Cases

One of four children adopted by Joseph and Samantha Ferguson was imprisoned, physically abused, and medically neglected by her adoptive parents. The girl was diagnosed with ADHD, yet Samantha Ferguson had taken her off her medication due to religious beliefs.

Girl adopted from China by Thomas and  Denise Atkocaitis was imprisoned in the basement. She was only allowed out for an hour a day to get food and use the bathroom. After pleading guilty to the charge of criminal restraint, Denise Atkocaitis did not serve jail time, while Thomas Atkocaitis served six months after pleading guilty to endangering the welfare of a child.

7-year-old girl adopted from China by Keith Luke Krause and his wife, Katie Rae Krause. The girl suffered a seizure at home and was taken to the hospital, where she was found to have fractures in the ring and middle finger on her left hand, rectal bleeding, abrasions, a pelvic fracture, and weighed just 28 pounds. The girl also had two different subdural hematomas. 

The girl told investigators that her punishments included doing jumping jacks for 15 minutes, running, or taking a cold bath or shower, and  said she would eat crumbs off the table because she was hungry and is sometimes punished for it. The girl recalled one specific incident where she had fallen down outside.  Her mother took her to the bathroom to wash the dirt off her arm and held her arm under hot water for 5 minutes. The girl said she told her mother the water was too hot and that “it was burning,” and skin came off.

The adoptive parents were charged with one count each of felony child neglect and were sentenced to two months in jail and probation.

Lucas Call, a 2-year-old boy in foster care with Lisa Jo Vanderlinden was killed by his foster mother in August 2018. For that she received a one year sentence. In 2023 she was accused of physically abusing her 8-year-old adoptive son.

Two boys, aged 14 and 15, adopted by Blaine and Donella Busker were sat upon as punishment. The boys were only allowed to wash their clothes once a week and allowed to shower only every other day. The parents padlocked the bathroom that contained the home’s only shower

Three girls and a boy between the ages 5 and 12, adopted by Daryl Head and Laura Cheatham were kept inside boxes that were sealed shut with plywood and screws. Laura Cheatham, who was a former employee with the Missouri Department of Corrections, placed an order with Prison Industries Clothing Division for four kids’ size inmate uniforms.

18-year-old woman adopted by Neil and Janet Farrell was systematically abused by her adoptive parents. She was beaten with 10-inch industrial glue sticks, and locked her room for weeks and months at a time with limited food and only sometimes a bucket for a toilet.

Six children adopted by Jennifer Jean Hart and Sarah Margaret Hart were abused by their adoptive parents and died in a murder-suicide when Jenifer Hart drove her SUV off a cliff with all children and her wife in the car.

Five boys and a girl with ages between 12 and 16, adopted by Timothy and Barbara Krause were beaten, starved and imprisoned by their adoptive parents.