Deanna Boyd is the crime reporter who uncovered the shocking truth about Hope Ybarra's case and realized she was just one of many victims of Munchausen By Proxy in Tarrant County. She is currently working as Content Specialist at Texas Health Resources since 2019.

Deanna Boyd broke the Hope Ybarra case

She was a senior crime reporter in Fort Worth Star-Telegram


Deanna Boyd holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where she also studied criminal justice. She has been a dedicated employee at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for nearly 24 years, from 1995 until August 2019. She held the position of senior crime reporter in the downtown Fort Worth office, where she wrote a variety of stories including breaking news and in-depth investigative pieces.

She also hosted a monthly true crime podcast called Out Of The Cold, focusing on cold cases in North Texas. Prior to her role as a crime reporter, she covered news related to the Arlington police and fire departments while working in the Arlington office of the publication.

Deanna Boyd began her professional journey as an intern at the Billings Gazette in June 1993, where she worked for three months as a general assignments reporter. During the summer of 1994, she had the opportunity to intern at the Albany Democrat Herald in Oregon as part of the Capital Cities/ABC minority internship program.

Hope Ybarra case


Hope's belief that her third relapse of cancer would be her last led her to make eerie preparations for her death, including ordering a pinkish stainless steel casket with white velvet lining and purchasing five burial plots overlooking the Trinity River for her family members.

Hope Ybarra case

Hope was initially seen as a courageous and caring mother by her loved ones, who showered her with gifts and support. However, as inconsistencies in her story were uncovered by medical professionals and others, it became clear that she had fabricated a tale of battling cancer for sympathy and attention. This deception extended to her own children, a form of abuse known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

Hope Ybarra's youngest daughter endured a great deal of suffering due to her mother's cruel behavior. Hope went to extreme lengths, including stealing pathogens from her workplace, altering test results, and even draining blood from her own child.