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Abuse cases

This archive contains cases of abuse of children within the child placement system.

Some of the these children have been killed, other's survived but suffered from:

In several cases the abuse was hidden from authorities under the pretext of homeschooling.

For an overview of abuse cases by location, see this map.

To make this list as complete as possible we can use your help. If you know of cases not covered, or know of articles not listed with the cases, please subscribe to this group and help maintain this section of the website or send links and articles to this mail address.

Boy fostered by couple in a Perth suburb, Australia

A 6 year-old boy was found by child protection officers bruised, huddled and clutching his knees to his chest in the cot that had been converted to a virtual cage in a darkened garage in November last year. The only light was sunlight coming under the garage door. He was malnourished and weighed just over 12kg. The boy was given one or two meals a day, water, a screwdriver and saucepan to bang together when he needed to toilet. His body mass was so low that two months after going in to new care he suffered mild cardiac failure and returned to hospital.

His foster mother, 34, was jailed on Nov 7th for two years and eight months for reckless neglect of the boy. The woman also has five biological children, aged up to 15. Her husband, 31, the father of three of the six children, received a maximum jail term of three years and two months for assaulting the boy.

All the five natural children of the woman were well cared. The judge  read from the woman's police statement, where she described resenting the boy because he was not one of her natural children. She made his bedroom in the shed so he was out of the way of the family, the court was told.
Date: 2008-11-07
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Foster father, Foster mother

Location

Perth, Western Australia
Australia

Boy in foster care in Alberta

A boy suffers severe brain damage while in foster care with his brother in June 2007. The foster mother has been charged with aggravated assault in connection with the injuries.
Date: 2007-06-02
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Location

Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
Canada
See map: Google Maps

Boy in foster care in Alberta (infant)

13 month old special needs boy in foster care with 2 older siblings died of shaken baby syndrome in November 2005. The foster father pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Date: 2005-11-24
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Location

Alberta
Canada
See map: Google Maps

Boy in foster care in Edmonton, Alberta

Three-year-old boy died of a massive brain injury caused when his skull hit a toilet bowl. Foster mother was convicted of manslaughter.
Date: 2007-01-26
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Placement

Organizations: Edmonton and Area Child and Family Services

Location

Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
See map: Google Maps

Boy in foster care in Kotovo, Russia

6 year old boy in Kotovo, Volgograd Russia was severely beaten by his foster mother for taking a piece of candy.
Date: 2012-02-24
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Location

Kotovo, Volgograd
Russia

Boy in foster care of Mary Enzenbacher

2 year old boy in foster care with Mary Enzenbacher was severely beaten by her live-in boyfriend Anthony Walton. Mary observed the beatings over a few days but refused to seek medical treatment.
Date: 2012-08-21
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect
Abuser: Other non-family member

Placement

Organizations: Hamilton County Job and Family Services

Location

Cincinnati, Ohio
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy in foster care of Sharanda Hammock

11 year old boy in foster care had burns on his legs and genitals and was dehydrated. His foster mother Sharanda Hammock and her girlfriend Cecily Sharp were charged with second-degree battery and permitting child abuse.
Date: 2012-11-04
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother, Other non-family member

Location

Fayetteville, Arkansas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy in foster care with Joycelyn Louis

9-year-old boy in foster care with 72-year-old Joycelyn Louis, was branded with a potato masher as a punishment.
Date: 2009-07-29
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Location

Midwest City, Oklahoma
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy in foster care with Lonnell and Joyce Sims

2-year-old boy in foster care with Lonnell Sims and Joyce Ann Savage Sims was taken into the hospital with of blunt-force trauma to the head. He will likely need care for the rest of his life
Date: 2009-05-11
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Undetermined

Location

Conecuh County, Alabama
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy in foster care with Sharmon Evans

11-year-old boy was allegedly punched and slapped regularly, forced to wear a diaper, ingest his own feces, sleep on the floor and refused food.
Date: 2008-06-23
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Foster mother

Location

Troy, New York
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy in foster care with Tarquin Craig Thomas

Tarquin Craig Thomas, a UK citizen living in the US, sexually abused a 9 yr old Oregon boy in his care. The abuse was immediate and daily after the boy entered his care in 2005. Pornographic images, including bestiality, of other children he 'mentored' were found in his home.
Date: 2007-05-24
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Location

San Mateo, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys adopted and fostered by Thomas Cusick

Tom Cusick adopted or fostered 28 children, 4 girls and 24 boys. Most of boys were 8 or 9 year old when placed with him. Cusick was unmarried, but had a live-in female companion. At least 5 of the boys accused him of sexually abusing them.

Cusick committed suicide 2 days before the trial was to begin. Cusick claimed to be a famous composer, but apparently his income was only from foster and adoption subsidies.
Date: 1999-10-26
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Placement

Location

Langhorne, Pennsylvania
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys adopted by David Allen Lindsey Sr.

At least four out of eleven boys adopted by David Allen Lindsey were sexually molested by him. Lindsey was the first single man in Florida to adopt.
Date: 1987-06-06
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Boynton Beach, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys adopted by Dr. Daniel Carleton Gajdusek

Between 38 and 56 Melanesian and Micronesian boys and girls were brought to the USA by nobel prize winner D. Carleton Gajdusek, at least one boy claimed to have been sexually abused. Prosecutors said more were abused. Gajdusek claimed the boys were adopted, no records were found. Boys may have come to US on student visas.
Date: 1996-01-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Frederick, Maryland
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys adopted by George Harasz and Doug Wirth

Some of nine boys adopted by George Harasz and Doug Wirth were allegedly abused by their adoptive fathers.
Date: 2011-11-30
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Glastonbury, Connecticut
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys adopted by James and Stephanie Dickinson

Five boys and two disabled women were locked in a basement cell, fed meager food, (like "doggie dew stew"), and rarely allowed to bathe. The Dickinsons were given an adoption subsidy consisting of federal, state and county dollars; they were paid $9000 a month to care for the seven.

According to reports, families adopting children who are disabled or are at least five years old are eligible for the subsidies, regardless of income, but under federal mandates do not have to disclose how they spend the money.

Date: 2007-09-19
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal deprivation, Economic exploitation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Disabilities: yes

Location

Lancaster, Pennsylvania
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys adopted by John Krueger

John Krueger, a 53-year-old Bakersfield man is accused of molesting four young boys, all children adopted from an orphanage in Kherson, Ukraine. Three of the boys were his sons, the fourth, an acquaintance.
Date: 2006-04-13
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Facilitators

Organizations: Ukrainian Angels
Persons: Cathy Harris

Location

Bakersfield, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys adopted by Leslie Tiesler and Brad Thill

Three adopted boys were starved, shot with a BB gun, beaten with a spoon, and confined to a tool chest for days with only a pipe for fresh air. Thills adopted 4 boys in 2008, Leslie had a bio son. They divorced in 2010, but Tiesler continued to live in Brad Thill's house while he was overseas. Tiesler, the non-adopted son and one of the adopted boys participated in the abuse. Tiesler claimed the boys were homeschooled. Forty-fve days after removal from the home, the 3 abused boys had gained 27, 20 and 10 pounds.
Date: 2012-05-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive mother, Adopted sibling, Non-adopted sibling, Undetermined
Home schooling: yes

Location

Cameron, North Carolina
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys adopted by their aunt and uncle in Blackstock, Ontario

Two boys adopted by their aunt and uncle in Blackstock Ontario were found caged. One boy was found in a makeshift cage that was strapped to a wall and padlocked.

They were often tied to their beds, sometimes handcuffed. At one time, one brother was forced to sleep in a bare dog cage.

They were kept in diapers because they couldn't get to the washroom, subjected to rectal examinations and often beaten with a variety of household implements.

They lived in such fear, court heard, they ate their own feces to hide evidence of accidents and, deprived of water, felt compelled to drink their own urine. ...

Date: 2004-07-20
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Blackstock, Ontario
Canada
See map: Google Maps

Boys adopted by William Fox

Three boys adopted by William Fox were sexually abused by their adoptive father. William Fox made headlines in 1981 when talking a teen boy out of committing suicide. Fox later adopted the boy and wrote a book about his experience. He also received the National Father of the Year Award. William Fox adopted 10 boys in total, three of whom filed complaints about sexual abuse.
Date: 2011-03-21
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father
Disabilities: yes

Location

Liberty Township, Pennsylvania
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys adopted by/in foster care with Gregg Larsen

Several boys adopted by or in foster care with Gregg Larsen were being taped with a hidden camera while in the bathroom. Larsen shared the material online and was arrested by the FBI. One of the boys reported the hidden camera to Hennepin County social worker in 2007, but nothing was done with that complaint.
Date: 2009-07-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual exploitation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Foster father

Location

Minneapolis, Minnesota
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys at Project Pierre Toussaint

Orphaned, abandonded and street boys were sexually abused by the founder, Doug Perlitz, while at Project Pierre Toussaint, a shelter and boarding school.
Date: 2008-01-01
Placement type: Institution
Institution: Project Pierre Toussaint Haiti Fund
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Other non-family member

Location

Cap-Haïtien, Nord
Haiti

Boys fostered by Brian John Bergthold

At least two boys placed by Brian John Bergthold were sexually abused by him while being filmed. Bergthold was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment for sexual assault and for 70 years for child pornography charges.
Date: 2000-01-01
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse, Sexual exploitation
Abuser: Foster father

Location

Bella Vista, Arkansas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys in care of David Christie

David Christy, a British man who ran the Jari Children's Village from 1994 to 1997, as an employee of Swiss-based aid agency Terre des Hommes, sexually abused dozens of boys over the years and allowed known paedophiles to come to his Addis house and the village to abuse children.
Date: 1998-01-01
Placement type: Institution
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Other non-family member

Location

Ambasel Awraja, Amhara
Ethiopia

Boys in Foster care in Calgary, Canada

At least one and maybe 3 boys aged 2, 4, and 6 were sexually assaulted by a 13 year old foster brother "T". All 4 children were in the same foster home in Calgary. The 13 year old said he got the idea from watching gay pornography available in the home.
Date: 2012-01-03
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Foster sibling

Location

calgary, Alberta
Canada
See map: Google Maps

Boys in foster care of Dennis Scott McCurry and Molly McCurry (birth name West)

Three boys in permanent custody of their bio Aunt and her husband were found severely malnourished, a 5-year-old boy who weighed less than 20 pounds, an 8-year-old who weighed less than 40 pounds and a 7-year-old brother who weighed about 32 pounds when police found. The boys also were treated for bruises, scratches, burns and head lice. The boys told officers they were tied up to be kept from food in the mobile home. Mrs McCurry kept a prosethetic hand needed by one of the boys hidden.

Date: 2006-07-01
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Placement

Organizations: South Carolina DSS

Location

Lyman, South Carolina
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys in foster care with Ian Wathey and Craig Faunch

Homosexual couple sexually abuse four children that were placed in foster care with them. Investigations found out social workers were afraid to act upon allegations for fear of being labeled homophobic. The man fostered 18 children in 15 months, having requested boys aged 5 to 12 years old. After the 4th complaint of inappropriate activity, the police became involved.

Wathey was jailed for five years after being convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a child and one offence of causing a child to watch sexual activity.

Faunch received a six-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of five charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child and two of taking indecent photographs of a child.
Date: 2003-01-01
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Placement

Organizations: Wakefield Council, Yorkshire

Location

Pontefract, Wakefield
United Kingdom

Boys in foster care with Joshua Thomas Friar

Two boys, while living at Jasper Mountain treatment facility in Lane County, were placed in foster care with Joshua Thomas Friar, a worker at the facility. Soon after the placement, the sexual abuse of the boys started.
Date: 2009-11-17
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Location

Springfield, Oregon
United States
See map: Google Maps

Braxton M Taylor

Braxton Michael Taylor
Braxton Taylor died at almost 10 months from brain swelling due to shaking. He also had a cauliflower ear, a bruised groin, crushed testicles and weighed less at his death than at his 6 month checkup. His second foster mother Kathleen Ganiere pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
Date: 2010-02-07
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Foster mother

Placement

Organizations: Virginia DSS; Virginia Beach Department of Human Services

Location

Virginia Beach, Virginia
United States
See map: Google Maps

Breianna Melendez

21-month-old girl adopted by Martha Yannette Melendez was beaten to death. During the trial Martha Melendez fled to Mexico and was extradited 5 years later
Date: 1999-10-05
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

El Paso, Texas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Brian Edgar


9-year-old Brian Edgar, died of asphyxiation after his mouth had been taped shut and something like a sock had been stuffed in it.  According to the coroner, there were signs that Brian had vomited and that he had been bound around the chest with a belt.  In addition, the autopsy showed  Brian had been dead for several hours before being brought to the hospital. There were bruises on his cheeks and old marks on his wrists and ankles, suggesting he probably had been bound with a rope in the past. 

He was punished by his adoptive mother for stealing cookies.

Neil and Christy Edgar, pastors of God's Creation Outreach Ministry were also charged with abusing 3 other adopted children. Christy Edgar was referred to as a prophet, and reportedly claimed God told her to tie up children as a discipline method.

Date: 2002-12-31
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Overland Park, Kansas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Brittany Legler



15-year-old girl adopted by Lisa M. Iarussi, died of physical abuse at the hands of her adopter. More than 200 injuries covered the mentally disabled 14-year-old girl's body — 82 of them "fresh," and 130 up to two and a half to three weeks old.Older injuries included a healed broken rib, a cauliflower ear from repeated injury, and lips so scarred that the muscles were starting to degenerate.
Date: 2004-05-09
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Placement

Organizations: Erie County Office of Children and Youth

Location

Erie, Pennsylvania
United States
See map: Google Maps

Bruce, Michael, Tyrone and Keith Jackson

   

Four New Jersey boys who had been systematically starved by their adoptive parents, while state child welfare workers, in a bewildering series of errors, failed to make the most basic checks on the children over a dozen years. Bruce(19) was 45 lbs, Keith (14) was 41 lbs, Tyrone (10) was 28lbs,  Michael (9) was  23lbs. The boys were also beaten with brooms, rulers, sticks, shoes and belt buckles. Above is a family photo, a close up of Bruce and Bruce 27 months later.

Vanessa Jackson pleaded guilty to one count of endangering the welfare of a child. The boy's father died of a stroke before being convicted.
Date: 2003-10-10
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Placement

Organizations: DYFS' Southern Adoption Resource Center

Location

Collinswood, New Jersey
United States
See map: Google Maps

Buddy Cook



Four-year-old boy adopted by David and Angel Cook, died of starvation. The boy had been adopted nine months prior after allegedly having been sexually abused by his biological mother and several men. Buddy Cook died of dehydration and malnutrition. David and Angel Cook were charged with felony injury.
Date: 2013-03-22
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Cleburne, Texas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Cameron Ouskan

13-month-old boy, in foster care with Roderick Tobie Blacksmith. Cameron died of injuries, Blacksmith is accused of inflicting.
Date: 2008-11-12
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Location

Gillam, Manitoba
Canada
See map: Google Maps

Cameron VanHyning

Cameron was adopted from Aktobe, Kazakhstan in April 2001 by Michael & Jodene Van Hyning. Michael was the primary care-giver. One month home, Michael nearly beat 15 month old Cameron to death in several incidents over a two week period. VanHyning is serving a 28-year prison sentence for aggravated domestic battery.
Date: 2001-06-23
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Placement

Organizations: Main Street Adoption, , Martinez, CA / Lancaster, PA

Location

Clinton, Illinois
United States
See map: Google Maps

Camron Gardner and Ethan Schwartz

3-year-old Camron and 2-year-old Ethan were in foster care with Shane and Jessica Marquardt. The brothers both suffered blunt trauma to their abdomens causing Camron to die of internal bleeding several hours late. Shane Marquardt claimed he flew into a rage after finding vomit in Camron's bed. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison, plus 18 years of extended supervision.
Date: 2006-05-05
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Location

Waupun, Wisconsin
United States
See map: Google Maps

Camryn Morgan

Camryn, the to be adopted child of Edd Keith Morgan and Rochelle Morgan, died Dec 19, after her father slammed her head against a hard surface several times on the night of the 17th or morning of the 18th. Edd plead guilty to a second degree felony. Rochelle was not charged.
Date: 2000-12-17
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Sandy, Utah
United States
See map: Google Maps

Candace Newmaker (Candace Tiara Elmore)

Candace Elizabeth Newmaker (19 November 1989 — 18 April 2000) was a victim of child abuse, killed during a 70-minute treatment session supposedly to treat reactive attachment disorder. The form of diagnosis and the treatments used were unvalidated and non-mainstrean methods practised within the field of attachment therapy.

Date: 2000-04-18
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Other non-family member

Attachment Therapy

Persons: Connell Watkins, Julie Ponder

Location

Durham, North Carolina
United States
See map: Google Maps

Carl Deloney

5-year-old boy in foster care with Oswaldo and Luz Peralta died from bleeding from the brain.
Date: 2008-12-15
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Death by unknown cause
Abuser: Undetermined

Placement

Location

Bakersfield, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Carlos Beltran

4 year old boy from El Salvador, died of beatings to the head, stomach, arms and legs. He had been in the US for 8 months, and his adoption had not yet been finalized in the US.

Christine Moyer had beaten the child until her hand turned black and blue. She began using a belt to protect her hand and its buckle wraped around the boy's body, striking him in the stomach. The child was found dead by Peter Moyer. Since her did not take Carlos to the doctor after seeing that he was seriously ill, he was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Most of the abuse was probably inflicted by Christine.

Peter Moyer, 34, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 2 1/2 to five years. His wife, Christine Moyer, 36, pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of children and was placed on two years' probation. Moyers had 4 & 2 yr old bio daughters that they retained custody of.

 

Date: 1984-12-19
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Franconia Township, Pennsylvania
United States
See map: Google Maps

Carmina Salcido

At age three, her father Ramon Salcido, embarked on a killing spree, murdering Carmina's mother, her two sisters, two aunts and her grand mother. Carmina's throat was slit, but she managed to survive the massacre.

She was subsequently adopted by a couple from Missouri, members of the ulta-conservative Catholic group "Tradition, Family and Property", who abused her for years, until she left the house at age 17.
Date: 1989-01-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Missouri
United States
See map: Google Maps

Casey "C.J." Elgie

5 year old Vietnamese boy, adopted by Jessica Vitale-Elgie and William Elgie, died 10 hours after ingesting a detergent/bleach solution from a bucket soaking his recently soiled underclothes. CJ was developementally delayed and weighed 30lbs. Ms Vitale-Elgie admitted she was disciplining the boy and let him suffer for hours prior to taking him to the hospital.

The Elgie's had a 6 yr girl from Korea and twin infant bio sons at the time of CJ's death. Ms Elgie had sought various therapies including attachment therapy for CJ.

Vitale-Elgie pleaded guilty in December 2002 to negligent homicide but later withdrew the plea when faced with a state prison term. In 2004, she was convicted of misdemeanor child endangerment. William Elgie was never charged. Both he and his now ex-wife were ruled neglectful parents during Family Court proceedings.

At the time of the adoptive mother's conviction, she was on a paid leave from her job as a special-education teacher in the Buffalo (NY) school system.

Date: 2000-08-30
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Amherst, New York
United States
See map: Google Maps

Casey Paul Barrow

Casey Barrow, 18 months, died after his foster mother dropped, shook, and threw him. He and his 5 year old sister Caylee, members of the Ute Tribe, were placed in the same foster home to be near their bio mother. The Ute Tribe was pursuing custody as well. Jeanette Ilene Gomez, foster mother, pleaded guilty to lesser charge of child abuse homicide and is sentenced to 1-15 years. Caylee has been  returned to her bio mother and grandmother.
Date: 2003-10-22
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Placement

Organizations: Utah DCFS

Location

West Valley city, Utah
United States
See map: Google Maps

Cassandra Deming

18-month-old girl in foster care with her aunt was beaten to death by her aunts estranged husband.
Date: 1988-01-02
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Location

Wallingford, Connecticut
United States
See map: Google Maps

Cassandra Killpack (Autumn Blackwell)

 

Four-year-old Cassandra adopted by Jennette and Richard Killpack died after they forced her to drink a gallon of water, which caused her brain to swell.

The Killpacks maintained it was a form of therapy to help Cassandra with her emotional problems that she had from being abused before they adopted her.

Date: 2002-06-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Attachment Therapy

Persons: Larry VanBloem, Keith A. Reber, Jennie Gwilliam

Location

Springville, Utah
United States
See map: Google Maps

Chan Yin-tung (Fu Najuan)

13 month old girl from Jiangxi province died after being dropped repeatedly on her head by her adoptive mother, Candy Chan Man-yum. The mother lost her temper when Chan Yin-tung would not stop crying.
Date: 2008-10-13
Placement type: Adoption
Institution: a Jiangxi province orphanage
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Yau Ma Tei, Yau Tsim Mong Kowloon
Hong Kong

Charles Thomas McEntire III (Brandon Berry)

18 month old adopted son of Charles Thomas McEntire Jr. and Edrina Gibson McEntire. His adoptive father stabbed him to death with a kitchen knife.
Date: 2004-11-22
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Placement

Organizations: Hand in Hand Foundation (Santa Cruz)

Location

Richmond, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Chase Harrison (Dmitry Yakovlev)



21 month old boy from Pechory, Pskov, Russia, adopted by Miles and Carol Harrison. His adoptive father left him in the car for hours while being at work, causing Chase to die of the heat. He'd been adopted only three months before.

Miles Harrison was acquitted on involuntary manslaughter charges.
Date: 2008-07-08
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father

Homestudy

Organizations: Adoption Home Studies and Placement Services Inc. dba Adoption Connections (Falls Church, VA)
Persons: Christine Hessinger

Placement

Location

Herndon, Virginia
United States
See map: Google Maps

Chelsea Mensinger

11 year old girl adopted by her grand parents Charles and  Rita Mensinger. After having shot her husband Mensinger fled, bringing Chelsea with her. She later shot Chelsea and herself. Charles Mensinger survived his wife's attack on him.
Date: 2000-09-15
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

DuPont, Pennsylvania
United States
See map: Google Maps
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