Shaken baby syndrome—what convicted perpetrators report

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is a well-known phenomenon in the field of forensic and pediatric experts; however, there are difficulties and controversies when it comes to biomechanical reconstruction as neither experimental studies nor independent witnesses exist. A possible source of information comes from perpetrators’ confessions if available. We present two cases of confirmed SBS, where one includes a broad confession and the other contains an interview with the perpetrator who confessed to the crime. Both perpetrators reported similar social environmental situations (overwhelmed by crying children) and similar descriptions of how the child was handled (hands on both sides of the thorax, shaken back and forth). Both children ceased crying after being shaken and died despite medical treatment for the injuries.