“Silent Twins” June and Jennifer Gibbson only spoke to each other; They used their own special language and mirrored each other’s behavior for three straight decades.
The Silent Twins, June and Jennifer Gibbson were identical twins who became known for their unique and puzzling bond. Born on April 11, 1963, in Barbados, they moved to Haverfordwest, Wales, with their family when they were young. The twins were inseparable and developed their own private language, which made it difficult for others to understand them. This strong bond and refusal to communicate with anyone else led to their nickname, “The Silent Twins.”
The Twins behavior became more unusual as they grew older. They were often silent around others but communicated extensively with each other. They were eventually placed in separate schools to try and break their dependency on each other. However, that seemed to only worsen their isolation and withdrawal.
June and Jennifer began to engage in petty crimes, including arson and vandalism which led to their confinement in Broadmoor Hospital, a high security psychiatric in 1981. The spent 11 years there, during which time their case was starting to attract a lot of media attention.
One of the most intriguing aspects of their story is their decision that one of them had to die for the other to live a normal life. In March 1993, shortly after they were released, Jennifer died suddenly at the age of 29 from acute myocarditis, a sudden inflammation of the heart. The cause of her death remains very chilling, as there was no evidence of drugs or poison in her system.
After Jennifer’s death, June began to communicate more with others and eventually started living a more independent life. The story of the Silent Twins has been the subject of several books, documentaries, and plays, highlighting he complexities of their relationship and psychological aspects of their lives.