exposing the dark side of adoption
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76+ Children adopted by Diane and Dennis Nason

public
1991 May 1
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placement

Mother Teresa
Private domestic adoption agencies, International Adoption Agencies Oregon DHS

From 1968 to 1990 the Nasons adopted between 76 and 84 children, most of them having special needs, to form their "Celebration Family" or "Nason Nation". The also had 6 biological children. Eventually they formed their own school "Great Expectations".

Allegations involve physical abuse, mental injury, neglect, sexual abuse among siblings, and sexual abuse by Dennis Nason. Three small children died of neglect: Natasha (India or Bangladesh), an infant girl who allegedly died of malnutrition and starvation in March 1988; and Jason, 2, and Jodi (Chile), 4, who each died of shigella (dysentery) in 1985, just a few days apart.
Jason Nason Jodi Nason<-- Jason middle, Jodi right
Some of the 76 children they adopted have told of being beaten and being shocked with a cattle prod. At least one younger child, was allegedly caged in his beds. A 27-year-old woman adopted when she was 10 said that Dennis Nason, 49, molested her and attempted intercourse, and that she was forced to eat a bar of soap. She also said she had been hit with a belt during meals for eating too slowly and was hit again when the first beating caused her to urinate.

Diane and Dennis found new homes for at least 40 of the 54 children who lived in the Nason home between January and March of 1991 (Among the charges against them is that Dennis and Diane forged documents, medical histories, to get these children placed.)

The Nasons were acquitted of abuse charges, but convicted of racketeering and forgery involving the children's paperwork.

The children were adopted from Vietnam, India, Korea, Mexico, El Salvador, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Israel, and from United States foster care.

Documents

Title Publication date
$935,000 awarded to woman, son 2000 Oct 13
Notice of Press Conference Thursday, October 12, 2000 (mentions Mary Jane Nason Cornyn) 2000 Oct 12
Amanda (formerly Nason) Mays: A Portland woman rescued from the slums of Calcutta believes she's the armless infant with Mother 1997 Sep 13
Letter to the Editor of Nugget News 1996 Apr 3
Former water company book keeper arrested (mentions sexual abuse of Nason children) 1996 Mar 27
Nasons to serve 60 days and The Sentence 1996 Feb 21
Nasons face the future (mentions Buddy) 1996 Feb 21
Nasons await sentence (mentions Debbie Nason) 1996 Feb 14
Nasons denied new trial 1996 Jan 24
Nasons file for new trial 1995 Dec 6
NEW TRIAL REQUESTED BY COUPLE ACCUSED OF MISTREATING CHILDREN 1995 Dec 5
Nasons acquitted of manslaughter; guilty of forgery, racketeering 1995 Nov 29
COUPLE CLEARED OF NEGLECT, ABUSE CHARGES; PARENTS TO 84 ADOPTED CHILDREN LOSE LESSER COUNTS 1995 Nov 23
Couple Convicted Of Some Charges In Oregon Adoption-Family Case 1995 Nov 23
PARENTS TO 90 GUILTY IN FORGERY 1995 Nov 23
Nason trial: After a year, the jury is out (mentions Jodi, Jason & Natasha Nason) 1995 Nov 15
Nason trial hits snag with anonymous call 1995 Nov 4
Nason defense questions key witnesses (Mentions Mandy Nason Mays) 1995 Oct 25
Nason trial nears climax (mentions Donny bio son) 1995 Sep 27
Nason trial nears final chapter 1995 Sep 20
CARROLL CASE NOT EXACTLY ONE OF A KIND 1994 Nov 30
ABUSE OR LOVE? NASON TRIAL JURY WILL DECIDE (mentions Natasha, Jodi, Jason) 1994 Nov 2
OREGON COUPLE WHO DREW PRAISE FOR ADOPTING DOZENS ARE ON TRIAL 1994 Sep 24
Pair Who Adopted 76 Embattled 1994 Feb 11
Were 84 kids too much? 1993 Dec 10
SOME NASON CHILDREN JOIN IN DEFENSE OF PARENTS (mentiond Gary, Kari, Donnie) 1993 Dec 6
Friends Stand Up For Nasons 1993 Nov 27
Foster Parents To 76 Charged 1993 Nov 26
Adoptive Parents Of 76 Charged 1993 Nov 23
THE NASONS' `CELEBRATION FAMILY' -- ITS RISE, FALL 1992 Sep 21
Parents Who Adopted 76 Targeted In Abuse Probe (Mentions Stephen Nason Massey, Mentions 27 yr old daughter) 1992 Sep 6
ADOPTED CHILDREN ACCUSE OREGON COUPLE OF ABUSE 1992 Aug 31
NASON-CASE LAWYERS WORK ON SETTLEMENT 1992 Aug 27
ANOTHER SON TAKES THE STAND 1992 Aug 26
MARINE TESTIFIES ON NASONS' ALLEGED ABUSE OF CHILDREN (mentions Jason) 1992 Aug 25
CAGING OF CHILDREN ALLEGED (mentioned Stephen (Nason) Massey) 1992 Aug 25
NASON DAUGHTER CONTINUES TESTIMONY AT CUSTODY HEARING 1992 Aug 21
BOY DENIED RETURN TO PARENTS' HOME 1992 Jul 2
DAUGHTER TESTIFIES AT NASON HEARING 1992 Apr 20
`CELEBRATION FAMILY' TAKES ITS STORY TO COURT 1992 Feb 10
Disorder Turns Half Of Girl's Body To Bone -- `Fracture Healing Gone Mad' Doesn't Stop Her (Mentions Robin Nason Newton) 1992 Feb 5
HONORED NASONS GO ON THE TOWN AND 8 OF THEIR 71 KIDS JOIN FUN 1987 Sep 26
ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE THE NASONS OF OREGON OPEN THEIR DOOR TO DOZENS OF CHILDREN 1985 Dec 15
Couple adopts Unwanted Kids 1982 Jan 6
'United Nasons' adopt unwanted children near and far 1982 Jan 4