Jorden Borders, a 35-year-old woman from Crosslake, Minnesota, has been sentenced to 39 years in prison after being convicted of horrendous crimes against her children, including child torture, attempted murder, stalking, and theft by false representation.
Her reign of abuse, which spanned several years, has left her children traumatized and scarred physically and emotionally. On Thursday, Crow Wing County Judge Patricia Aanes sentenced Borders to 468 months in state prison, following her conviction on 11 charges in June.
A Heartbreaking Case of Medical Child Abuse
The details of Borders’ abuse are particularly disturbing. One of the most horrifying aspects of the case was her systematic abuse of medical systems to harm her children. Borders engaged in what is known as medical child abuse, where she intentionally induced or fabricated medical conditions in her children to create a false narrative.
According to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, she used syringes and medical devices like PICC lines to withdraw blood from her children, especially her nine-year-old son.
She would then present them at medical appointments with dangerously low hemoglobin levels, leading doctors to believe the children had legitimate medical issues.
The abuse was not limited to blood withdrawal. Borders went to great lengths to create false medical conditions, forcing her children to wear casts, boots, and neck braces despite having no fractures or injuries. She even self-diagnosed one child with brittle bone disease and forced them to wear the medical devices for years.
One child was kept in a cast for more than two years, and other children were instructed to feign illness or injury, including vomiting or pretending to have asthma. In one case, a child was given unnecessary asthma medication as a result of Borders’ manipulation.
Emotional and Physical Abuse
The physical abuse was equally appalling. The children testified that Borders regularly beat them with objects such as charging cords, belts, and spoons. One child reported being beaten until they bled. They were also subjected to extreme emotional and verbal abuse.
In addition to physical punishment, Borders would reportedly make her children stand outside in freezing temperatures without clothing until they felt “burning,” or withhold food as a form of punishment. The children were also regularly threatened with death, leaving them in constant fear for their lives.
In a particularly distressing moment, one child described the effects of the repeated blood extractions, saying, “she kept doing it and said don’t tell anyone.” The child explained that the process of having blood withdrawn made them feel “sick-sleepy.”
These testimonies were pivotal in securing Borders’ conviction and demonstrating the extent of the trauma she inflicted on her children.
A Long-Standing Pattern of Abuse
The abuse lasted for approximately five years, with the children enduring unimaginable pain and suffering. The manipulation, torture, and neglect inflicted by their mother left them with deep emotional scars. The physical abuse was only one part of a larger pattern of control, coercion, and cruelty.
Borders’ children testified that she would often use her power and control over them to force them to comply with her twisted desires, all while presenting a facade of concern for their health.
The investigation into Borders began in May 2022 after the children were seen at a children’s hospital with concerning low hemoglobin levels, which doctors found difficult to explain. Hospital staff suspected foul play and began investigating the possibility that someone was intentionally withdrawing blood from the children.
This led to a search warrant being executed at Borders’ home, where further evidence of her abuse was uncovered. In November 2022, Borders was arrested.
Medicaid Fraud and Financial Deception
In addition to the physical and emotional abuse, Borders was also convicted of defrauding the Minnesota Medicaid program out of $18,000. By falsifying medical conditions for one of her children, Borders was able to claim that she was the child’s personal care assistant, allowing her to steal funds intended for the child’s care.
This financial deception was yet another facet of Borders’ manipulation and exploitation of both her children and the systems in place to protect them.
Justice for the Victims
Attorney General Keith Ellison expressed the gravity of Borders’ crimes, stating, “Borders’ crimes are some of the most heinous and agonizing I have seen in my time as Attorney General. I am praying for her children’s recovery from the suffering and trauma they endured.”
Ellison’s statement reflected the immense pain caused by Borders’ actions, not just for her children but for the larger community as well.
The sentence handed down to Borders serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable children and ensuring that justice is served when individuals abuse their power.
While nothing can undo the harm that Borders inflicted, her conviction and lengthy sentence provide a sense of justice for the victims and ensure she will spend decades behind bars for her actions.
Moving Forward: The Road to Recovery for the Children
The trauma that Jorden Borders inflicted on her children will likely have lasting effects on their lives. However, the conviction and sentencing offer a degree of closure and a path forward for the victims.
As they begin their recovery, they will likely receive ongoing support to help them cope with the psychological and emotional scars left by their mother’s abuse. While the road to healing will be long, it is clear that justice has been served.
The case also highlights the critical need for vigilance and proper intervention when it comes to cases of medical child abuse, where perpetrators exploit the healthcare system to harm children.
The investigation and trial of Jorden Borders may serve as a catalyst for greater awareness and more robust protections for vulnerable children in similar situations.
Jorden Borders’ case is one of the most disturbing examples of child abuse and manipulation seen in recent years. Her cruelty, which included medical abuse, physical torment, emotional suffering, and financial exploitation, has left deep scars on her children.
As she serves her lengthy prison sentence, the hope is that her victims can find healing and eventually reclaim their lives from the horrors they endured.
