters. Olivia’s father, John Gant, couldn’t leave his job in Texas, so he stayed behind. There isn’t much public information on John Gant or the exact nature of his relationship with Kelly; some news articles stated they were married, while others indicated they had a highly tumultuous relationship.

Let’s look back at the blog updates as Olivia grew:

“Olivia at the age of two is an autistic child with an inoperable vascular malformation, a tumor on the parotid gland, external hydrocephalus (too much water on the outside of the brain), developmental delay, L-carnitine deficiency, a seizure disorder, and celiac disease.”

Fast forward to when Olivia is four and a half years old:

“She is just a ball full of energy and love. She is the strongest little girl I have ever met, although her sisters do put up a good fight as well. However, her diagnosis list is still pretty long. Olivia at the age of four has hydrocephalus, a seizure disorder, focal cortical dysplasia, autism, intestinal dysmotility, a loop ostomy, a vascular malformation in the brain, a tumor on the parotid gland, and developmental delays.

On November 11, the start of a very long journey began. After months of not being able to use the bathroom and being in extreme pain almost constantly, the great doctors decided that surgery to put in a colostomy was necessary. After the surgery, there have been ups and downs. On December 12, Olivia was transported back to the hospital where she suffered what is called an intestinal prolapse. The on-call surgeon put her to sleep enough to push the intestines back in.

There were several discussions about operating, but Dr. Lamb has seen her the past few weeks and felt that in Olivia’s best interest, she needed Dr. Bealer, who operated on her on day one, to fix this. He said for her sake, consistency with the doctor is what was important.”

Here in her blog, she is actually admitting that a physician told her to keep things consistent and refer back to the original doctor regarding medical decisions.

I still cannot comprehend how these highly invasive, unnecessary procedures were allowed to happen when dealing with a completely healthy child. This blog post alone lists 11 severe medical issues Olivia supposedly suffered from:

Vascular malformation of the brain
A tumor on the parotid gland in her neck
Autism
External hydrocephalus
L-carnitine deficiency
Seizure disorder
Celiac disease
Cortical dysplasia
Intestinal dysmotility
A loop ostomy
Developmental delays

The Escalation of Medical Abuse

Following their move to Colorado in 2012, there would be thousands of visits to Children’s Hospital Colorado. In early visits, Kelly reported Olivia had a history of seizures and severe feeding difficulties. At some point, Olivia was prescribed heavy anti-seizure medication. It is unclear if this was initially prescribed by a doctor in Texas or Colorado, but in July of 2014, a neurologist in Colorado determined Olivia did not have seizures and explicitly advised Kelly to take her off the medication. Kelly refused to follow the neurologist’s instructions and kept administering the anti-seizure medication anyway.

To address Kelly’s endless complaints about Olivia’s feeding issues, doctors first referred Olivia to therapy for picky eating. Kelly stubbornly insisted the problem was far more severe, claiming Olivia suffered from constant, agonizing constipation. In November of 2014, Olivia underwent a surgical ostomy, creating a hole in her abdomen so that waste could drain directly into a bag.

While her reported constipation cleared, Kelly suddenly claimed Olivia refused to eat anything at all, leading to a temporary feeding tube being placed through her nose. In January of 2015, a more permanent feeding tube was surgically inserted directly into Olivia’s abdomen. Shortly after, in June of 2015, Olivia underwent another surgery to place an intravenous line to feed her through her veins—a high-risk process called Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN). Ironically, when undergoing supervised feeding therapy at the hospital, Olivia’s ability to eat normal food improved significantly.

Despite this, in July of 2015, Kelly posted online for the first time claiming that Olivia had a terminal illness. Her actual medical records showed absolutely no evidence of a terminal disease. By 2016, Olivia was receiving escalating, heavy doses of narcotic painkillers.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation and Final Months

Sometime in 2017, Kelly reached out to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, convincing them Olivia was a dying child and submitting a list of her final wishes. In February of 2017, the foundation hosted a massive “Bat Princess” party for Olivia. Olivia also got to do a ride-along with the local police department, and the fire department hosted a special event entirely in her honor.

In March of 2017, Olivia underwent her final surgery: a procedure implanting a tube in her bladder that drained through her abdomen. On March 24, 2017, Kelly formally requested a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, asking that Olivia not be resuscitated if her heart stopped, nor given naloxone if her breathing failed due to the heavy doses of opioids she was receiving.

Around March 27, 2017, Olivia’s care team raised internal concerns that the physical amount of stool in Olivia’s ostomy bag did not match the values recorded in her chart. Because bag output is a critical indicator of bowel function, an independent monitor was assigned to her room. Magically, under supervision, the output improved to a normal range. Doctors remained unsure if she improved naturally or if the presence of a monitor prevented physical tampering.

On March 29, 2017, Turner demanded that Olivia be placed into hospice care. By July 11, 2017, an attending doctor refused to renew the DNR and naloxone-restriction orders, precipitating a series of intense hospital ethics meetings. Shockingly, the hospital’s Child Protection Team concluded there was “no reason to alert the Department of Human Services to potential medical child abuse.” A different doctor later stepped in and signed the order.

Sent to Her Death

On August 1st, 2017, Olivia was officially transferred to a regular hospice facility. She was genuinely happy to leave the hospital, thrilled to have the painful tubes removed, and happily sang songs on the bus ride there, feeling free for a brief moment. Olivia had absolutely no idea she was being sent to her death.

When she arrived, they settled her in, administered heavy pain medications, and for 19 days, she was completely starved of nutrition. For nearly three weeks, Kelly Turner sat by her bed and watched Olivia suffer, watching her die slowly, knowing the entire time that it was completely unnecessary. It was the horrific culmination of years of lies and manipulation.

On August 20, 2017, Olivia died. She was buried at Seven Stones Chatfield Cemetery in Littleton, Colorado. Excerpts from Olivia’s obituary read:

“On Sunday, August 20, we lost our little princess Olivia after a long battle with a rare disease at the age of seven. Olivia was with us a very short time, but through her short life and big battles, she taught us that we can be joyful in all things. After many operations and numerous stays in the hospital, Olivia always came home with a smile… She became known as the princess after always wearing her princess dresses while in the hospital—no hospital gowns for Olivia… Our precious little princess will now have a new body: no tubes, no more pain or sickness, and everlasting joy with our Lord.”

The Criminal Underbelly of Kelly Turner

Not much was widely known about Kelly Turner’s life outside of this tragedy, but she possessed a pre-existing criminal record in Texas that sheds light on her character. She had previously faced charges for forgery, which aligns heavily with how she managed to defraud medical charities and the public.

Even more disturbing, she had a previous arrest for the impersonation of a medical technician, showcasing a long-standing, sick fascination with the medical field. Last, and most horrifying, she had been charged with felony safety endangerment with bodily injury to a child. She already had a history of hurting children before Olivia was even born.

In October of 2018, over a year after Olivia’s death, Kelly brought Olivia’s surviving older sister to a new primary care physician, Dr. Courtney Santucci, after their previous doctor retired. Kelly explicitly told the doctor that the girl was suffering from severe bone pain and had previously been treated for lymphoma and active cancer in Texas.

Dr. Santucci immediately noticed that the sister lacked any surgical scars associated with cancer treatments or venous access ports. She contacted the family’s former physicians in Texas and discovered the girl had never been diagnosed with or treated for cancer in her life. The doctor immediately reported her findings, launching an official child protection investigation.

The Whistleblower and Hospital Failure

The active investigation into the surviving sister sparked a review of Olivia’s untimely death. Within days, authorities interviewed the sister at school and ordered Kelly to move out of the family home, separating her from her remaining children.

During the deeper investigation, it was uncovered that several doctors and nurses at Children’s Hospital Colorado had raised serious internal concerns that Olivia was being medically abused by her mother weeks before she died. Tragically, none of them reported their suspicions to outside law enforcement, despite state mandated reporting laws. Instead, the hospital chose to handle the situation internally through its own Child Protection Team and private ethics panels. Relying on false information provided by Kelly, they continually concluded there was no ground for outside intervention.

It was later revealed that a 2016 hospital policy explicitly instructed medical providers to submit child abuse concerns to the hospital’s internal team first, which would then decide whether outside authorities should be notified. In my opinion, that looks like an authoritarian framework designed to protect corporate interests over vulnerable children.

The investigation also revealed that Olivia had effectively become a poster child for the hospital due to her frequent stays. She was pictured in promotional brochures and prominently featured in high-profile fundraisers. A nurse’s aide stated the staff would routinely “jump through hoops” for Kelly because Olivia’s case was so public, giving Kelly an emotional vice grip over the providers.

The Investigative Interviews: Behind Closed Doors

Law enforcement interviews with the hospital staff provide an eye-opening look into the systemic failures. Here is a transcript of an interview with the floor manager of the hospital discussing Olivia’s heavy opioid usage and the push for hospice care:

Floor Manager: “When she came in, it appeared she had a lot of sedating-type medications, and we had been slowly withdrawing some of those medications. We were still giving some of them, but at decreased doses. As we did that, Olivia was waking back up, was awake and talking to people, was interactive, and seemed to go back to the patient that we knew or were familiar with.

At that point, I believe Kelly wanted to continue with the hospice care and wanted to start withdrawing other care, such as feedings and things like that. When that happened, some of my nursing staff came to me, and they were somewhat upset with that decision. They didn’t feel that it seemed appropriate based on where Olivia currently was. I mean, at that point, she was asking to go home. She was definitely more interactive and engaging.

They came to me concerned. Ethics did come in and explain that, based on her diagnosis and the symptoms we felt she was experiencing at home from information we gathered from Kelly, this was appropriate—that it met the definition of being a life-limiting condition. So based on the information they had, that’s why they were supporting that decision.

Most parents are deeply invested in us doing everything possible for their kids, sometimes even beyond the point where it’s beneficial or helpful… They are so invested in prolonging their child’s life. I never got that feeling from Kelly.”

When floor nurses explicitly flagged their discomfort to the hospital’s internal Child Abuse Procurement (CAP) team, the institutional response was cold and bureaucratic:

Floor Manager: “What the CAP team asked us… they said for us to be able to report it, we can’t just report a feeling. That was basically their response. Like, ‘What evidence do you have? Has Kelly said anything to you?’ They asked a lot of questions, essentially saying we need to have some type of concrete evidence to support a report, or we can’t report. And I think we couldn’t come up with concrete examples other than: ‘This doesn’t feel right. This is not how it normally is for other kids.'”

Another consulting physician highlighted how easily Kelly manipulated the deeply fragmented medical system:

Consulting Doctor: “Medicine tests are not perfect. We have stuff like this all the time… But it was just one thing after another. When you look at the records, the small bowel transit looked amazing, and yet there’s a story of stool coming out of every orifice. Nobody sees it firsthand in the hospital, and nobody notes it down.

There is always a feasible or possible explanation. For pain, we have no objective test. The mother says she’s in terrible pain, and then I look at her and say, ‘She looks pretty good today.’ Kelly answers, ‘Oh, she’s just having a good day.’

Thirty doctors might have taken care of this kid, or more. And somehow, she navigated these waters. This is the perfect diagnosis to lie about because our tests for motility are far from perfect. And motility testing is already compromised by a child who has undergone multiple surgeries and is on heavy narcotics. So now, you don’t even know if it’s cause or effect. It’s very hard to make a diagnosis. For pain, you just have to take someone’s word for it. It is very easy to lie.

This medical system is so divided with so many specialists now that you will have 30 people involved, and we’re not having medical meetings all in one room. I don’t know half the doctors that have taken care of her. Of course we’re not in proper communication. It’s a game of ‘he said, she said.’ If she says, ‘Oh, the surgeon said this,’ unfortunately, I am probably not going to take the time to call the surgeon and verify it, because we just can’t, or we don’t. Unless we actively suspect something.”

The Trach Tube, Opioids, and the Final Fight

During her final month at the hospital, doctors pointed to the distinct possibility that Olivia’s reported pain was actually opioid-induced hyperalgesia—a medical condition where a patient’s nervous system becomes paradoxically more sensitive to pain due to high doses of opioids. Dr. Seth Eisenndorfer noted that Olivia would scream in agony precisely 20 minutes after receiving Hydromorphone.

When Kelly aggressively pushed for the DNR, her justification to the staff was chilling:

“If Olivia dies while we’re rotating opioids, it’s God’s time to call her home, and I am not going to stop that. I will not watch my child die while you guys are pounding on her chest or sticking a tube down her throat.”

Dr. Thomas Walker, a pediatric gastroenterologist, put his foot down and formally objected, writing directly into her medical records that the escalating care the hospital was providing was actively making Olivia’s condition worse. He adamantly refused to sign the DNR. Kelly successfully bypassed him by appealing to the Ethics Committee, which overrode his objections and transferred Olivia’s care to a different physician willing to sign the paperwork.

When Kelly demanded the total removal of the TPN line, she claimed Olivia’s body was physically “rejecting” the nutrition—a physiological impossibility. Despite the clear warning signs, the Ethics Committee sided with Kelly yet again.

Justice and Accountability

Eventually, investigators decided to exume Olivia’s body for an independent forensic examination. While her death was originally attributed to intestinal failure, the post-exhumation autopsy ruled her cause of death as officially “undetermined.”

On Friday, October 18, 2019, following a rigorous year-long investigation, Kelly Turner was arrested and hit with a 13-count indictment, including first-degree murder, child abuse, theft, and charitable fraud. A few weeks before her high-profile trial was set to begin, she accepted a lenient plea deal, pleading guilty to an amended charge of child abuse negligently causing death, along with felony theft and charitable fraud. She was sentenced to a mere 16 years in prison.

Olivia’s grandfather, Lonnie Grotto, has since fought tirelessly for systemic accountability. He filed a $25 million civil lawsuit against Children’s Hospital Colorado, asserting they completely ignored mandatory reporting laws. The lawsuit was eventually settled for an undisclosed amount.

Dr. Sarah Hoehn, a pediatric medical ethicist, spoke bluntly about the reality of cutting off TPN line access:

“Stopping TPN in someone who is entirely TPN-dependent is going to lead to certain death within weeks. This was not someone who was in tremendous organic distress. This was not someone who was actively dying from an underlying disease.”

Two days before Olivia passed away in that hospice facility, Lonnie Grotto, entirely unaware of the internal hospital wars, sat quietly by his granddaughter’s bedside:

“I grabbed her little hand, and she opened her eyes. Being on all those heavy narcotics, she recognized me and said, ‘Papa, I am hungry.’ All the signs were there for them to protect her, to report the abuse, and save her life. Instead, they put her on a deathbed.”

Final Reflection

Researching Olivia’s case makes my skin crawl. Reporting the clinical details is one thing, but reading through the endless list of entirely unnecessary medical procedures she was forced to endure while her mother watched is deeply infuriating. To know she would scream and thrash in terror before imminent surgeries, only for her mother to willingly place her in a hospice to starve for 19 days, is completely twisted.

Kelly Turner created a fatal facade, collecting charitable donations off the physical suffering of her own flesh and blood. While headlines often label this as a clinical case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, I chose not to frame it that way initially because the only fitting labels for this woman are evil, soulless, and completely devoid of human emotion.

And to think that the moment Olivia was gone, she immediately tried the exact same cancer facade on her surviving daughter. Thank goodness Dr. Santucci did her due diligence, followed her parental instincts, and blew the whistle, saving that child’s life.

As for the 16-year plea deal—it is a complete mockery of justice. We all know she likely won’t serve the full duration. In my opinion, she deserves to endure the exact same length of physical torment she inflicted on Olivia. The only peace to be found is knowing that sweet Olivia is finally free from pain, and will never have to know how deeply her own mother betrayed her.

Rest in love, sweet Olivia. You will never be forgotten.