| Real Name/Full Name | Dena Leitner |
| Nick Name/Celebrated Name: | Dena Schlosser |
| Birth Place: | New York, United States |
| Date Of Birth/Birthday: | 1969 |
| Age/How Old: | 56 years old |
| Parents Name: | Father – Unknown Mother – Unknown |
| Siblings: | Unknown |
| School: | Unknown |
| College: | Marist College |
| Religion: | Christian |
| Nationality: | American |
| Zodiac Sign: | Unknown |
| Gender: | Female |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Boyfriend: | N/A |
| Husband/Spouse Name: | John Schlosser |
| Kids/Children Name: | Margaret Schlosser (and 2 others) |
| Profession: | Psychologist |
| Net Worth: | N/A |
| Last Updated: | March 2025 |
Dena Leitner Schlosser has been identified as the American woman from Texas who, on November 22, 2004, used a knife to amputate the arms of her eleven-month-old daughter, Margaret, who died as a result of the procedure. Plano police responded to a 9-1-1 call made by concerned employees at a nearby daycare center about her earlier that day. The operator testified that she confessed to her and that in the background, the gospel song “He Touched Me” played. When the police arrived, they discovered her calmly seated, bloodied, holding the knife, and singing Christian hymns.
Police heard her repeatedly chanting, “Thank you, Jesus,” hours after her arrest.
Biography and Early Life
Dena was born in 1969 in New York. She was later diagnosed with hydrocephalus when she was just eight years old. By the time she was thirteen years old, she had undergone eight surgeries to implant shunts in her brain, heart, and abdomen.
Dena’s life has many dramas; Suicide attempt, hospitalization on a psychiatric ward, and diagnosis of bipolar disorder with psychotic features. Earlier that year, the Texas Child Protective Services (CPS) investigated her after she was hospitalized for a psychotic episode. CPS prohibited her from being alone with her children. Her sister-in-law moved in with them until the CPS lifted the restraining order. She came to believe that Margaret was destined to marry Doyle Davidson, their pastor’s veterinarian. Schlosser informed her husband the day before she attacked Margaret that she desired to give her to Davidson. Later that day, he spanked her with a wooden spoon in front of their children, according to a confidential CPS report. She killed Margaret but left her other two daughters unharmed.
According to psychologist David Self, Schlosser informed him of a disturbing news story she had seen. She interpreted the news story about a boy being mauled by a lion as a sign of the impending apocalypse. She claimed to have heard God command her to remove Margaret’s arms first and then her own. Subsequently, the attack was dubbed a “religious frenzy.” Self-identified as having postpartum psychosis. [8] She was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to the North Texas State Hospital, where she was ordered to remain until it was determined that she was no longer a threat to herself or others.
She shared a room with Andrea Yates, a woman from Texas who drowned her five children in a bathtub. Throughout the trial, Schlosser and her husband were questioned about their attendance at Water of Life Church, a charismatic church pastored by Davidson. Margaret had been on antipsychotic medication for several years prior to her death. Davidson believed that mental illness was demonic, leading to Schlosser’s husband’s failure to purchase her medication regularly. Davidson testified under oath that, in his opinion, all mental illness is ultimately demonic. Following the trial, Davidson’s television ministry was canceled in all markets outside Metroplex.
Following Schlosser’s arrest, CPS removed her children and placed them in foster care. Schlosser’s husband was diagnosed with “narcissistic personality traits” following a psychological evaluation. Additionally, the psychological report stated that he failed to protect his daughters from their mentally ill mother adequately. CPS stated that they would only allow him to regain custody of his sister lived with the family and he completed psychotherapy and parenting classes. He complied and returned them to his residence. He later filed for divorce. Schlosser was barred from ever having contact with him or their daughters as part of the divorce settlement.
On November 6, 2008, Schlosser’s release to outpatient care was announced. The order mandated that she see a psychiatrist once a week, take medication, use physician-administered birth control, and refrain from unsupervised contact with children.
Schlosser was recommitted in April 2010 after firefighters from Richardson observed her walking down the street at 2:00 a.m. David Haynes, her attorney, stated that he believed the judge made the correct decision.
Schlosser was later discharged from the hospital on an outpatient basis. She remained out of the public eye until 2012, when WFAA-TV in Dallas reported that she was working at a Walmart in Terrell under her maiden name, Leitner. They fired her within hours.
Education
Dena’s early education information is not available, but she graduated from Marist College in New York with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Personal Life
Dena met John Schlosser at Marist College and married him as soon as they graduated from college. The couple has three children, including Margaret, who was murdered.
Is Dena Lesbian/Gay?
Dena’s data on whether she is bisexual or not is not available, but she is married to John Schlosser.
Professional Career
Dena is a psychologist by profession, but she is not practicing her profession. She was married and became a housewife.
She worked at Walmart in Terrell but was fired after a short while when WFAA-TV in Dallas had on her on their news that she was working with her name, Leitner.
Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Dena in 2025
Dena has been an outpatient for a while now, and her net worth is not known. She has not been working since her criminal charges.
Some Interesting Facts You Need To Know
- She amputated her 11-month-old daughter using a knife.
- She was singing Christian hymns moments after murdering her daughter.
- She is a psychologist by profession.
Dena has a life story that speaks to so many people about psychological disorders and how it can be discomfiture to ourselves. The same can also tarnish one public image like Dena’s, where she could not work anywhere in the United States after the murder charges.
