Mom-of-5 obsessed with tanning was accused of “burning” her 6-year-old in a tanning booth

In 2012, Patricia Krentcil gained notoriety after being accused of endangering children. In fact, readers may be more familiar with her as “Tan Mom” due to her obsession with frequenting tanning salons and spending time in the booth five days a week.

Eventually, Patricia came dangerously close to passing away because to the contentious condition known as tanerexia, which occurs when a person doesn’t recognize or accept how much color they have. Though she continues to visit the salon, she is now doing much better.

“Tan Mom” has endured a lot over the past ten years. Here is how she seems right now!

Tan Mom, Patricia Krentcil

Obsession with anything, whether it be eating, shopping, television shows, or anything else, is rarely a beneficial habit to form. Of course, some things are worse for your health than others, but ultimately, it’s important to understand the long-term effects an obsession may have on one’s life.

It’s usually a good idea to see someone if you ever feel like something is starting to dominate your life or that you are placing an obsession above other crucial aspects of your regular existence. Try speaking with a friend or getting support from a counselor.

Patricia Krentcil – ‘Tan Mom’

Patricia Krentcil’s fascination propelled her to internet stardom. She began tanning when she was younger, and it soon became to be a significant part of her life. When Patricia went on trial for bringing her daughter to a tanning parlor in 2012, she instantly became an internet sensation. Although she was never found guilty, her name was already well-known.

She now tans more healthfully, but her time spent in the booth had a significant impact on her life and appearance.

When Patricia was only 23 years old, she developed a tanning fetish. According to the owner of City Tropics Tanning Salon in Nutley, New Jersey, the New Jersey woman averaged five visits each week for a maximum session length of 12 minutes. She paid $100 a month for an unlimited package.

“I’ve been tanning my whole life, going to the beach, tanning salons and so forth,” she said.

However, it wasn’t her tanning that originally made her a household name online. Her image was widely shared online in 2012, but for a completely different cause.

Krentcil was accused with endangering children in May 2012. According to authorities, she put her 6-year-old kid in a stand-up tanning booth, causing burns, as CBS New York reported.

Charged after brining daughter tanning

Patricia, though, asserted that everything was a massive misunderstanding. She was adamant that she would never take Anna, her daughter, to the salon.

“No not at all, not at all, not whatsoever,” Krentcil said.

However, the Nutley Police Department detained Krentcil and accused him of endangering children. The toddler allegedly received a minor burn in the tanning salon where she had taken Anna with her, according to the authorities.

According to ABC, New Jersey law prohibits anyone under the age of 14 from using a tanning bed. Teens older than 14 could visit salons, but only with permission from their parents.

In Anna’s case, the controversy began when a school nurse happened to ask Anna how she had gotten burned, to which the girl answered: “I go tanning with mommy.” Patricia, though, claimed that Anna had been burned after playing outside in their backyard.

“There’s not room… I would never permit it… It didn’t happen,” Krentcil said.

“She’s 6 years old. Yes, she does go tanning with mommy, but not in the booth,” she added. “The whole thing’s preposterous!”

Tan Mom, Patricia Krentcil

Patricia at that moment earned the moniker “Tan Mom” in the media. Patricia’s face was on newscasts and in newspapers all around the world after the purported incident went viral online.

“They just don’t realize just how much color they have”

Additionally, it clarified the contentious condition known as tanorexia, in which a person develops a dependence on and obsession with tanning.

“When you look at this, this is somebody who has a problem which most likely has a condition called tanerexia, where they just don’t realize just how much color they have,” New York dermatologist Doris Day told ABC News.

“There’s really no excuse to take a young child to a tanning salon,” she added.

“We often consider going to a tanning salon the equivalent of smoking for the skin and the younger you start, those effects are cumulative.”

Health professionals concurred that Patricia’s situation was quite serious. Dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner thought it was one of the craziest situations he had ever encountered.

“In all my years of treating patients as a dermatologist, I have never encountered anything like this,” Zeichner said.

“Going to a tanning salon 20 times a month, frankly, is insane, especially with all of the public education and awareness campaigns on the dangers of tanning beds and skin cancers.”

Tan Mom, Patricia Krentcil

“It may be she has an [obsession with] tanning, which actually now has a name – tanorexia. She may need help to treat not only the damage to her skin but also what is going on with her psychologically,” he added.

‘Tan Mom’ faced up to 10 years in prison

The Skin Care Foundation claims that people who use indoor tanning equipment have a four-fold increased risk of developing melanoma. Sunbeds emit 12 to 15 times more UV radiation than the sun, according to the foundation.

My Partner Wants Half the Rent from My Dad’s Gifted House!

When my boyfriend moved in, everything felt great, until he found out I owned the house. I didn’t think it would be a big deal, but his reaction led to a fight we didn’t expect.

I was eighteen when my dad gave me the keys to my own house. It was an old two-story building that had been in our family for years. This gift meant a lot to me. We weren’t wealthy, not at all.

Dad bought the house for a great price from his grandmother’s cousin, and I knew how lucky I was. Every time I walked through the front door, I felt thankful

The house had its quirks. Each floor was like its own apartment, with separate entrances, kitchens, and bathrooms. I lived upstairs and rented the downstairs to a nice woman named Maggie.

Source: Pexels

She paid $500 a month—less than most places, but I wasn’t in it for the money. The rent just covered basic costs. I handled everything myself, which gave me a little independence.

Three months ago, my boyfriend, Jason, moved in with me. We’d been together for six months, and it made sense. His lease was ending, and my place had the space. Plus, it felt good to be building a life together.

Source: Pexels

He was easygoing about most things, and we split groceries evenly, which worked for both of us. We never really talked about finances beyond daily expenses.

He didn’t ask about rent, and I didn’t mention that I owned the house. It wasn’t that I was hiding it; it just didn’t seem important.

Source: Pexels

One night, while we were watching TV, a news story came on about rising rent prices. Jason groaned and said, “Man, landlords are the worst. They only care about money. It’s like they don’t think about people who can’t afford a place to live.”

I stayed quiet, sipping my tea, unsure of what to say. I didn’t know how to explain that I was technically a landlord. But I wasn’t like the ones he was talking about. I charged fair rent and didn’t try to take advantage of my tenant.

Source: Pexels

Jason continued, shaking his head. “It’s just wrong, you know? People shouldn’t profit from something as basic as housing.”

I nodded, trying to change the subject as soon as I could. We spent the rest of the night like usual, but his words stuck with me. What would he think if he knew I was renting out part of the house? I didn’t want to make it awkward, so I kept it to myself.

Source: Pexels

A few days later, I was cleaning the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. I wiped my hands on a towel and opened it to see Maggie looking worried.

“Hey, Maggie, everything okay?” I asked.

She frowned. “My freezer stopped working. I tried everything, but it’s just dead.”

“Oh no,” I said, stepping outside. “Let me take a look.”

Source: Pexels

I followed her downstairs to her apartment. Sure enough, the freezer was warm, and nothing seemed to be working. I sighed, knowing it was probably time to replace it.

“I’ll pay for a new one,” I said. “Just send me the receipt, and I’ll reimburse you.”

Maggie smiled, relieved. “Thanks, I really appreciate it. I’ll go shopping for one tomorrow.”

“No problem,” I replied. “I’ll make sure you get the money back quickly.”

Source: Pexels

As I headed back upstairs, I realized Jason had probably heard the whole conversation. He was sitting on the couch when I walked in, looking a bit confused.

“Everything okay with Maggie?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said casually, “her freezer broke, but I told her I’d cover it.”

Jason raised an eyebrow. “You’re paying for her freezer? Why would you do that?”

I paused, unsure of how to answer. “Well, the freezer was here when she moved in, so it’s kind of my responsibility.”

Source: Pexels

He frowned. “I don’t understand. Why is that your responsibility?”

I could feel the tension rising. “Because… it’s my house. I rent it to her.”

Jason stared at me, his expression changing as he processed what I just said.

“You own this place?” His voice was sharper, more surprised than I expected.

“Yeah,” I said slowly. “I thought you knew.”

Source: Pexels

“No, I didn’t know,” he replied, his tone turning colder. “You never told me.”

“Well, it never came up,” I explained. “It’s not like I was trying to hide it.”

Jason shook his head, standing up. “I just… I can’t believe this.”

He walked over to the window, looking out as if trying to make sense of everything.

I stayed quiet, not sure what to say next.

The days after Jason found out I owned the house were tense. It wasn’t like before, where we’d laugh together while cooking or enjoy lazy evenings watching TV. He was distant and quieter, and something felt off. I didn’t want to push him, so I gave him space, hoping things would return to normal. But that didn’t happen.

One evening, I was cleaning up the kitchen when Jason walked in. He leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching me.

Source: Pexels

“Still can’t believe you never told me,” he muttered, almost to himself.

I sighed, putting down the dish towel. “Jason, I wasn’t hiding it. It just didn’t seem important. You never asked.”

“Important?” He laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “You’re a landlord. That’s pretty important. Don’t you think I had a right to know?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but he cut me off.

“I thought we were on the same page. I thought we saw the world the same way, but now… now I don’t know. Landlords just… they take advantage of people.” His voice was tight, and he wouldn’t look at me.

“I’m not like that!” I said, stepping closer. “Maggie’s rent is fair, and I fix anything that breaks. I’m not some greedy landlord you see on TV.”

He shook his head. “But you’re still making money off someone else’s need for a home.”

I felt anger rising in my chest. “I don’t think you understand what I do. I’m not hurting anyone. I charge Maggie way less than the market rate. I take care of the place. I’m not some big landlord trying to exploit people.”

“But you still own it. And you still make money off her.”

“Yeah, to keep the house from falling apart! I’m not getting rich from this, Jason. You know that.”

He shook his head, standing up from the couch. “It’s all the same. It’s about power. You have something she needs, and you make her pay for it.”

The next morning, things came to a head. I was on the phone with Maggie, confirming she’d bought the new freezer and that I’d reimburse her. Jason walked in as I was finishing the call.

“So, you’re paying for that?” he asked, sarcasm thick in his voice.

“Yes,” I replied, keeping my tone steady. “The freezer was part of the apartment when she moved in. It’s my responsibility.”

He stared at me, frustration bubbling over. “Unbelievable.”

“Jason, I don’t know what you want from me,” I said, trying to stay calm. “What do you expect me to do?”

He folded his arms, his face hard. “I want you to stop being part of the problem. Either stop charging rent or give me half of what you’re making. If you’re gonna be a landlord, at least share the profits.”

I stared at him, stunned. “Share the profits? Jason, I’m not running a business here. The rent barely covers costs.”

“I don’t care,” he snapped. “You’re either with me, or you’re not. If you’re gonna keep profiting off people like that, then I deserve my share, too.”

Something in me broke then. “I’m not giving you half of anything. I’ve worked hard to keep this house running. If you think I’m going to start handing over money just because you don’t like how I manage it, then you’re out of your mind.”

Before I could respond, he grabbed the keys from the coffee table and threw them across the room. They hit the wall with a sharp clatter, and the next thing I knew, he swung his fist, aiming for the wall. The impact wasn’t strong enough to punch through, but it echoed in the room, sending a tremor through me.

“Fine!” he shouted, stepping back. His face was red, and he was breathing heavily. “I’m done. I’m not staying here, not with you.”

My hand shook as I reached for my phone. “Jason, stop,” I said, my voice trembling. “Just calm down.”

But he was already moving toward the door. I quickly typed a text to my dad: Please come now.

Jason didn’t turn around as he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The house felt silent, suddenly too big and too empty. I stood there, still shaking, listening to the sound of his footsteps disappearing down the driveway.

Within minutes, I heard my dad’s car pulling up. He didn’t ask questions when he saw me on the porch, arms wrapped around myself. He just pulled me into a hug, holding me tight as I tried to catch my breath.

“He’s gone,” I whispered, still stunned by how quickly it had all fallen apart.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of quiet knocking on my door. I still felt numb from the night before, Jason’s angry words echoing in my mind. I dragged myself to the door and opened it to see Maggie standing there with a small basket of freshly baked muffins.

“Hey, I heard about what happened,” she said softly. “I’m really sorry.”

I managed a weak smile, surprised she knew so quickly. “Thanks, Maggie. I’m okay.”

She handed me the basket. “I just wanted to bring these up. It’s nothing special, but I thought you could use something sweet.”

I took the basket, feeling warmth I hadn’t felt since Jason left. “You didn’t have to do that.

Related Posts

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*