.jpg)
.jpg)
13 year-old boy adopted by Michael and Karen Diehl was beaten to death by the couple as result of their fundamentalist Christian belief in strict discipline. The other children, 12 adopted and 4 biological, may not have been physically abused. Many of the children had special needs or disrupted placements. While the family of 19 was on a 2 year school bus trip and became heavily involved in the Virginia fundamental faith community.
Date: 1986-10-29
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Disabilities: yes
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes
Placement
Organizations: Adoptions in Idaho
Persons: Sue Smith
Location
Virginia Beach, Virginia
United States
| Document | Date |
|---|
| Old and young need protectors, not predators | 2001-10-30 |
| The Re-emergence of Karen Diehl Revives Horror of Abused Child | 2001-10-16 |
| Social worker can't escape felony case | 2001-10-12 |
| Beach Child-Killer Will Be Released Aug. 5 | 1993-07-15 |
| KAREN DIEHL TO RETURN TO PRISON TODAY | 1990-05-02 |
| DIEHL ORDERED BACK TO PRISON | 1990-05-02 |
| KAREN DIEHL LOSES APPEAL, MUST RETURN TO PRISON | 1990-05-01 |
| APPEALS COURT RULES AGAINST MRS. DIEHL | 1990-04-05 |
| APPEALS COURT REINSTATES MRS. DIEHL'S CONVICTIONS | 1990-04-04 |
| KAREN DIEHL LOSES APPEAL ON 5-5 VOTE PROSECUTORS TO SEEK HER RETURN TO PRISON | 1990-04-04 |
| MICHAEL JOSEPH DIEHL v. COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA | 1989-10-24 |
| MRS. DIEHL RELEASED PENDING APPEAL OF RULING ON CONVICTION | 1989-09-23 |
| RULING FREES MOTHER | 1989-09-23 |
| JUDGE FREES MRS. DIEHL ON BAIL UNTIL COURT HEARS HER APPEAL | 1989-09-23 |
| STATE WILL TRY TO BLOCK MRS. DIEHL'S RELEASE | 1989-09-16 |
| MRS. DIEHL'S MANSLAUGHTER CONVICTION VOIDED | 1989-09-13 |
| Va. Manslaughter Case | 1989-09-13 |
| DIEHL SAYS MURDER CONVICTION WAS IMPROPER, ASKS REVERSAL | 1989-03-09 |
| MRS. DIEHL ASKS FOR NEW TRIAL | 1989-01-11 |
| APPELLATE COURT SAYS DIEHL MAY APPEAL | 1988-10-02 |
| MRS. DIEHL'S SENTENCE OF 31 YEARS IS UPHELD | 1987-09-15 |
| Va. Judge Gives Man 41 Years For Slaying Adopted Son, 13 | 1987-09-02 |
| DIEHL OFFERS APOLOGY, IS GIVEN 41-YEAR TERM | 1987-09-01 |
| PROSECUTORS BLAME INSTRUCTIONS FOR MRS. DIEHL'S LIGHTER SENTENCE | 1987-07-25 |
| RELATIVES OF DIEHLS WANT CUSTODY OF COUPLE'S CHILDREN | 1987-07-20 |
| JURY FINDS MRS. DIEHL GUILTY | 1987-07-18 |
| MRS. DIEHL'S JURY PONDERS 3 HOURS, TO RETURN TODAY | 1987-07-17 |
| VA. BEACH JURY RESUMES STUDY OF CHARGES AGAINST MRS. DIEHL | 1987-07-17 |
| Father Guilty in Beating Death of Son, 13 | 1987-07-16 |
| MRS. DIEHL TELLS JURY OF HORRORS OF BEING PARENT TO DISTURBED SON | 1987-07-15 |
| DIEHL WARNED SON NOT TO TELL POLICE ABOUT PUNISHING VICTIM | 1987-07-14 |
| SONS TELL OF TIMES MRS. DIEHL STRUCK VICTIM, 13 | 1987-07-10 |
| JURORS HEAR VIDEOTAPE OF MRS. DIEHL ADMITTING TO SHACKLING SON | 1987-07-10 |
| Fundamentalists Go on Trial In Va. Beating Death of Son | 1987-07-07 |
| KAREN DIEHL TRIAL TO PROCEED | 1987-07-03 |
| JUDGE REJECTS FIVE MOTIONS IN DIEHL CASE | 1987-04-08 |
| JUDGE ALLOWS USE OF DIEHL STATEMENT | 1987-03-05 |
| ' NOBODY WOULD UNDERSTAND' BEATINGS, DIEHL TOLD POLICE | 1987-03-05 |
| JUDGE TO RULE ON DIEHL'S `DISTRAUGHT' CONFESSION | 1987-03-04 |
| DIEHL TAKES FIFTH AT PRETRIAL HEARING | 1987-03-04 |
| 16 DIEHL CHILDREN CAN VISIT ONE ANOTHER | 1987-01-08 |
| DIEHL CHILDREN NOW MAY VISIT EACH OTHER | 1987-01-07 |
| PROSECUTOR TO TRY AGAIN TO USE MRS. DIEHL'S STATEMENT TO POLICE | 1986-12-19 |
| DIEHL TESTIFIES HE DISCIPLINED SON `TO GET HIM TO ENJOY LIFE' | 1986-12-18 |
| AUTOPSY SAYS SCARS, BRUISES COVERED YOUTH | 1986-12-13 |
| 2 SERVICES HELD FOR ADOPTED BOY | 1986-11-01 |
| Friends Shocked by Murder Charges | 1986-10-31 |
| A TRAGIC TURN ON A TRIP FOR GOD | 1986-10-30 |
| ADOPTED BOY SLAIN PARENTS OF 17 ACCUSED OF ABUSE | 1986-10-30 |
| PARENTS OF 17 ARRESTED IN FATAL BEATING OF SON | 1986-10-30 |
| Religious pair charged in son's death | 1986-10-30 |
| Facing Charges, Father Wanted Life Support Continued : Brain-Dead Boy's Death Ends Dispute | 1986-10-29 |
| FATHER ACCUSED OF CHILD ABUSE SAYS HIS CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR | 1986-10-28 |
| Family Of 17 Children Makes Life, Learning A Moving Experience | 1985-12-23 |
| from anonymous on defense team (not public) | |
| Diehl and Tritto family (not public) | |