Theory & Analysis: Lynn Murray (pt. 2 of Adam's age analysis)
To preface, this is sort of a part 2 for the theory and analysis I did on Adam's age that you can find here. In summary, I came to the conclusion that given the evidence available, it appears to be more likely that Adam is a toddler, probably around 4, when he was taken/killed, and that the Murray case as a whole took place in late 1992. While you can read this theory without having read that one, it's highly recommended that you read that one first.
At the end of that post, I mentioned that while we know the crib in Adam's room is real, the infant crying may not be. While there's nothing to suggest it isn't real, it's not depicted in a way where we can definitively say that it's not just metaphorical of something, or even (as I later suggest here) that it's a figment of someone's imagination. I will discuss both of these concepts here.
This will read a bit more like a theory because a lot of operates on assumption, but I do attempt to meaningfully analyze evidence to support it. This will primarily focus on Lynn Murray and the potential of her degraded mental state leading to an altered reality.
As with the last post, important information is in bold, episode titles are italicized, and outside sources are hyperlinked. See theory under read more.
Here's the TLDR if you want to see that first; The apparent age discrepancy with Adam Murray (as a baby or toddler) in 1992 is a misconception due to Lynn Murray’s mental/emotional stress (potential postpartum). Adam is 4 in 1992 but Lynn still subconsciously thinks of/treats him as an infant.
It sounds like I'm assuming too much off the bat, but I'll start with this: this is going to be based on the previously made analysis that Adam was 4 during the “Murray V. [???]” case, and will instead try to explain away the reason behind the hints suggesting he is an infant. In essence, it may be possible the baby crying in intruder alert wasn't real, and rather, it's representative of Lynn's mindset. The crib was real, but it can play a different role in the narrative for what it tells us about Lynn. Furthermore, this theory will suggest while it is possible Volume 5 hinted that Jude disregarded the Television & Mirror Destruction Act, was responsible for keeping the TV in the Murray house, and letting Adam watch it, Lynn was also likely complicit in this decision. She may not be fully innocent.
It is known definitively that the crib is real; it is seen on Thatcher's body cam footage in Volume 333. However, in terms of what there is clear "proof" of, it's also most likely that Adam is 4 at this time (concluded from the previous theory). By contrast to this, the footage that seems to imply Adam was an infant when he was taken, in intruder alert, it is not live footage; rather, it is a PSA-styled short with graphics that represent the characters. This may seem like coincidental evidence (or perhaps just Alex limited in what he was able to achieve filming wise at the time), but we know from previous volumes of PSA-styled shorts that have likely been tampered with by alternates (see: the "KILL YOURSELF" section of the original Volume 1). This one could easily have been tampered with as well, and at the very least, likely does not reflect reality.
Also in intruder alert, the neighbors report a "child-like crying", not a baby. This may seem irrelevant since “child-like” could also mean “baby”, but in Volume 333, Lynn is the only one to insist Adam is too young for imaginary friends. Jude seems to think Adam is old enough to have imaginary friends (“I swear if this is just an imaginary friend”). Also during this phone call, Jude questions Lynn about having the TV unplugged as if he believes this is the source of Adam’s distress, which she denies. While both of these comments seem like blithe remarks by Jude, and it's not impossible for an infant to watch TV, it seems more likely that a parent would let their toddler with a hyperactive imagination and the possibility of wandering off watch TV to distract him rather than an infant who can't move and is probably only interested in basic needs. Furthermore the fact that Jude questions Lynn about it must mean one or both parents have previously allowed Adam to watch TV despite the destruction order, where possibly Adam was distressed by this experience. Similarly, if "the Imaginary Friend” alternate is mimicking Adam's voice (Volume 333 during the confrontation with Thatcher), he has to be old enough to talk in full sentences, which is four year old trait (as discussed and sourced in the previous analysis).
I put forth the idea that the baby crying represents how Lynn sees Adam: she still views him as a baby. Perhaps not literally, but something is going on with her, possibly suffering mental and emotional strain from various sources, and she still treats him like a baby even though he's 4. While not overtly clear, postpartum depression can last up to 3 years after a mother has had a baby, a statistic limited only by the fact that their research stopped at 3 years; meaning the depression could potentially go on for longer.
In any case, Lynn’s altered state would cause her perception of the world and her ability to care for Adam to suffer greatly. It would be made even worse by her stress over Adam’s consistent crying at odd hours, Jude’s constant failure to support her, and the presence or exposure to alternates. Therefore, since the baby crying is only present in scenes where Lynn is stressed and worried about Adam, it can be believed that it may be metaphorical to how she views and/or treats him, and not reflective of reality.
This may explain why Adam's room still has a crib despite him presumably being four years old. From a parenting website: a child can be kept in a crib for however long the parent feels is necessary and it does "keep them safe", especially at night; however it deprives them of their independence since they can't leave whenever they need to. If Lynn was having a hard time being the sole caretaker of Adam, it'd explain why she kept him in the crib so long: it's to keep him "safe". More importantly, he's stuck in there and she can go do whatever it is she needs to do without worrying about him wandering off.
Jude and Lynn only divorced in August 1992, however it seems highly likely Jude was not pulling his weight taking care of Adam. It’s implied he lives separately, and almost never comes to the home when he says he will. Furthermore, if the implications in Volume 5 are true to form, he has on occasion allowed Adam to watch TV instead of parenting him, despite seeming to call Lynn out on it during their phone call.
Expanding on the TV’s presence, it is present in Adam’s room and on the night of the Murray case. While Jude may have insisted on keeping the TV, Lynn may have been lying to Jude about the TV being unplugged and was letting Adam watch TV. If watching TV is a problem (because Lynn felt the need to lie), why else would she let Adam watch it if not to keep him occupied and in one place? The TV is next to the crib in the room and low enough to the ground to be in sight of the crib. If Adam was in there, he could still watch it and presumably not fuss that he's stuck in inside the crib. As noted in the previous theory with Adam’s Toddler Stress Assessment Review, it’s likely Jude and/or Lynn were allowing him to watch TV for while, increasing his exposure to an alternate (Six/Stanley) and setting up the circumstances for him to manifest the “Imaginary Friend” alternate.
This would have worked under normal circumstances, but of course, in Mandela, there's nothing more deadly that a TV. Imagine, if you will, Adam was trapped in his crib when an alternate appeared, be it the Imaginary Friend or Six or otherwise. Consider Lynn, having realized that her choice to not only keep the TV in there but also keep Adam in the crib led to him being taken/killed, finally reaching her breaking point. She blames herself for the consequences of her carelessness, so she hangs herself.
“Distraught at the sight of her missing infant.”
She did not need to develop M.A.D. to end her life; she knows what she did.
