Judge calls woman a ‘danger,’ sends her to prison after faking pregnancies, defrauding Ontario doulas

Kaitlyn Braun, a 26-year-old woman, was sentenced to three years in prison in a Hamilton courtroom after she deceived two women into providing her with doula support while she was on house arrest for similar crimes. Braun will also serve the remainder of her house arrest sentence behind bars, bringing her total sentence to three years and eight months of incarceration.

Dressed in a lime green sweater and dark green pants, Braun appeared in court looking down for most of the hearing and only said “good morning” to Ontario Court Justice Joe Fiorucci. She had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining services under $5,000 by false pretense and two harassment-related charges from April 2024. Both the defense and Crown requested that she be imprisoned where she could undergo therapy, which the judge agreed to, citing a high risk of reoffending and inflicting psychological harm on others if she doesn’t receive treatment.

Braun’s deception involved pretending to have experienced pregnancies and stillbirths between June 2022 and February 2023, impacting dozens of doulas across Ontario. Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to clients before, during, and shortly after childbirth. Despite not delivering babies or having access to medical records or equipment, Braun managed to manipulate these individuals into providing her with support.

While on house arrest for her initial crimes, Braun contacted an organization that supports parents in crisis and connected with an employee, Tracy Robb, pretending to be 19 weeks pregnant and in need of support. After hours of phone calls, Robb discovered that Braun had been deceiving her and felt sexually violated by the experience. This incident led to Robb leaving her job and struggling in her personal relationships.

Braun’s behavior also involved contacting a doula through text, claiming to be 21 weeks pregnant and experiencing pregnancy loss. The doula initially wanted to support Braun but became disgusted upon realizing the deception. The judge emphasized that allowing Braun to continue her sentence under house arrest would pose a danger to the community, citing her lack of remorse and history of lying to authorities.

A psychiatric assessment diagnosed Braun with borderline personality disorder and anti-social personality disorder, among other conditions, and emphasized her awareness of her actions. Despite considerations of factitious disorder, mental health professionals concluded that Braun’s behavior did not align with that diagnosis. The motivations behind her crimes included reducing social isolation, taking risks for enjoyment, and exploring aspects of her sexual identity.

For the victims, including doula Amy Perry, the judge’s recognition of Braun’s control over her actions brought relief. Perry, who was among the 50 doulas victimized by Braun, emphasized the need for support for all victims affected by Braun’s actions. For individuals who have experienced sexual assault, resources are available through crisis lines and local support services.

In conclusion, Kaitlyn Braun’s deceptive actions have had a significant impact on the individuals she manipulated, leading to her incarceration and the need for therapy. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting victims of sexual assault and seeking justice for those who have been wronged.