Disturbing facts about twins who made pact that one must die so the other could live a normal life
June and Jennifer Gibbons, known as the “silent twins,” shared an extraordinary and tragic bond that captivated those who learned about their lives. Born to parents from Barbados, the twins grew up in Wales and developed a unique way of communicating. As children, they both developed a speech impediment and began speaking a sped-up version of Bajan Creole, a language native to Barbados. Over time, they stopped speaking to anyone but each other, creating an isolated world where only they could understand one another.
For 29 years, the twins spoke exclusively to each other, shutting out the rest of the world. Their intense closeness, however, led to a series of troubling events. Together, they committed crimes such as vandalism, theft, and arson, which eventually landed them in Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security mental health facility, at the age of 19. They spent 11 years there, during which their bond grew even stronger—and darker.
The twins reportedly made a pact that one of them had to die so the other could live a normal life. This pact became tragically real in 1993 when they were transferred from Broadmoor to a less restrictive facility. During the journey, Jennifer suddenly became unresponsive and died from acute myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart. After Jennifer’s death, June, who had barely spoken to anyone outside her twin for nearly three decades, began to speak again.
June has lived alone since Jennifer’s death, but her story has continued to intrigue the public. Investigative journalist Marjorie Wallace, who spent years getting to know the twins, documented their lives in her book *The Silent Twins*, which was later adapted into a 2022 film starring Letitia Wright. Wallace revealed that the twins wrote extensively in their diaries, each producing around 3,000 words a day about their complex relationship. Through these diaries, Wallace learned about their pact and the deep, often conflicting emotions they shared.
Wallace believes that Jennifer’s death was a sacrifice that allowed June to finally live a normal life. She described June as being “suspended by both grief and liberation” after Jennifer’s passing. Despite the tragedy, Wallace noted that June has found a sense of resolution and has become a warm and comforting friend.
The story of June and Jennifer Gibbons remains a haunting example of the power of sibling bonds and the lengths to which people will go to protect those they love. Their lives, marked by isolation, creativity, and tragedy, continue to fascinate and inspire those who hear their story.
