Jorden Borders, a 35-year-old woman from Crosslake, Minnesota, has been sentenced to 468 months—just shy of 40 years—in state prison for an appalling series of child abuse, including medical child abuse, physical torment, and financial fraud.
Her actions, which have been described as among the most heinous and agonizing by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, left her three children suffering both physically and emotionally.
A Systematic Pattern of Medical Child Abuse
Borders was convicted in June of 11 charges, including attempted murder, child torture, stalking, and theft by false representation. The extent of the abuse she inflicted on her children was chilling, with authorities revealing that Borders subjected her children to repeated and deliberate medical harm.
One of the most disturbing forms of abuse was her use of medical procedures to create the illusion of serious illness.
According to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, Borders frequently withdrew blood from her 9-year-old child using syringes and various catheters, such as a PICC line and a central line.
She then presented the child at medical appointments, where doctors observed dangerously low hemoglobin levels, believing the child had an underlying medical condition. In truth, the child’s blood levels were artificially manipulated by Borders’ cruel actions.
The children testified that they were instructed to flush the extracted blood down the toilet and were warned not to tell anyone. One child described the harrowing experience, saying the blood withdrawals made them feel “sick-sleepy.”
This manipulative behavior continued for years, and the children were subjected to numerous visits to medical professionals under false pretenses.
Faked Medical Diagnoses and Unnecessary Treatments
Borders’ abuse went beyond blood extraction. She also forced her children to wear medical devices such as boots, casts, and neck braces despite there being no medical justification for these treatments. One child was made to wear a cast for over two years, falsely diagnosed with brittle bone disease.
Another child was instructed to vomit at doctor’s appointments to ensure they were prescribed unnecessary asthma medication. In yet another instance, Borders forced a child to wear unprescribed hearing amplifiers, leading to the child developing painful boils on the back of her ear.
These fabricated medical conditions served two purposes: they allowed Borders to receive attention and sympathy from medical professionals and provided her with an opportunity to manipulate healthcare systems for financial gain. The medical abuse was part of a broader pattern of physical and emotional torment.
Physical and Emotional Abuse
The children’s testimonies also revealed the extent of the physical and emotional abuse they suffered at the hands of their mother. They were beaten with charging cords, belts, and spoons. One child recalled being struck with a cord until they bled.
In addition to physical abuse, the children were subjected to emotional torment, with Borders withholding food, threatening to kill them, and forcing them to stand outside in freezing cold temperatures without clothing until they felt like their bodies were burning.
The emotional abuse was compounded by verbal assaults, and the children’s lives were filled with constant fear of their mother’s violent outbursts.
One child described feeling “sick-sleepy” after enduring repeated blood extractions and torment. The abuse, which lasted for approximately five years, has left the children scarred, both physically and psychologically.
Medicaid Fraud and Financial Deception
In addition to the physical and emotional abuse, Borders was convicted of defrauding Minnesota’s Medicaid program out of $18,000. She falsified medical symptoms for one of her children and then claimed to be the child’s personal care assistant, unlawfully collecting funds intended for the child’s care.
This financial fraud was part of the same pattern of manipulation and deceit that characterized her abuse of the children.
Legal Consequences and Sentencing
Borders’ actions were uncovered in May 2022 when medical staff at a children’s hospital grew concerned about one child’s dangerously low hemoglobin levels.
A search warrant was executed at the Borders home, and after further investigation, it was revealed that Borders had been intentionally causing harm to her children for years. In November 2022, Borders was arrested and later convicted on all charges.
On Thursday, Crow Wing County Judge Patricia Aanes sentenced Borders to 40 years in prison for her crimes. The sentencing has brought some degree of justice to the children who endured unimaginable pain and suffering at the hands of their mother.
A Message of Hope for the Victims
Attorney General Keith Ellison expressed his hope for the children’s recovery, acknowledging the severe trauma they endured. “Borders’ crimes are some of the most heinous and agonizing I have seen in my time as Attorney General,” Ellison said in a statement. “I am praying for her children’s recovery from the suffering and trauma they endured.”
While the road to recovery for these children will undoubtedly be long and difficult, the conviction and sentencing of Jorden Borders provide a sense of closure. The children are now safe, and with the support of professionals and the community, they can begin the healing process.
The case of Jorden Borders serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of children and the importance of vigilance in identifying and addressing child abuse, particularly in cases involving medical manipulation and fraud.
The deliberate harm inflicted by Borders on her children highlights the need for stronger protections and support systems for at-risk families. While nothing can undo the suffering caused, the conviction of Jorden Borders ensures that she will no longer be able to harm her children or manipulate the systems designed to protect them.
