Colorado’s Galvin Family: A Tragic Tale of Severe Schizophrenia

In recent years, the story of a family plagued with severe schizophrenia has become widely shared with the public in the form of documentaries, a non-fiction book, and other media.

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Keep scrolling to learn the tragic tale of Colorado's Galvin Family.

Who is Colorado's Galvin Family?

The Galvin family originally consisted of two parents and 12 children; ten boys and two girls. The patriarch of the family, Don, ran the falconry program at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in the 1960s.

Six of Colorado's Galvin Siblings Suffered from Schizophrenia

Unfortunately, six of the family's boys suffered from severe schizophrenia. While they were treated, this unfortunate mental illness seemed to directly result in tragedy numerous times.

Colorado's Galvin Family's Story is Troubling + Tragic

Violent outbursts were, unfortunately, a common occurrence in the Galvin household and have been attributed to the boys' mental illnesses.

However, one of the most tragic episodes took place when one of the siblings allegedly murdered his girlfriend and subsequently took his own life after leaving the Galvin home in favor of a life in California.

Another unsettling event took place when the oldest sibling, Donald Jr., admitted to dismembering a cat in a bathtub while away at college.

One of the brothers was also accused of sexually abusing one of his younger sisters as a child.

Some Feel Colorado's Galvin Family's Story Was Sensationalized

The aforementioned victim of the abuse, the youngest sister, Lindsay Galvin Rauch, feels that the family's story, while tragic, was sensationalized by its most recent documentary film adaptation.

Read More: Revealing The Troubling Past Of Colorado's Mental Health Institute

Today, only two of the six brothers who were diagnosed with schizophrenia are still alive, and both currently live in Colorado nursing homes.