Mockingbird Don't Sing Based on a True Story

The movie Mockingbird Don't Sing came to tv as a movie based on a true story in 2001. The original case rocked the nation back in 1970 when Walter Cronkite reported on the abused child.










The movie Mockingbird don't sing is based on the case of Susan Wiley. She is often referred to as Genie. (thanks for the tip, commenter!)

Notes about Feral Child Genie

A Brief Overview about Wild Child Genie
by Traciy Curry-Reyes

The real girl from the movie was named Susan Wiley. Her team gave her the name Genie to protect her identity. Genie grew up in isolation with her elderly parents and an older brother. She had virtually no human contact. The mother, who was about 50 years old, was partially blind. She had been abused throughout her married life by her husband who was about 20 years older. They lived in Los Angeles, California. Most of the family lived in one room, except Genie. She was given a room in the back. She was kept in isolation. Genie was locked in her room and tied to a chair for most of her life. She was kept this way for 10 years until 1970 when Genie's mother decided to escape. She took Genie to social services. By then she was 13 years old. The social worker was horrified by what she found. She found Genie wearing diapers, walking as a toddler, and whimpering like a baby. She was also underweight. She could barely speak, and had only a couple of words in her vocabulary. She was taken to the hospital where doctor's were able to observe her behavior. The doctors and social workers were fascinated by her. They fell in love with her. They tried to see if she could catch up if she lived in a nurturing environment. Her parents were arrested for abuse and neglect. Her mother was soon released because it was proven that she was also an abused woman, who was unable to protect even herself. She had inhumane characteristics. She acted like an animal and she very rarely made noises. Social workers learned that she was beaten for making noise. She became known as the Wild Child. She attracted the attention of psychologists and scientist all over the world. Everyone wanted to see how it was possible for a human being to be raised this way. Her case was extreme. She was socially isolated for 10 years. The team began helping her, and pretty soon she was attempting to dress herself, and use the potty. She also added a little over a hundred words to her vocabulary.

Update on Genie the Feral Child

Now Genie is in an adult group home where there are a lot of activities to keep them busy. Here are a couple of comments from those who have kept up with her case.

"Her twenty-seventh birthday party...I was there, and then I saw her again when she was twenty-nine, and she still looked miserable. She looked to me like a chronically institutionalized person. It was heartbreaking… She looks demented".
"As I write this, Genie is again living in a board-and-care home, this time under happier circumstances. Genie visits her mother regularly. My wife and I were invited to visit her in the company of her mother. Although we had not seen her for more than 15 years, we all of us cried as she greeted us by name".

According to Dr. Curtiss, Genie lives in an adult care facility that has a lot of activities and events to keep them busy. Her language and sign language skills seem to deteriorate as she ages. Genie was never allowed to see the original team that had tried to help her in the beginning. Her mother who was still her legal guardian would not allow it.

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