Children adopted by Tommy and Patricia Hyler

Four children adopted by Tommy and Patricia Hyler were abused by their adoptive mother. One of the children bore the brunt of the abuse. The abuse the adoptive mother committed against the boy over two years, included chipping his front teeth with a pair of needle-nose pliers and a hammer; strangling him with her hands and at times a dog leash; and striking him with 2-by-4 pieces of hickory wood, baseball bats, a chain dog leash and miscellaneous items throughout the house. The boy also endured forced isolation and starvation, was not allowed to go outside and was kept away from the other children.