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Children killed within their adoptive family



76+ Children adopted by Diane and Dennis Nason


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.
Date: 1991-05-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Lethal neglect, Economic exploitation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother, Adopted sibling, Other non-family member
Disabilities: yes
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Placement

Organizations: Oregon Department of Human Services, Private domestic adoption agencies, International Adoption Agencies
Persons: Mother Teresa

Location

Sisters, Oregon
United States
See map: Google Maps

Adrianna Maria Romero Cram



Adrianna Cram was born in Oregon, taken into state custody by Oregon at age 1, and sent to live in Mexico with her fathers relatives she'd never met when she was almost 4. She was to be adopted by her Aunt, Elizabeth Romero Marin and Uncle in Mexico. Her grandfather and teachers in Mexico repeatedly reported abuse to authorities in Mexico. Her Aunt was sentenced to 45 years.
Special Report
Date: 2005-06-13
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Other family member

Placement

Post placement

Location

Omealca, Veracruz
Mexico
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Ahmad King (Rawls)

  

3 year old boy adopted by Tim and Mary Jane King, slain by his adoptive mother, who first claimed he had been kidnapped, later she confessed to killing him. Ahmad had been hit more than 50 times with the pipe and a belt buckle. Ahmad had been adopted just a month before his death. Mrs. King was also charged with abusing Ahmad's foster sister. She was sentenced for life.
Date: 2006-01-23
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Alma, Georgia
United States
See map: Google Maps
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  • 8858 reads

Alex Charles Boucher

 

3-year-old boy with cerebral palsy and other medical needs, in the custody of the CT Department of Children and Families was killed by his prospective adoptive father, James Curtis, in Florida as punishment for soiling himself. Mr Curtis wrapped Alex tightly in a blanket and left him for 30 minutes. Alex asphyxiated. Jennifer Curtis was not charged. The Curtis' were given custody of Alex even though their homestudy  and background checks were not complete and would have revealed past violence.
Date: 2000-09-25
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father

Homestudy

Location

New Port Richey, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps
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Alex Pavlis (Alexei Vasilovich Geiko)

 
At age 6, Alex Pavlis of Illinois, was beaten to death by his U.S. adopted mother, Irma, 6 weeks after his November adoption from Yeysk, Krasnodar, Russia. Adoptive father was Dino Pavlis. Alex, who was adopted along with his 5 yr old bio sister, was found to have 32 bruises, scars, and cuts. Irma had a difficult time with Alex. He banged his head on the walls, floors, and defecated and urinated on himself. Reports indicate that his injuries could have been self-inflicted. The children were temporarily homeschooled until a school would be chosen. Irma, a Mexican immigrant, was charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Irma Pavlis was sentenced to 12 years in prison. She served five and was released in 2008.
Date: 2003-12-18
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Homestudy

Organizations: Baptist Children's Home & Family Services

Facilitators

Placement

Organizations: Yunona USA
Persons: Ivan Jerdev

Location

Schaumburg, Illinois
United States
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Alex, Russian boy adopted in Canada

Unpublished
This is the same case as Sacha Vallée
Date:
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Other non-family member

Location

Canada

Alexis 'Lexie' Glover

 

13-year-old girl adopted by Alfreedia Gregg-Glover, disappeared on January 7, 2009. Her dead body was found two weeks later in a Woodbridge, Va, creek. Freedia Glover was later arrested for killing Alexis.
Date: 2009-01-07
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Location

Manassas, Virginia
United States
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Alexis Keintz

21 days old premature infant shaken to death by adoptive father Bruce Keintz. Alexis was only 5lbs 13 oz and was brought home 2 weeks earlier by Bruce and his wife. Bruce was convicted of reckless conduct. Alexis was one of twins, the other twin is in AZ with the birthfamily. Keintz' also had a 3 yo adopted child.
Date: 2001-02-17
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Lombard, Illinois
United States
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Alexis Long

Alexis Nicole Long

Alexis Nicole Long, 19 month old girl died of blunt force trauma after apparently being thrown onto a changing table by her adoptive mother Jennifer Long. Mrs. Long was charged with murder. Father Timothy Long was charged with second degree cruelty to children.
Date: 2012-01-31
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

columbus, Georgia
United States
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Amy Dye

9-year-old girl adopted by Kimberly Dye was murdered by her 18-year-old adoptive brother. Several reports about abuse had been ignored by Kentucky authorities.
Date: 2011-02-07
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Non-adopted sibling

Location

Trenton, Kentucky
United States
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Andrea Swenson

Sent by her adoptive mother to the Attachment Center at Evergreen (ACE), Andrea H. Swenson was put through the usual “two-week intensive,” but then diagnosed as so “damaged” that she had to stay on for periodic treatments at ACE, and live with AT-trained therapeutic foster parents (TFPs), at a cost to the family’s insurance company of $3,500 a week. Supposedly, Andrea made slow progress in the arrangement, until the insurance payments ran out. Whereupon, Watkins and the TFPs began pressuring the adoptive family to allow the TFPs to adopt her — and thereby get new insurance coverage. (Connell Watkins was clinical director at ACE)

One day in November 1990, Andrea returned to her foster home from school and reported to the TFPs that she had been sexually molested at school, which they regarded as typical “Attachment Disorder” behavior — false, manipulative, and attention-getting.

The next day, Andrea took an overdose of aspirin. She was in convulsions and delirious the next morning, but the TFPs did not attend her, and instead went bowling that afternoon. While they were gone, a relative visited the house and found Andrea dead in a hallway.

Date: 1990-11-09
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect
Abuser: Other non-family member

Attachment Therapy

Persons: Connell Watkins

Location

Tulsa, Oklahoma
United States
See map: Google Maps
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Andrew Arthur Butler

Andrew Arthur Butler
13 year old boy adopted from Donetsk Ukraine in 2003 with 2 biological siblings, was shot and killed by his adoptive father William Alan Butler while target shooting with handguns in their backyard. Mr. Butler said he was shot at while his back was turned so he turned and shot back. Seventy-three year old William Butler pleaded guilty to child neglect resulting in death and was sentenced to 3-15 years.
Date: 2011-06-18
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father
Fundamentalist faith: no

Placement

Location

Hedgesville, West Virginia
United States
See map: Google Maps
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Andrew Burd

Andrew Burd  Andrew Axel Burd   

4-year-old boy, in foster to adoption placement with Larry and Hannah Overton, was forced to drink a mixture of water and Cajun spices as punishment. The Overtons waited nearly three hours before taking the boy to an urgent care clinic as he vomited and drifted in and out of consciousness. When they arrived, Andrew was no longer breathing. A day later he died -- 4 months after his placement with the Overtons. Andrew Axel Burd died of hypernatremia or salt poisoning. Andrew consumed the equivalent of 23 teaspoons of Zatarain's Creole Seasoning or 6 teaspoons of pure salt. He also had head trauma as well as bruises and scratches.

Hannah Overton (nee Saenz) was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life; Larry Overton pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and is on 5 years probation.

Mrs Overton and her church, Calvary Chapel of the Coastlands, continue to appeal her conviction in various ways. She maintains that Andrew ate the salt himself, however Andrew's former foster mother, who attended the same church testified she had not seen any pica or eating issues with Andrew during the 18 months he was in her home. (In an unusual coincidence, Hannah's father Bennie Saenz, a former Calvary Chapel pastor, was convicted of murder in 1985.) Overtons homeschooled their school age children. They had 4 bio children and Hannah was 6 months pregnant when Andrew died.

Hannah Overton was released from prison in December 2014. The case was dismissed in April 2015.
Date: 2006-10-02
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive mother, Foster mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Homestudy

Organizations: Spaulding for Children

Post placement

Organizations: Spaulding for Children
Persons: Ana Billeaux

Location

Corpus Christi, Texas
United States
See map: Google Maps
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Angel Martin

4-year-old girl adopted by Mary Perkins was allegedly beaten to death by her adoptive mother. There were also signs Angel had been sexually abused. Angel Martin was adopted six months prior to her death.
Date: 1997-11-16
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Chicago, Illinois
United States
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Anthony Bars



4-year old boy adopted by L.B. and Latricia Bars, died of dehydration. He was also starved and had a head injury and a broken collar bone.
Date: 2002-01-19
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Placement

Organizations: Indiana Department of Child Services, Indiana Family and Social Services (Denise Moore)

Location

Indianapolis, Indiana
United States
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Benjamin Yhip

   Benjamin Yhip - Taiwan

2-year-old boy adopted from Taiwan along with his twin brother by Dr. James Peter Yhip and Edelyn Magakat Yhip was killed by blunt force trauma to his head. Previously the boy had been hospitalized for malnutrition and broken bones.  Their daughter was adopted from China.
Both parents were arrested on suspicion of murder with Edelyn believed to have caused the head trauma.
Date: 2012-04-18
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Chico, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy adopted by Tara McNeill Palajac

12-year-old boy adopted by Tara McNeill Palajac was drowned in a bathtub by his adoptive mother.
Date: 2016-01-08
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Santa Clara, California
United States
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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
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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
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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

Buddy Cook

Unpublished


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, but were cleared in September 2014.
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

Calista Springer

Unpublished


16-year-old girl adopted by Anthony and Marsha Springer was systematically abused by her adoptive parents. She dies, while chained to her bed when the family home caught fire. Calista was taken out of school to prevent abuse investigations.

Anthony Springer received 10 to 15 years for first-degree child abuse and 25 to 50 years for torture.

Marsha Springer was given 95 months (roughly eight years) to 15 years for first-degree child abuse and 225 months (roughly 19 years) to 50 years for torture.

Note: This is a step parent adoption, hence it is unpublished, including all associated articles
Date: 2008-02-27
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect, Lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Location

Centreville, Michigan
United States
See map: Google Maps
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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
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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
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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 he 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

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
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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: Keith A. Reber, Jennie Gwilliam, Larry VanBloem

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
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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.
 
At the time of the murder Edrina Gibson McEntire was suffering from lymphoma. She survived and later wrote a book called " Life Interrupted! ", in which she claimed to have married "Charles Thomas McEntire Jr. " at the advice of adoption agency representative Fred Barnes.
Date: 2004-11-22
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Homestudy

Persons: Fred Barnes

Placement

Persons: Fred Barnes

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
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Child adopted by couple from Medina, Ohio

A child adopted by a couple from Medina, Ohio, was killed in a murder suicide.
Date: 2015-09-19
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Undetermined
Disabilities: yes

Location

Medina, Ohio
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Emily Miller

In November of 1999 the half-naked disabled adoptive son of Emily Miller was found tied to a plastic bucket partially filled with urine. During the examinations, it was revealed two children in the care of  Emily Miller had died earlier. First in January 1993, 4-month-old Ieisha Dyson died after being born with a significant birth defect and in April 1995 DuJuan Miller, Emily Miller's 2-year-old adopted son died, supposedly of sudden infant death syndrome.

All material kindly provided by Jack Kresnak President & CEO of Michigan's Children

Date: 1999-11-02
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Disabilities: yes
Home schooling: yes

Placement

Organizations: Michigan Department of Human Services, (Wayne County Family Independence Agency, renamed DHS in 2005)

Location

Detroit, Michigan
United States
See map: Google Maps
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Christine Montalbano

Three year old girl from Tegucigalpa Honduras, adopted by Nancy Jane Montalbano on Oct. 28, 1996. Almost a year later she was beaten to death by Nancy after she knocked over the potty. Christine has 28 blunt force injuries including a lacerated liver and brain hemorrhage. Nancy also had a 4 year old son, Richard, adopted previously from Honduras.
At the time of the girl's death, Nancy was living with a common-law husband, who was not charged in the case.
Date: 1997-10-21
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania
United States
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Christopher Forder



8-year-old Christopher Forder stricken with pneumonia, heavily bruised and nearing death, only to call 911 after he had dies. Kimberly Ann Forder, Christopher's adoptive mother abused and neglected him to the point of death, never seeking outside medical help as his pneumonia grew worse. Adoptive father Robert Forder was not charged, though he also did not call for help.

Kimberly and Bob Forder homeschooled and home-churched the children. They did not seek modern western health care treatment the children. They told police Christoper's injuries were due to reactive attachment disorder.

In addition to Christopher, who was adopted from Oregon DHS, Forders had 3 adult bio children and 4 adopted or foster children. In 2005, after Christopher's death, they adopted a set of infant triplets from Liberia with the assistance of West African Children Support Network (WACSN). In 2006, the Forders and the 7 remaining minor children moved to Liberia to serve as missionaries. Around the same time, one of their adult bio children was charged with raping another of their adult children.

In December 2007, the 7 adopted children were returned to Washington state from Liberia after Bob Forder had left them at a WACSN orphanage.
Date: 2002-11-22
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Placement

Location

Seabeck, Washington
United States
See map: Google Maps
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Christopher Saitta

2 year old boy from Guatemala adopted by Lois Saitta and her husband died of abusive head trauma 6 months after adoption. Lois Saitta pleaded guilty in exchange for a promised sentence of one year in jail and five years probation.
Date: 2009-07-20
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Oceanside, New York
United States
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  • 4723 reads

Chrystal Ramirez (Chrystal Camarillo)

    

8-year-old girl, adopted by Rubin Stephen and Bettie Ramirez, was starved, had her arms and legs tied with tape, and was beaten with a cane to the point her brain and skull began bleeding. Her 10 year old sister and 6 year old brother were in the same home. CPS had been contacted numerous times.
Date: 2007-08-24
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Location

San Antonio, Texas
United States
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  • 10040 reads

Colin David Jones

6 year old boy adopted by Jami Lea Jones and Louis David Jones died 4 days after being rushed to the hospital, cause is not yet released. News videos report 1 of the other 5 children in the home was adopted, and that the Joneses were a homeschooling church-going family. Both parents were found guilty of malice murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Date: 2009-12-24
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Location

Loganville, Georgia
United States
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Collin Parker William Holdgrafer



4-year-old boy adopted by his uncle and aunt, Andrew and Danielle Holdgrafer, drowned in a bathtub. Danielle Holdgrafer was charged with murder while Andrew Holdgrafer was charged with felony child endangerment, accused of not doing anything to help the child.
Date: 2010-06-12
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Andrew, Iowa
United States
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  • 7313 reads

Cory Bradley McLauchlin

July 4, 1997, paramedics went to the North Carolina home of 45 year-old Eddiesenior Jones McLauchlin and found 4-year-old, adoptee, Cory Bradley McLauchlin, severely beaten. He was pronounced brain-dead at the hospital not long before he was taken off life support. Both of his hands and one foot were burned. There were bruises on his back, stomach, legs, and a lump on his forehead. Mrs. McLauchlin's husband was deployed by the military at the time.

Date: 1997-07-04
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Fayetteville, North Carolina
United States
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  • 6003 reads

Crosby Justin White

2-and-a-half-year old boy adopted by Sharonda Renita White and Roshied White, was beaten to death by his adoptive mother, who was also his half-sister.
Date: 1996-07-16
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Okinawa, Okinawa
Japan
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  • 6490 reads

Danielle and Brittany Tucker (Dornan)

Christopher Allen Tucker and Rebecca Lynn Tucker first adopted Danielle, who at the age of four was pushed down the stairs by her adoptive mother, in their house in Coldwater, Michigan in December 8, 1995. At the time it was ruled an accident. Danielle was born with spina bifida and Down's Syndrome. Despite what had happened, the Tuckers were allowed to adopt two of Danielle's sisters a month after her death.

Soon afterwards, the Tuckers moved to Trenton, Utah after complaints had been made about abuse the of Brittany, one of Danielle's sisters.

In November 1997 authorities found Brittany, 6-year-old at the time, starving in a locked basement room. The basement room was furnished only with bare metal bedsprings, a wooden spool, and a metal tub containing dirty brown water, which the girl drank from and bathed in. She had been in there for at least 5 months.

Rebecca Tucker received a sentence of 5 year imprisonment for the abuse of Brittany and 8 to 15 years for the killing of Danielle. She is currently imprisoned Michigan. Chris Tucker received a sentence of 1 to 15 year imprisonment.

All 3 girls suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome. Two biological boys and the 3rd girl where apparently unhurt.
Date: 1997-11-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Placement

Organizations: Michigan Department of Human Services, Family Independence Agency (renamed DHS in 2005)

Location

Trenton, Utah
United States
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  • 7613 reads

Danielle Christine Neal and unnamed Neal child

In October, 1993, Victoria Neal admitted being responsible for the death of Danielle Christine Neal, a 13 month old girl adopted 4 months earlier from Korea. Danielle died Sept 2, 1976 of brain injuries. She had partially healed fractures of her legs, arm and collarbone. A second girl adopted from later Korea was removed from her custody after being admitted to a Toldeo hospital with brain injuries in 1979.
Glenn Neal was not charged.
Date: 1976-08-30
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Morton, Illinois
United States
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  • 8235 reads

David A. Polreis (Konstantin Shlepin)

David Alexander Polreis age 2, of Greeley, Colorado was beaten to death. Over 90% of David's body was covered in cuts, which his adoptive mother, Renee Polreis, claimed was due to the boys severe RAD. Renee stated that David would hit himself with a wooden spoon. Husband, David Polreis, Sr. was out of town at time of attack and was not implicated. Rene Polreis was convicted of child abuse resulting in death and sentenced to 18 years in prison. David was adopted from Tula, Russia 6 months before his death.
Date: 1996-02-09
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Homestudy

Organizations: Colorado Adoption Center, Greeley Colorado

Placement

Persons: Kathy Edick

Location

Greeley, Colorado
United States
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  • 12616 reads

David and Samuel Briggs (David and Samuel Filipache)

In October 2000, less than four months after arriving in County Armagh, 14-month-old David died in the care of his adoptive parents Gwen and Geoffrey Briggs.

The Assistant State Pathologist for Northern Ireland, Dr Michael Curtis, failed to examine X-rays which showed multiple fractures on David's body when he carried out an initial post-mortem. Later his body was exhumed and a second post-mortem examination revealed 27 partially-healed fractures.

Two weeks after the death of David Briggs, his 14-month old twin brother Samuel was brought to hospital with a fractured skull. Geoffrey Briggs had punched the child for refusing to take some medicine. Unlike his brother Samuel survived the attack.

Geoffrey Briggs received one year imprisonment for the attack on Samuel and was released after six months when he was being attacked by fellow inmates, after which the couple fled to Scotland. For the death of  David no-one was ever charged. The Briggs were former overseas missionaries.

The boys were adopted from Romania, where there parents were unaware of their adoption.
Date: 2000-10-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Homestudy

Organizations: Craigavon and Banbridge HSS Trust

Placement

Location

Portadown, Armagh
United Kingdom
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Davion Winrow

Unpublished


1-year-old boy in foster care died of a fatal head injury while in the care of 23 yo Joleet "Joey" Poole, who was about to adopt him. Davion was killed 4 days after being placed in Poole's care. Mr. Poole was a choir director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Date: 2007-09-27
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Placement

Organizations: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

Location

Omaha, Nebraska
United States
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Dennis Craig Jurgens (Dennis Craig Puckett)


Dennis Craig Jurgens (December 6, 1961 – April 11, 1965) was the most famous and only fatal victim of prolific child abuser Lois Jurgens, who abused a total of six adopted children during a period spanning the 1950s to 1970s. Lois and  Harold Jurgens eventually lost custody of the 5 other adopted children: the eldest, Robert Jurgens, who testified against his mother, and the 4 Howton siblings from Kentucky. The eventual trial of Lois Jurgens for Dennis' murder made national headlines and was the top news story for the state of Minnesota in 1987. Twenty two years after Dennis' death, Lois was convicted.
Date: 1965-03-28
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Homestudy

Organizations: Ramsey County case worker, Gerane Rekdahl

Placement

Organizations: Scott and Ramsey counties' welfare departments

Post placement

Organizations: Ramsey County case worker, Gerane Rekdahl

Location

White Bear Lake, Minnesota
United States
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  • 12053 reads

Dennis Gene Merryman (Denis Uritsky)

   
8 year old boy adopted by Samuel and Donna Merryman. Died after suffering cardiac arrest brought on by starvation. He weighed 37 pounds, 2 lbs less than his weight at adoption. Both adoptive parents were arrested and charged with manslaughter and first degree child abuse resulting in death and reckless endangerment. He was adopted along with his older brother and 2 older sisters from Ochyor, Perm region, Russia almost 5 years before.
Date: 2005-01-22
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Placement

Location

Whiteford, Harford County, Maryland
United States
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Dominick J. (Andrew) Diehl

 

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
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  • 11169 reads

Dominiqua Bryant

28-month-old girl adopted by Patricia Blackmon, was beaten to death by her adoptive mother. The girl had been adopted 9 months prior.

Blackmon was sentenced to death. As of 2015 she still remains on death row.
Date: 1999-05-29
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Dothan, Alabama
United States
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  • 7056 reads

Dreydon Anthony Archuleta (Deleon)


5 month old boy dies after being held by his ankles and shaken by his adoptive mother. Julie Archuleta pleaded guilty to child-abuse homicide. Father Geno was not charged.

Julie Archuleta was paroled from the Utah State Prison on May 1, 2012.
Date: 2004-09-27
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Salt Lake City, Utah
United States
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  • 5903 reads

Elizabeth Lisa Steinberg



Illegally adopted by Joel Steinberg and Hedda Nussbaum, six year old Elizabeth Steinberg (Elizabeth Lisa Launders) was beaten to death by her "adoptive" father. The case became symbolic of child abuse in America.

Date: 1987-11-02
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

New York, New York
United States
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  • 14667 reads

Ellana Lin

22-month-old girl from China, adopted by Tawainese natives Perry Yu Lin and Dianne Buu Lin, died of blunt-force trauma and had injuries over her entire body. She was adopted 2 months earlier. Dianne Buu Lin was sentences to 15 years. Perry Yu Lin was sentenced to one year of felony probation.
Date: 2003-11-02
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Rowland Heights, California
United States
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Emma Mei Alvey (Mei Fu Ping)

 

20 month girl Adopted from Huangmei, Hubei Province, China by Phillip and Jennifer Alvey, was shaken to death by her adoptive mother 8 months after the adoption. Emma had a skull fracture and died Oct 24, 2005. In September she got 13 stitches from a separate injury. Her mother pleaded guilty. Jennifer was sentenced to 1 year in prison,14 years probation.
Date: 2005-10-19
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Placement

Location

Spring Hill, Tennessee
United States
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Enna Isabel Barreto

 

2 year old adopted daughter of Ramon Barreto and Janet Lee Killough Barreto, one of seven children adopted from Guatemala by the couple, died of blunt force trauma. Ramone and Janet Barreto were initially charged with two counts of child neglect. 17-year-old Marainna Torres, Janet's daughter, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. USCIS approved their adoption applications for a total of seven children in 2005 and 2006.

Pending charges against the parents include culpable negligence in the death of Enna, as well as allegations brought by the Marainna that: - Luisa Fernanda Barreto and Juan Fernando Barreto were tied in a baby crib for long periods. and - Adriana Killough, also known as Adriana Santana Lemar, was caged in a closet for prolonged periods and forced to eat, sleep, urinate and defecate in the cage. (Adriana was the first adopted child and apparently the adoption was later disrupted).
Date: 2008-05-19
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother, Non-adopted sibling
Disabilities: yes

Homestudy

Location

New Albany, Mississippi
United States
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Erika Antoinette Hill

15-year-old girl adopted by Taylin M. Hill, was killed by her adoptive mother. There was serious physical abuse prior to her death.
Date: 2007-02-26
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Fitchburg, Wisconsin
United States
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Ethan, Seth, Mira, Eleanor Sueppel

  

Steven Sueppel, indicted for embezzling from the bank that he worked for, killed himself, his wife Sheryl, and their four adopted Korean children, Ethan (10), Seth (7), Mira (5), and Eleanor (3),in Iowa City, Iowa. Seth was on the autism spectrum and Eleanor had Polycystic Kidney Disease. Mrs Sueppel and the children were beaten to death with a baseball bat then Steven died in a deliberate car wreck.

Date: 2008-03-23
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Iowa City, Iowa
United States
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  • 13002 reads

Faith J. Ray (Samantha Foster)



2-year old girl adopted by Joe and Violet Ray was rushed to the hospital where she was found to have bleeding of her brain, multiple bruises on her arms, chest, legs, and thighs, as well as vaginal tearing. Several hours later she died. Her death was declared a homicide. Faith was one of 6 adopted children; two from private adoption agencies, four from DCF, including Faith and her 1-year-old bio brother.
Date: 2008-12-08
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Bellevue, Florida
United States
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Faith Raeanne Robinson

 

4-year-old girl adopted by Joseph and Jessilyn Robinson died of head injury consistent with being shaken violently. Faith and her bio half brother Jacob were apparently adopted together (domestic) while the family lived in Rhode Island.

Jessilyn Robinson was released from prison Jan. 30, 2015.
Date: 2008-05-28
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Winchester, Kentucky
United States
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Freddi Bergquist, (Erik Ilesov) Adopted Czech boy in Sweden


Seven months after adoption by Swedish citizens, four year old Freddi Bergquist, from Czech Republic died of untreated pneumonia and blood poisoning. His body was covered with bruises and festering wounds.
Date: 2006-01-08
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Jönköping
Sweden
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  • 7359 reads

Girl adopted by a Malaysian couple

Girl adopted at age 4 was beaten into a coma and subsequently died. Both adoptive parents have been arrested.
Date: 2013-11-19
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

ALOR SETAR, Kedah
Malaysia
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Girl adopted by Lian

6 month old girl adopted by Lian and her husband was slapped and thrown to the ground by Lian. They waited until the next day to take the baby girl to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Date: 2013-03-06
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Shenzhen, Guangdong
China
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  • 4844 reads

Girl adopted by Rajesh Sengar and Bebi Sengar

5-year-old girl adopted by Rajesh Sengar and Bebi Sengar was killed by her adoptive parents. Post mortem reports revealed the girl was sexually assaulted too.
Date: 2012-09-28
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Indore, Madhya Pradesh
India
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  • 5526 reads

Girl adopted by Terri and Pamela Dennis

7-year-old girl adopted by Terri and Pamela Dennis died after having been unresponsive for over eight hours. Her death was caused by blunt force trauma.

The girl had been adopted 5 months prior to her death.
Date: 2013-04-04
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Disabilities: yes

Location

Newport News, Virginia
United States
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  • 5632 reads

Girl adopted by Zhuzhou couple

3 year old girl was beaten to death by her adoptive mother surnamed Yi. Father's surname not released. The family had been reported for abuse previously. This was a domestic adoption in China.
Date: 2013-12-10
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Lusong District Zhuzhou, Hunan
China
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  • 7191 reads

Grace Lee Bogey (Gracielo Cano)

Grace Bogey, who was born with spina bifida and was paralyzed from the waist down, died on Sept. 2, 2000 at 3 years old. Autopsy results showed she died from head injuries resulting from abuse, 4 weeks after the adoption was complete. Her adoptive mother Veronica Bogey, and grandfather Terry/Teri Bogey were charged.

Grace's foster family had objected to the placement in part because "they thought Bogey was actually a man pretending to be a woman". Veronica's father, Terry/Teri  Bogey ("a self-described hermaphrodite who claims also to be Veronica Bogey's mother") moved in during the preadoption period.

Veronica Bogey was acquitted. Terry Bogey pleaded no contest in August 2003 to a minor charge of third-degree child abuse.
in a separate civil case adoptive mother Veronica Bogey was found to be responsible, and therefore subject to monetary penalties.
Date: 2000-09-02
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother, Other family member
Disabilities: yes

Location

roswell, New Mexico
United States
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  • 7269 reads

Gustavo Adolpho Hunt

Gus, 7 month old boy adopted from Guatemala by Steven D. Showcatally and Gail Hunt was dropped to the floor by his adoptive father and died three hours later. Gustavo was adopted 4 months earlier in Nov. Father was sentenced to 12.5 years. Parents attempted to complete a pending adoption in India shortly after Gustavo's death.
Date: 2004-03-19
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

St Paul, Minnesota
United States
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  • 7228 reads

Hana Grace-Rose Williams (Hana Alemu Befekadu) and Immanuel Williams

Hana Williams  Hana Grace-Rose Williams  Two videos, before and after Hana Williams

13-year-old girl adopted from Ethiopia in 2008, by Larry and Carri Williams, died after being forced to stay outside the home on a rainy night. Hana Williams had Hepatitis B and was adopted at age 10 along with an unrelated 7 yr old deaf boy, Immanuel from Kidane Mihret orphanage. Williams had 7 bio children.

Both adopted children were beaten with various implements, hosed off, and forced to eat wet sandwiches and frozen food outdoors. Hana was frequently locked in a closet and made to sleep in a barn. She was required to use an outdoor hose to shower and port a pot for elimination.

The coroner said Hana's cause of death was “hypothermia and chronic starvation caused by a parent’s intentional food restriction, severe neglect, physical and emotional abuse and stunning endangerment.” Hana had H Pylori and Giardia (easily treated parasites). Hana weighed 78 lbs, having lost 30 pounds in the year prior to her death, and was about the same weight as when she arrived from Ethiopia 3 years earlier.

The Williams attended several churches but were home churching around the time Hana died. The Williams read and recommended "How to Train Up a Child". Both children were homeschooled and beaten with a belt, wooden spoon, a plumbing supply rod, and a gluestick.
Date: 2011-05-12
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect, Lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Disabilities: yes
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Facilitators

Persons: Gail Gorfe

Post placement

Location

Sedro Woolley, Washington
United States
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Hannah Hoag

18-months old girl adopted by Rebecca Cotes died as the result of medical neglect.
Date: 2014-03-24
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Wyoming, Michigan
United States
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Hannah, Noah, Molly and Joshua Carroll

Four children adopted by Kathleen and Timothy Carroll die under suspicious circumstances.

Chronology

  • 1991 Anne Marie, 19,  placed with the Carrolls in 1985. She attempts to burn family home in Madison Twp. and and subsequently placed in custody of the Ohio Department of Youth Services. She claims most of the care for 10 children in the house hold lies on her shoulders and her biological brother James.
  • Sept. 21, 1992, the first death: Hannah, 6, a Down syndrome child, dies. Parents say she was "doing fine" after household bleach was spilled on her three days earlier, but evidence showed the child suffered horribly, with chemical burns inside her lungs and over nearly one-third of her body. Until this incident, Greene County Children Services is unaware of the family, which had 10 adopted children, all with physical, mental or emotional problems. Originally from Massachusetts, they moved to Madison Twp. in 1990, and then to Cedarville two months before Hannah died. The agency's attempt to get emergency custody of the remaining children is denied.
  • October-December 1992, three more deaths: A 1-month-old child, Chloe, who was born with only a brain stem and no brain, dies Oct. 19 in the care of the Columbus adoption agency that had placed her with the Carrolls. On Nov. 15, Noah, 3, a "crack" baby who suffered brain damage and seizures, dies. Officials express extreme concern after Mollie, a 3-year-old with mental retardation and severe allergies, appears to have been dead for 12 hours before she was found Dec. 9. County Juvenile Judge Robert A. Hagler removes the remaining children from the home, but returns them two days before Christmas.
  • January 1993, a guilty plea: Kathleen and Timothy Carroll, originally charged with involuntary manslaughter, plead guilty to child neglect charges in Hannah's death, admitting they should have sought medical treatment for her burns. They are placed on five years' probation and they agree to adopt no more children without prior court consent.
  • June 1993, the fifth death: After several months of little activity in the case, Josiah, a 12-year-old with cerebral palsy, dies. Again, officials become alarmed and ask for removal of the remaining children, but the request is denied.
  • July 1993, the inquest: The county's first inquest in a decade produces inconsistencies between experts' testimony and family members' stories about the deaths, and Judge Hagler removes himself from the case, citing innuendos about his objectivity.
  • August 1993, the charge and the removal: The family's eldest son, James, then 17, is charged with delinquency by reason of involuntary manslaughter because he was supervising Hannah at the time of the injury that caused her death. The new judge in the case, Richard T. Cole, orders Samuel, then 5, and Isaiah, then 11, removed from the Carroll home and placed in foster care.
  • October 1993, the exhumations: Despite the Carrolls' protests, the bodies of Mollie and Josiah are exhumed from their Preble County graves to allow further investigation of their deaths.
  • November 1993, the trial: After a three-day trial, Cole acquits James of all charges. The family then spends several days trying to convince Cole to return Samuel and Isaiah to the home.
  • December 1993, the custody ruling: In a harshly worded decision, Cole tells the Carrolls that their two handicapped children will stay in foster care at least for a while because the Carrolls have no plan to care for them and have refused outside help.
  • April 1994, the battle resumes: The Carrolls again argue to get their children back, and they also ask that their probation be lifted. They're denied on both counts.
  • May 1994, home visits begin: Previously visiting Samuel and Isaiah at the Children Services Board's office, the Carrolls are elated to have their children come to their home for visits.
  • June 1994, a new accusation: Officials file for permanent custody of Samuel and Isaiah and ask that James be kept separate from them. Prosecutors say Isaiah, who cannot speak, implicated James in Josiah's death. After a lengthy custody hearing, Cole rules that home visits can resume as long as James is not present.
  • November 1994, in court again: Questions linger about the deaths. Meanwhile, officials try to get permanent custody of Samuel and Isaiah, saying that the Carrolls, even after more than a year of working with Children Services, still fail to acknowledge how much care the youngsters need. The Carrolls say, however, that they're determined to demonstrate that the children would do best living with them.
  • May 1995, Samuel and Isaiah return to the Carrolls
  • October 1997 Carrolls regained the right to home school Samuel and Isaiah

Despite being called a homicide, no one was ever charged in the case of Noah.
Date: 1992-09-21
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother, Adopted sibling
Home schooling: yes

Homestudy

Organizations: Montgomery County Children Services

Placement

Organizations: Adoption by Gentle Care, Project Impact Inc., Cuyahoga County Children Services Board

Location

Cedarville, Ohio
United States
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Heather Allison Riggs

Almost 5 year old girl adopted from Colombia by Jack Francis Riggs and Beth Michelle Riggs, died after being forced to ingest salt as a punishment for sneaking sugar. Riggs also had 4 bio sons aged 7 to 13,
Date: 1988-05-16
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Roanoke, Virginia
United States
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  • 7860 reads

Hei Min Chung (aka Chaeli Kyrie)

 

On 4 September  2007, Hei Min Chung, a 13-month-old girl in process of being adopted by Rebecca Kyrie and her husband, David Kyrie, was killed in a fit of rage by her adoptive mother. Hei Min Chung who arrived in the US in June, was called Chaeli by the Kyrie family.
Date: 2007-09-04
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Sheridan, Indiana
United States
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Helen Gillin

Helen Gillin, the 25 year old, mentally retarded, adopted daughter of James and Roberta Gillin, was stomped to death and her body was burned in a backyard fire pit in 1992.

Roberta Gillin made her adopted daughter drink a mixture of bleach and heart medication after finding out her husband was having sex with Helen.When Helen started to vomit, James stomped her to death. The couple dumped the body into a fire pit in the back yard of their Bear Rocks home, about 50 miles south of Pittsburgh. The body was then doused with gasoline and set on fire.

Roberta Gillin was cleared of all charges. James Gillin was sentenced to life in prison, where he remains to this day.,

Date: 1992-01-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Bear Rocks, Pennsylvania
United States
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  • 6080 reads

Hildred Thomas Gasaway

9 months old boy adopted by Lillie May Caldwell Gasaway was beaten to death by her, two more adopted children were assaulted. Salient detail: she adopted a fourth child while awaiting trial on the murder charge.
Date: 1979-09-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Washington, District Of Columbia
United States
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  • 4569 reads

Holly and Nicole (O'Connor) Cooke

Holly, 15 and Nicole, 14, adopted as infants in Korea, were shot to death by their adoptive father James Cooke because they were going to report James was sexually abusing the girls. The girls were originally adopted by  Lois and Tom O'Connor, after they divorced Lois married James Cooke and he adopted the girls. James taped a phone call made by Lois explaining she and the girls were going to report the sexual abuse formally on Monday. James killed Lois, Holly, Nicole, and then shot himself.
Date: 1994-09-27
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Racine, Minnesota
United States
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  • 8182 reads

Isaac Jonathan Dykstra (Ilya Kargyntsev)



21-month-old boy, adopted by Brian Dale Dykstra and Lisa Dykstra, died of head injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome, as well as bruising on his torso and legs. Isaac was adopted from Krasnoyarsk, Russia and had lived with the Dykstra's for three months. On August 7, 2008 Brian Dale Dykstra, 31,was charged with 2nd degree murder.
On November 3, 2011 Brian Dykstra was found not guilty.
Date: 2005-08-13
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Iowa City, Iowa
United States
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  • 8931 reads

Jackson Wingo

15-month-old boy from Guatemala, adopted by Jonathan and Kelly Wingo, died of fatal head injuries. Jackson was adopted at 6 months. Kelly Wingo is charged with murder.
Date: 2007-08-30
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Dallas, Texas
United States
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  • 8977 reads

Jacob Lindorff

5-year-old boy adopted from Russia by James and Heather Lindorff, died of blunt force trauma to head. He also suffered from 2nd degree burns on feet, hemorrhaging in 1 eye; bruises, and seizures. Heather Lindorff was found guilty of 2nd degree endangering, aggravated assault and sentenced to 6 years, she claimed the injuries were accidents. James Lindorff was sentenced to 4 years probation and 400 hours of community service for child abuse. Jacob had only been in the US 6 weeks before he died. Jacob was adopted with his two brothers from Pskov, Russia in Oct 2001. Lindorffs had adopted 3 sisters from Russia in early 2000.
Date: 2001-12-14
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Placement

Location

franklinville, New Jersey
United States
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  • 10099 reads

James Clemons and Michael Clemons

Jamie, 5 and Michael, 8 were killed in a fire started by their 15 yr old adopted brother Jacob S. Clemons, who was born in South Korea. The Clemons family had 15 adopted and 1 bio child. Many of the adopted children had special needs and were from South America or Asia. Jacob, who had cerebral palsy and was blind in one eye was abused at a respite home in Pennsylvania. He said he started the fire in a suicide attempt.
Date: 1988-10-30
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adopted sibling
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Placement

Organizations: Adoption Counseling Organization and Resource Network (ACORN), Catholic Charities, Baltimore
Persons: Sally Clemons

Location

Ellicott City, Maryland
United States
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  • 6024 reads

James W. Bader (Jimmy Jones)

In August of 1974 Sparks Police were called to Saint Mary’s Hospital on a report of a 3 year old dying from injuries sustained during a fall. An investigation at the time concluded that there was no foul play involving the death of the child, James "J.W." Bader.

31-years later Sparks Police Detectives received a phone call from J.W.'s older sister, Julie Dunn, saying he had been abused by his adoptive mother Catherine Bader. Father Larry Bader (dec'd) was not implicated or charged. Dunn, who was a teen at the time, said she witnessed her mother repeatedly kick and punch the developmentally disabled boy in the stomach, including the day he died, that she slammed toilet seats on his genitals, held his hands in boiling water, held his head underwater in the bathtub and rammed his head into a backyard post. The 1974 case was reopened in 2006 and investigated by detectives. Through forensic evidence it was determined that James Bader had been beaten until his intestines burst.

Catherine was remarried and known as Catherine Wyman or Catherine Bader-Wyman


Date: 1974-08-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Sparks, Nevada
United States
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Jarod "Jerry" Hulsey (Jerry Gribbens)

10 year old boy adopted by Vicki Lynn Hulsey who beat him to death.
Date: 2006-04-03
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Mesa, Arizona
United States
See map: Google Maps

Jasmine and Minnet Bowman



Three girls, 7, 9 (Jasmine) and 11 (Minnet) were adopted by Renee Bowman. The seven-year-old girl, was severely abused and neglected, had open sores and lesions on her buttocks and lower thighs, marks on her neck made by a cord, rope or other item and bruises on her hands and lips. She was found by authorities after having managed to break out of the house where she was locked up. Upon investigation of the abuse case, police found the remains of the two other girls in a basement freezer, where they had been for seven months.
Date: 2008-09-27
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Homestudy

Organizations: Board of Child Care

Placement

Organizations: District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency

Location

Lusby, Maryland
United States
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  • 11006 reads

Jeffrey Baldwin and his sister

Jeffrey Baldwin at 1 before entering grandparents home age 1     Jeffrey Baldwin undated  undated

In 1998 Jeffrey Baldwin and a sister were placed by Catholic Children's Aid with his maternal grandparents Elva Bottineau and Norman Kidman, who had been convicted of child abuse in 1970 and 1978 respectively. The grandparents had been given custody of 2 other siblings earlier. Jeffrey died 4 years later, after he and his next oldest sister had been starved, beaten, locked in an unheated room and forced to drink from a toilet. Jeffrey was never toilet trained and denied schooling. The 2 other siblings were trained to treat Jeffrey and his sister as 'pigs'. Jeffrey died at age 5 of septic shock from pneumonia complicated by his starvation. He was covered with wounds and weighed 21 lbs; one pound less than he weighed for his 12 month doctor visit.

There were 6 adults and 6 children under age 10 in the home. Bottineau and Kidman used the children as a source of income.  Bottineau and Kidman were convicted of 2nd degree murder and sentenced to 22 and 20 years, respectively.

See also
Children's Aid Society workers should be reined in, critics say
Kevin Libin: Readers detail rarely-seen ugly side of child-protection agencies
Date: 2002-11-30
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect, Lethal deprivation, Economic exploitation
Abuser: Foster father, Foster mother

Placement

Persons: Margarita Quintana

Location

Toronto, Ontario
Canada
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  • 8702 reads

Jenica Randazzo



9-year-old girl, adopted by her grand parents, Ernesto and Angela Rios, was beaten to death by her mentally ill uncle, Jason Rios, who lived at the same house.

State law prevented case workers to ask questions about Jason Rios' mental illness.
Date: 2015-02-05
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Other family member

Placement

Organizations: Eckerd Community Alternatives

Location

New Port Richey, Florida
United States
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  • 7057 reads

Jennifer Pinder

3-year-old girl adopted by Troy and Rosetta Sweeting was beaten to death by her adoptive father with a belt and a PVC pipe.

The girl had been adopted 3 month prior to her death, from Rosetta Sweeting's terminally ill sister.
Date: 2007-02-25
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

New Providence
Bahamas
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  • 3336 reads

Jessica Albina Hagmann

2 year old girl from Moscow, Russia adopted by Glenn Robert Hagmann and Patrice Lynn Hagmann. Her adoptive mother claimed that she accidentally killed Jessica while trying to stop her from having a tantrum. Patrice Hagmann was sentenced to probation and to 2 suspended 5 year terms.
Date: 2003-08-11
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Manassas, Virginia
United States
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  • 15788 reads

John Smith


John Smith, died with 54 bruises, including three adult bite marks, on his body. The boy, was seen with injuries in four of the six months he spent with his prospective adoptive parents Simon and Michelle McWilliam. His penis was cut, his face burnt and his body bruised from head to toe, injuries seen by social workers who never once sought medical help for him. 

John died on Christmas Eve 1999 from a severe brain haemorrhage, which experts testified was caused by blows normally seen on battered boxers.

Date: 1999-12-24
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Portslade, West Sussex
United Kingdom
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  • 6331 reads

Joseph Beebe

Eight year old boy and one of six children adopted by Brian and Edith Beebe. All children were beaten with a rod, locked in a room without food or water and sometimes dragged by their hair. Joseph died, his body covered with bruises from beating with a bamboo rod. The Beebees were adoptive parents to 6 special needs children, Joseph was one of a set of triplets adopted.
Date: 2000-03-17
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother, Non-adopted sibling
Disabilities: yes
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Homestudy

Placement

Organizations: Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Alternatives In Motion, Children's Protective Services in Harris County, (Joseph+3), Alternatives In Motion (2 children)

Location

Tarkington Prairie, Texas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Joseph Maoping Adams

Boy born Oct 16, 2006 in Hangzhou, China and adopted to the US by Rick and Deah Adams. Died December 3. 2011 from ingesting a large amount of vinegar. His death was ruled a homicide by the county coroner. Deah Daniele Adams was charged with reckless homicide.
Date: 2012-02-10
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Disabilities: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Lexington, Kentucky
United States
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  • 6783 reads

Joshua Pinckney



2 year old adopted from Guatemala, died from multiple blows to his head. Allegedly killed by his mother's married, live in boyfriend Christopher Brian Gilreath, a convicted rapist. Mother Miriam Pinckney pled to a cruelty to children charge. An adopted toddler girl (Maria, also from Guatemala) was removed from the home. The children's father was living in another state, and now has custody of the girl.
Date: 2009-02-13
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Other non-family member

Location

Cumming, Georgia
United States
See map: Google Maps

Joy Yi

Joy Yi was murdered by her adoptive father Army Lt. Col. Kenston K. Yi. His wife Hyon "Hannah" Yi, was beaten to death immediately thereafter.
Date: 2010-06-14
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Lorton, Virginia
United States
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  • 5312 reads

Justin, Kevin and Kody Pribbernow (McBride/Baden)



Justin McBride and his half brothers Kevin and Kody Baden were adopted by Steven and Jessica Pribbernow in 2005. The couple had previously adopted a boy named Steven Jeffrey Lewis. In 2006 the Pribbernow's divorced and soon after, Jessica Pribbernow married Josh Saylor, while remaining custody over the adopted boys and her two biological daughters.

In the morning of August 4, 2009, Steven Jeffrey went on a stabbing spree, killing Justin McBride and injuring Kevin and Kody Baden. During this episode, Josh Saylor was stabbed as well.
Date: 2009-08-04
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adopted sibling

Placement

Organizations: Michigan Department of Human Services, (called Family Indepenency Agency until 2005)

Location

Coleman, Michigan
United States
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  • 9103 reads

Kairissa XingJing Mark


4-year-old girl from China, adopted by Steve and Deborah Mark, died July 1, 2010, after less than 3 months in country.

Deborah Mark was charged with first-degree murder, perpetration of aggravated child abuse, aggravated child abuse and four counts of child abuse. Steven Mark was charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect, criminal responsibility for aggravated child abuse, aggravated assault by failure to protect, four counts of child abuse and accessory after the fact. Kairissa was a special needs placement.
Date: 2010-07-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Disabilities: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Mount Juliet, Tennessee
United States
See map: Google Maps

Kameron Lee Bright (Moghaghab)

3 year old boy adopted by Darlene Whiteman Bright  and Marty Lee Bright died of suspicious head injuries. Ms Bright pleaded guilty to third-degree felony child abuse homicide. DFS had multiple reports of abuse prior to Kameron's death.
Date: 1994-04-02
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

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

Katya and Lisa adopted by Svetlana Oakley in Luhansk, Ukraine


Katya and Lisa, aged 4 and 5 were beaten to death in Krasnodon, Luhansk/Lugansk, Ukraine. The adoptive mother, Svetlana Oakley is charged. The girls were adopted along with their biological brother Vanya in December 2010 by Svetlana and Alexander, who had 7 children already. Vanya was also beaten.

In February 2011, 3 months after the adoption, the 4 year old was beaten to death, then burned to hide the crime.. In November 2011, the 3 year old was beaten to death and buried. Svetlana kidnapped a 3rd child in July 2012 to try pass as Lisa for an upcoming Social Worker visit. The child was found by the police during the search for the missing girl, which resulted in the discovery of the missing girls. The Mother had been lauded as a Heroine Mother due to her 7 prior biological children (8th child born after the adoption), so she was given a large apartment. Svetlana and the children had a singing group Rainbow and she wrote children's books or poetry.
Date: 2010-12-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse, Economic exploitation
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Placement

Organizations: Luhans'k social services

Location

Krasnodon, Luhans'k
Ukraine
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Kayla Erlandson

kayla arelandson  

Two-year-old Kayla Erlandson, adopted from South Korea, died at Harborview Medical Center in April 1991, 7 months after her adoption. When she was found unconscious in her mother's arms, the toddler had 65 injuries, including bruises, brain swelling, a lacerated liver, a neck bite and a deep scald on her arm. Her mother Noreen Marie Erlandson was convicted of beating her daughter to death and served 14 years. Kayla's adopted brother, Shea also from South Korea, was eventually returned to Douglas Erlandson.
Date: 1991-04-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Placement

Organizations: Travelers Aid Society of Seatle, unknown partner agency in Korea

Location

Bothell, Washington
United States
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  • 9534 reads

Kehaulani Niu Sullivan

4 year old girl adopted by Brian Christopher  and LaRae Marara Sullivan. Claiming to have been ordered by god like a modern day Abraham, Brian Chistopher Sullivan stabbed the girl and his wife with a knife. Both died.
Date: 2003-02-21
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

West Valley City, Utah
United States
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  • 5309 reads

Kevin Johnson



12-year-old boy died while in the care of Barbara and Fred D. Johnson II, daughter and son-in-law of a couple who had adopted Kevin and in 2000 but passed away a few years later. A weighted helmet, long wooden paddle and severe beatings were used to discipline the boy. Illinois DCF began an abuse investigation in April, 4 months before Kevin was beaten to death.
Date: 2008-07-18
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Other family member

Location

Crete, Illinois
United States
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  • 5917 reads

Kevin Michael King (D. J. Atkins)



5-year-old boy adopted by Gloria Grayson was found dead with blunt force trauma to the chest and abdomen. Keven was also abused in foster care.
Date: 2009-03-08
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Bakersfield, California
United States
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  • 5608 reads

Keyana Bravo-Hamilton and her sister Jasmine Hamilton



Siblings Keyana and Jasmine were abused by foster mother Dunia Soledad Moreno. When Keyana entered the hospital, large clumps of hair were missing and bruises covered her body. She had five cigar-sized burns. Three months after entering the home, Keyana died of blows to her stomach which ruptured her bowel. Jasmine was placed in a new home.
Dunia and foster father Armando Moreno-Garcia parents were convicted of neglect for not seeking medical care over the painful days it took for Keyana to die. Armando was an uncle of Jasmine and the girls were to be adopted.
Date: 2006-09-04
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Gresham, Oregon
United States
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  • 9007 reads

Kim Marie Firth

2 year old Korean girl to be adopted by Marie and Frank Firth. Mrs. Firth, and immigrant from Ireland, became angry when Kim spat out food and threw the girl. Marie plead guilty to Manslaughter
Date: 1972-09-15
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

queens, New York
United States
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  • 5987 reads

Kimberly Rae Weaver

15 year old Korean adoptee stabbed to death by her brother, Keith Chul Weaver (14), who was adopted from South Korea at 4.5 yrs. Keith killed this parents Dr. R. Clair and Anna May Weaver, then Kim, then raped a visiting relative. He intended to kill himself, but was convince to call police by the rape victim.
Date: 1991-02-14
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adopted sibling

Location

Landisville, Pennsylvania
United States
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  • 8044 reads

Krystal Ann Tibbets



Krystal was beaten to death by her adoptive father Donald Lee Tibbets, who was taught to lie across his daughter (who weighed a total of 35 pounds) in what is known in AT circles as “compression therapy,” and punch his fist into her abdomen, which is one technique of “visceral manipulation” (VM), encouraged by attachment therapists. The mother Julia was not charged.
Date: 1995-07-07
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Attachment Therapy

Persons: Larry VanBloem

Location

Midvale, Utah
United States
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  • 7367 reads

Kyle Golebieski

Kyle Golebieski (aka Kyle Kelly) was killed by by his mother, Kathleen D. Golebieski, who frequently beat him. Kyle and his younger bio brother were adopted from Honduras in 1992. Ryan Golebieski, a year younger than Kyle, showed no signs of abuse. Kathleen was sentenced to 10 to 20 years. Her then husband Joseph Golebieski pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child.

Kathleen Golebieski (then Kathleen Kelly) adopted Kyle and Ryan, two months before she married Joseph Golebieski. Ryan, who was 2 when Kyle died, was placed in a foster home.
Date: 1993-07-30
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Brick Township, New Jersey
United States
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  • 7013 reads

Larandon Nichols



3-year-old boy adopted by Alibra Nichols was beaten to death by his adoptive mother.
Date: 2010-07-11
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
United States
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  • 4786 reads

Lavender Banks



3-year-old girl from China adopted by Sabrina A. Banks aka Sabrina A. Stafford, died from asphyxia and several blunt force injuries.

On August 5, 2009 Sabrina Banks was arrested and charged with murder. While still going by the name Sabrina Stafford, she was the foster mother of Angelic Rose Clary, who died of neglect while in her care.
Date: 2008-05-02
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Elk Grove, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Liam Thompson (Dmitry Sergeyvich Islankulov)


Liam Thompson: age 36 months, of Columbus, Ohio, died from scalding and neglect. His adoptive father, Gary, placed him in a tub of 140 degree water. He recieved 2nd and 3rd degree burns. His LPN adoptive mother, Amy, neglected treatment for 2 days, then treated him with Tylenol and Vaseline. She took Liam to the hospital only after he went into respitory failure. Amy was sentence to 15 years for child endangering and involuntary manslaughter. Gary received 15-life for murder.
Liam was adopted from Blagoveshensk, Amur, Russia 5 months prior  to his death along with his older bio sister. His sister has a new adoptive home and is doing well. Thompson's also had a 3.5 yr old bio son and a 15 yr old bio daughter of Amy.
Date: 2003-10-13
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Facilitators

Organizations: AMREX

Placement

Organizations: Tree of Life

Location

Columbus, Ohio
United States
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  • 13477 reads

Lillian Leilani Gill



4 year old girl adopted by John and Sharon Gill was killed by her adoptive mother. She buried the remains and claimed Lillian, who was autistic was sent to Italy for treatment. 2 years later she was arrested for the killing and yet another 2 years later she told police where to find the body.
Date: 2002-03-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Disabilities: yes

Location

Big Bear City, California
United States
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  • 7369 reads

Logan Garrett and his twin sister

Logan Garrett

22 month old boy Logan Edward Garrett was adopted along with his twin sister by Jacky Scott Garrett and Emily Garrett. Logan died of blunt force trauma to his abdomen, about 7 months after placement, 1 week after adoption. He had many prior injuries. His sister was underweight and removed from the home. Adoptive father Scott Garrett was charged with capital murder.
Date: 2012-10-22
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father

Placement

Organizations: a "private adoption arranged with the help of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Frisco"

Location

Frisco, Texas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Logan Higginbotham (Anne Pochetnoy)

Logan Higginbotham of Shelburne, Vermont died of massive head injuries. Adoptive mother Laura Higginbotham, stated that Logan fell and hit her head on the floor of an upstairs bedroom. It took 3 years for the medical examiner to determine whether the case was accidental or homicide. In 2004, Laura Higginbotham pled no contest to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 1 year in prison.  Logan was adopted from Smolensk, Russia  in May 1998 and had been in the US for 7 months. Logan's younger sister Layne was adopted at the same time.
Date: 1998-11-25
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Placement

Location

Shelburne, Vermont
United States
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Lucas Ciambrone (Pedro Garcia)

7-year old boy adopted by Joseph and Heather Ciambrone Lucas was diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder by Foster Cline.

In addition to being forced to sleep in a bathroom stripped of towels, soap, toilet paper, and light bulbs;  he was fed through a bucket.  Lucas was thrown to the floor, kicked in the penis, punched, and had his head held under water.  He had been picked up by his ears in such a way, they were nearly pulled from his head.  According to the chief medical examiner,  the degree of injury to the head and nine different breaks or fractures to the ribs were indicative of child abuse, and could not have been caused by an accident, or been self-inflicted.  In addition, when the boy was admitted to the hospital, his body temperature was 84 degrees, suggesting the death blow came at least four hours before Heather and Joe Ciambrone drove him to the hospital.

Autopsy reports indicate at the time of death, the boy weighed only 32 pounds, with a height of only 41 inches.

Joseph Ciambrone - by his own admission - did nothing to keep the child from being kept naked in the bathroom of the family's Rubonia home and did nothing to alleviate the boy's malnutrition.

Date: 1995-05-13
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Attachment Therapy

Persons: Foster Cline

Location

Rubonia, Florida
United States
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  • 9584 reads

Luke Evans (Sergei Nakonechny)

One-and-a-half-year-old Luke Evans, adopted by Steven and Natalie Fabian Evans, died of massive head injuries, shaken baby syndrome, and poor nutrition. Natalie Fabian Evans, stated that she couldn't wake Luke one morning and so placed him in a tub of water to "stimulate him" where she says he may have bumped his head on the tub. The authorities took a year to investigate the case.  Luke was adopted from Inozemtsevo, Stavropol, Russia and had been in the US for 6 months prior to his death. Luke had a brother Alec 3, who was adopted at the same time as him.
On June 30, 2006 Natalie Fabian Evans was found not guilty.
Date: 2001-11-30
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother, Undetermined

Placement

Location

Lowell, Indiana
United States
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  • 10797 reads

Lydia and Zariah Schatz



8-year-old Lydia and 11-year-old Zariah (or Zacharia) were adopted from Liberia along with a infant girl by Kevin P. and Elizabeth H. Schatz in 2007. Lydia had been beaten with a 15 inch tubing for hours for misspelling a word during a home schooling sessions, and died as a result. Zacharia was taken to the hospital in critical condition due to kidney failure, among other injuries. Both parents are charged with murder. They also were charged with cruelty due to bruises on their biological 10 yr old son The Schatz's had 6 biological children.

Kevin Schatz pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 22-to-life. Elizabeth Schatz pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 13 years.
Date: 2010-02-06
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother, Undetermined
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Homestudy

Placement

Post placement

Location

Paradise, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Madoc Hyunsu O'Callaghan


3 year old Hyunsu (aka Hyeonsu or Hyun-su) was adopted from South Korea under the new laws by Brian and Jennifer O'Callaghan in October 2013. He had a diagnosis of hydrocephalus. He died less than 4 months after his arrival in his adoptive home with a skull fracture, bleeding in the brain, eye hemorrhaging, trauma to his scrotum, and other evidence of blunt force trauma. Jennifer was out of town for several days leaving Madoc with his father Brian Patrick O'Callaghan, a former marine. Brian O'Callaghan has been charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in the death.
Date: 2014-02-03
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father
Disabilities: yes

Placement

Location

Damascus, Maryland
United States
See map: Google Maps
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  • 13131 reads

Maria Anastasia Bennett (Anastasia Plotnikova)

  Maria Bennett
2-year old Maria Bennett, adopted by Susan Jane Bennett, died from shaken baby syndrome. Susan Jane Bennett, said that she had tripped while carrying Maria and had dropped her. Medical evidence proved otherwise. Susan Bennett pleaded no contest to 1 count of reckless homicide and was sentenced to 3 years in prison. Maria was adopted from Primorsky Krai, Russia 9 months prior to her death. Maria's older sister, also from Russia is cared for by Bennett family members
Date: 2002-10-23
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Placement

Organizations: Focus on Children Utah

Location

Lancaster, Ohio
United States
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  • 17328 reads

Maria Catherine Ostlund

Janet Ostlund was convicted of the second-degree murder of her 2 year old developmentally delayed adopted daughter, from El Salvador. Her now ex-husband David Ostlund was not charged, and has custody of Michael D. Ostund, a bio son born after Maria's death.
Date: 1986-07-15
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Robbinsdale, Minnesota
United States
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  • 8404 reads

Meghan Hawkins-Rusch

Thirteen month old Chinese girl adopted by Lisa Hawkins-Rusch and her husband, died of severe brain injury, inflicted by her adoptive mother. Meghan was adopted a three months earlier in China.
Date: 1992-09-25
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Geneva, New York
United States
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  • 10376 reads

Melissa Wilkins

19 month old girl adopted by Melinda Ann Wilkins was physically abused. She never recovered from the injuries and lived in residential treatment centers until she died in June 2003.
Date: 1995-08-16
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Durham, North Carolina
United States
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  • 5784 reads

Melody Aranda Velasquez



Three year old adopted girl's death under investigation due to numerous injuries. She died from blunt force trauma 2 days after her injury. Her 2 father family consisted of Norberto Velasquez and Matthew Aranda and 3 other adopted children: two 5-year-olds boys and a 3-year-old boy. The other children are in state custody. Mr. Aranda has been charged with the death, and Mr. Velasquez with not seeking medical care sooner.

Melody Aranda Velasquez died, less than 2 months after being adopted.
Date: 2009-01-09
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Bexar County, Texas
United States
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  • 10635 reads

Mia Depaillat

21-month-old girl, adopted from China at 9 months by french-born Christophe and Jill Ellen Depaillat, died of fatal injuries. Jill Ellen Depaillat was indicted on charges of malice murder, felony murder and aggravated battery. Jill said she dropped Mia and the toddler fell down the stairs.  Mia had injuries consistent with shaken baby, as well as damage to her intestines. A mistrial was declared in her case due to a hung jury, so guilt was never decided.

Mia was small (21 lbs) and developmentally delayed at her death. Depaillat had 2 school age sons and a 16 month old son who would have been 4 months old when Mia was adopted.
Date: 2004-04-16
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Disabilities: yes

Location

Cumming, Georgia
United States
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Michael Tinning



Adopted by Marybeth Tinning, who by then had already killed five of her own children, was killed age two and a half. All 9 of Marybeth and Joe Tining's children died at early ages. Eight were alone with Marybeth when they died. Michael was the only adopted child.
Date: 1981-03-02
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Schenectady, New York
United States
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  • 5527 reads

Mitchell Alexander Rivers

3-month-old boy was suffocated to death by his adoptive father, Mitchell Charles Rivers.

In 1997, South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) found Rivers responsible for the hospitalization of a 2-year-old son of a former girlfriend who sustained a severe concussion and a severed skull fracture.
Date: 2005-08-12
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Chesterfield county, South Carolina
United States
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  • 4170 reads

Mollie Sliker aka Laurne Clark

A four month old baby girl died due to blunt force trauma allegedly by Jeffrey Sliker who was in the process of adopting her. Sliker failed to obtain medical help for the child. Sliker's wife called authorities saying the infant was unresponsive. When rescuers arrived the child was dead.

Date: 2011-03-23
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Watertown, New York
United States
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  • 5647 reads

Nathaniel Jacob Allen

21-month old boy, adopted from Guatemala by Jeremy and Sarah Allen was shaken to death. Nathaniel had been in the USA 10 months, since April the previous year. Sarah Allen was convicted of manslaughter for shaking Nathaniel. Jeremy Allen was convicted of assult for beating Nathaniel with a wooden spoon two days earlier when he didn't pick up his toys. Allens were considering becoming foster parents for a 2nd child when Nathaniel was killed.
Date: 2002-02-15
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Lisbon Falls, Maine
United States
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  • 7602 reads

Nathaniel Michael Craver - (Ivan Skorobogatov)



Seven-year-old boy, adopted from Russia by Michael and Nanette Craver, was beaten to death by his adoptive parents. Together with his twin sisters Elizabeth (Dasha), the boy was adopted from the Chelyabinsk region, in 2003. Both children were home schooled.

Nathaniel body had nearly 80 external injuries – 20 of them to his head. Cravers were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment and conspiracy.
Date: 2009-08-19
Placement type: Adoption
Institution: Dom Rebyenka #9, Troitsk, Chelyabinsk
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Location

Dillsburg, Pennsylvania
United States
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Nicholas Rhea Hoffert and Gary Hoffert (Twins); and Girl adopted by David and Lynn Giddens

Three-month-old boy about to be adopted with his twin brother by David Michael Giddens and his wife Latresa Lynette "Lynn" Giddens (aka Lynn Williams), died shortly after he was struck by his stay-at-home foster dad, David. Giddens had had Multiple Sclerosis and was the primary care-giver. David was sentenced to two life terms. NIcholas' twin brother Gary was also found to have seven fractured ribs, two fractured lower leg bones and a fractured upper leg bone.

The 9 year old adopted daughter of David & Lynn reported sexual abuse while she was in temporary foster care. The daughter has special needs, and was expected to be placed with an aunt until Lynn was cleared of any wrongdoing. Latresa/Lynn filed for divorce after Nicholas death.
Date: 2006-02-10
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Placement

Location

Cleburne, Texas
United States
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  • 8694 reads

Nicolai Emelyantsev


14-month-old Nikolai, who was adopted in February 08 from Moscow City, Russia by Fyodor and Kimberly Emelyantsev— died March 7 at Primary Children's Medical Center. An autopsy determined the child had died from a skull fracture that doctors said was the result of blunt-force trauma, police and court records show. The infant also had a bruised face, head, knee and anus. Nikolai, his adopted brother Luka (also from Russia), and one of the Emelyantsev's bio children had Down's Syndrome.
Date: 2008-03-07
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Disabilities: yes

Placement

Location

tooele, Utah
United States
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  • 14620 reads

Nilanthie Perera

13-year-old girl adopted from Sri Lanka by Samson and Dammika Perera, was murdered by her adoptive father. Parts of the Nilanthie's body were hidden under the floorboards; others were secreted in pot plants and a coffee jar. Samson Perera was given a life sentence, while Dammika Perera was jailed for helping him cover up the crime.
Date: 1985-01-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Wakefield, West Yorkshire
United Kingdom
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  • 8437 reads

Nina Hilt (Viktoria Valeryevna Bazhenova)



2-year-old girl adopted by Chris and Peggy Sue Hilt, died after suffering several blows to her abdomen. In March 2006, Peggy Hilt plead guilty to second degree murder to avoid a charge of first degree murder. She said that she was frustrated due to the lack of bonding between Nina and herself. May 25, 2006, Peggy Hilt was sentenced to 35 years in prison with 10 years suspended. Nina was adopted in January 2004 from Irkutsk, Russia. Nina had an older sister adopted in Ukraine.

Date: 2005-07-02
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Homestudy

Organizations: A Loving Family

Post placement

Location

Wake Forest, North Carolina
United States
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  • 25768 reads

Rachel Collins

10 month old girl died of head injuries inflicted by Doris J. Ravenscraft, her adoptive mother to be. Rachel, who had been in the home 8 months, had broken bones in her skull, a forearm and both lower legs. Mr. Ravenscraft was not charged.
Date: 1991-02-07
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Post placement

Organizations: Missouri Division of Family Services

Location

St Charles, Missouri
United States
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  • 4233 reads

Rachel Joy Thompson

5 year old girl adopted by Gerald and Angela Thompson. She was murdered by Angela Thompson who forced an older sibling to sit on her hunched back for more than three hours, squeezing the life out of her. She was convicted for the abuse of two other children she had adopted. In total the Thompsons adopted 11 children. Thompson told a co-worker "spare the rod, spoil the child". Siblings of Rachel later pressed charges against the adoption agency, which was placed on probation and its founder Audrey Foster has been permanently barred from serving as executive director at any of the agency's five branches around the state. The agency is now run by her daughter Alison Foster,
Date: 2000-09-07
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Springfield, California
United States
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  • 6462 reads

Ricky Holland (Ricky Gann)


For years Ricky had been maltreated and abused by his adopters Tim and Lisa Holland. In July 2005 he was killed by the couple parents and dumped in a swamp, claiming he had disappeared. Eventually Tim Holland led the police to the body on Jan. 27, 2006. Hours later, authorities picked up in connection with Ricky's death. Lisa and Tim Holland are in prison -- she for life and he for 30 to 60 years. 
Date: 2005-07-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Placement

Organizations: Family Services & Children's Aid in Jackson

Location

Summit Township, Michigan
United States
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  • 9032 reads

Riley Owen Bilke

Riley Owne Bilke died April 3, 2004 from symptoms associated with shaken baby syndrome: brain hemorrhaging, retinal hemorrhaging, and brain swelling. His father,Todd Dittberner, who had a past non-violent criminal record, was charged with first-degree reckless homicide. Riley's mother was not charged. Dittberner was acquitted.
Date: 2004-04-03
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Watertown, Wisconsin
United States
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  • 5181 reads

Roberta Evers


Berta, right front on Denis' lap.

6-year-old Roberta "Berta" Evers, sexually abused as a preschooler, adopted by Dennis and Sandy Evers, was restrained in her bed, covered with bruises, when found dead from choking on her own vomit. She was adopted after her 2 bio brothers were adopted by Evers.
Date: 1998-06-13
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Bayfield, Colorado
United States
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  • 6879 reads

Rohit Chakravarthy

10 month old boy adopted by Smitha Chakravarthy and her husband. Allegedly the child was beaten to death and bite marks were found all over his body. The family was from India and was visiting in Texas when Rohit died.
Date: 2006-02-16
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Mission, Texas
United States
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  • 8117 reads

Ryanne E Spohn

18 month old girl adopted from Kazakhstan in November 2006 along with a sibling, died from suspected abusive head trauma 6 months after the adoption. Father Jeffrey Spohn was charged with first degree murder.
Date: 2007-03-02
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Seven Oaks, Florida
United States
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  • 4173 reads

Ryuya Yoshimura

5-year-old adopted son of Yuki Yoshimura, a 26-year-old housewife, abused Ryuya, damaging his liver and lungs the boy died from loss of blood.
Date: 2005-12-09
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Aichi
Japan
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  • 4539 reads

Sacha Vallée



4-years-old boy adopted by Marie-Claude Vallée, was beaten to death by his adoptive mother’s boyfriend, Éric Grenier. The corpse of the child was covered with 72 bruises. October 21, 2004, Grenier was found guilty of non-premeditated homicide.

Sacha was born in Russia in 1998. He had spent the first year of his life in a Siberian prison where his mother was imprisoned and where she died; the orphanage where he was transferred put him up for adoption. In August 2001, he was placed with Marie-Claude Vallée.
Date: 2002-10-09
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Other non-family member

Location

Verdun, Quebec
Canada
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  • 11004 reads

Samantha and Saraphina Revelus

 

Samantha was murdered and Saraphina was stabbed by their non-adopted brother during a rampage in which he also decapitated his 5 year old sister. Samantha and Saraphina were adopted from Haiti in 2004.
Date: 2009-03-28
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Non-adopted sibling

Location

Milton, Massachusetts
United States
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  • 5829 reads

Samuel Hudson (David) and five other adopted children of William and Cynthia Hudson



Samuel Hudson, 13 years old, was killed on December 2008. Cynthia Hudson, his adoptive mother, is charged with capital murder in his death. Officials said Samuel was restrained and beaten to death with a broom handle, rake, computer cord, and baseball bat. William Hudson has been arrested on a tampering with evidence charge in the death of his adopted son.

Children reported being beaten with a fishing rod, a water hose, a metal bat, a paddle and their mother's fist. One child reported having to hold pepper in her mouth. They were confined to a prayer room at times.

The Hudsons are also being investigated for allegedly injuring their other five adopted children. Samuel's natural mother, Rebecca Henson and her husband, are seeking custody of the his two bio siblings, also in the Hudson's family
Date: 2008-12-09
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Placement

Organizations: Texas CPS

Location

Queen City, Texas
United States
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  • 14113 reads

Sean Paddock (Sean Ford)


Sean Paddock was suffocated by tightly wrapped blankets at age 4, by his adoptive mother Lynn Paddock, who had sought Christian discipline advice in the books of Michael and Debi Pearl. There were 5 other adopted children and 1 bio child in the home who testified that Lynn beat them frequently with flexible plastic rods, wooden spoons and other devices. Lynn Marie Paddock was convicted of first degree murder.

Adoptive father Johnny Paddock was not charged criminally, but a civil jury found he "aided and abetted" in Sean's death. The Paddock's left a Primitive Baptist Church to attend a "a smaller, fundamentalist church in Sanford that advocated wearing long dresses, avoiding TV and shutting out popular culture" (possibly a Pentecostal Church).
Date: 2006-02-26
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Placement

Persons: Deborah Artis

Location

Johnston County, North Carolina
United States
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  • 7341 reads

Serena McKenzy Cate

16 month old Serena died of blunt force trauma to her head in 2003. Adoptive mother Tonya Grizzard Cate was charged with capital murder in 2005. The father was not charged. The case has not gone to trial yet.
Date: 2005-01-03
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Gadsden, Alabama
United States
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  • 4798 reads

Serenity Julia Gandara

  Serenity Gandara

3-year-old girl in the process of being adopted by her uncle Alberto Garcia and his wife Carla Garcia (aka Carla Mariela Garcia Torres), was found dead while her 4-year-old brother, Isaiah, was sleeping in another room. The Garcia's fled to Mexico with their three biological children. Serenity's cause of death was blunt force trauma to her abdomen; her liver and bowel were lacerated and her pancreas was torn in half. She also had a skull fracture and she had been hit repeatedly on the head with an object. Isaiah had bruises and scars, and reported both children were beaten with a belt and a stick.
Both foster parents are charged with first degree murder.
Date: 2010-07-17
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Placement

Organizations: California Department of Social Services , Kern County CPS

Post placement

Persons: Paul Bryan

Location

Bakersfield, California
United States
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Shamir Hudson, born Shamir Goslee

Eight year old boy, adopted with his siblings Sharnea and Shamale, by Catherine Marie Hudson. Even before their adoption in 1996, when the three children were in Hudson's foster care abuse had been reported.

From April 18, 1996, through November 13, 1997, eleven different witnesses filed twenty-six child-abuse reports in writing to the Worcester County Department of Social Services (WCDSS) and to the state's attorney in Worcester County concerning the Hudson children. Reports were filed by schoolteachers, the school nurse, the school therapist, the vice principal, several teacher's aides, and a few summer program workers.

All reports were unsubstantiated except two, which "alleged that the previous foster parent and her son were responsible for injuries to the children" (even though the children had already been living with Hudson for two years)

In December 1996, WCDSS child protection staff met with the school staff "regarding the numerous reports of suspected abuse already filed with [the WCDSS] from the Buckingham Elementary School.

WCDSS officials told the school staff that they "were overreacting and that [the WCDSS] had seen worse."

The staff was intimidated by orders from the WCDSS not to send children to the nurse or counselor unless treatment was needed, "not to do extensive questioning or investigating," "not to question caseworkers as to when they are coming to the school," and "not to make follow-up calls to workers."

The WCDSS called the Board of Education, complaining that the school staff was harassing them. The school was "told that burns, cuts, bruises, and open wounds were not enough" to substantiate child abuse.

In January 1998, the WCDSS closed the case. On March 24, 1998, Shamir died "in the Hudson household, a sanctuary arranged, approved and supervised by the state, a place that produced no fewer than two dozen reports of suspected abuse in the past two years."
Date: 1998-03-24
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Placement

Organizations: Worcester County Department of Social Services

Location

Berlin, Maryland
United States
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  • 7530 reads

Shaun Williams



Twelve year old boy murdered by his adoptive father, Luke Williams III, apparently for insurance money. Shaun's cause of death was strangulation, Linda Williams, his mother was beaten to death at the same time. Shaun (or Shawn) Williams was an native of El Salvador who was orphaned by the 1978 civil war. He was adopted 2 years prior to his death. The Williams lived in Georgia, but the trial was held in South Carolina where apparently the crime was committed. Luke Williams was executed Feb 2009.
Date: 1991-06-19
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Martinez, Georgia
United States
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  • 6180 reads

Shawn Lowrance (Andy Mohler)

   

Nine year old boy adopted by John and Melanie Lowrance, drowned with severe head injury, first ruled as an accident. Weeks later, police learned the adoptive parents took out $650,000 in life insurance policies on their new son. No charges were ever made. He was placed in the Lowrance's as a foster child in Jan 1998. His adoption was finalized Oct 1998
Date: 1999-10-09
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Economic exploitation
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Brown Creek Campground area, Washington
United States
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  • 9938 reads

Shylea Myza Thomas



9-year-old girl adopted by her aunt was found dead found in a black trash bag, stuffed into a plastic bin with mothballs and locked in a storage unit near Flint.
Date: 2009-04-22
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Flint, Michigan
United States
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Sophie Fitzpatrick


7 year old girl adopted from China 5 years earlier was strangled by her adoptive mother. Kathrine Dufresne, aka Kathy Fitzpatrick, had self inflicted wounds when the 2 were discovered by the father (apparent failed murder-suicide). Dufresne was charged with murder but committed suicide in custody prior to the trial.
Date: 2011-10-22
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: no

Location

Chelsea, Quebec
Canada
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Stephanie Collins

Paul Anthony Morris stomped his 7-year-old foster daughter to death. Mr. Morris hit the child with his fists and a belt, then stomped on her and jumped on her with both feet. His wife Sheree Morris was not charged
Date: 1999-09-01
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

RUTLEDGE, Georgia
United States
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  • 4737 reads

TaJuana Davidson

3-year-old girl about to be adopted by Cleveland and Joquitta Palmer was beaten to death.
Date: 1993-11-03
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Phoenix, Arizona
United States
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  • 5152 reads

Tammy Herman

21-month-old Tammy Herman was brought into the clinic by her adoptive parents, Donovan and Zaibunisa Herman, after she vomited excessively. There was severe bruising on her body, and closer examination revealed that the child had 12 broken ribs and severe injuries to her brain and liver. Three days later she died.
Date: 2006-01-18
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Placement

Organizations: Johannesburg Child Welfare

Location

Johannesburg
South Africa
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  • 5412 reads

Tiffany Clair



Died, age 15, of an overdose while shooting heroin with her adoptive mother, Debra Gatlin Clair.
Date: 2001-05-03
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Everman, Texas
United States
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  • 5242 reads

Timothy Boss


10 year old adoptive son of Donald Boss jr. and Lisa Boss Green was killed by the couple and buried in the basement. Timothy was adopted in Michigan,  but the Boss's informed Michigan authorities that the child was living in Iowa in order to receive monthly subsidy checks from Michigan.
Date: 2000-02-23
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Disabilities: yes
Home schooling: yes

Location

Remsen, Iowa
United States
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  • 7274 reads

Tristan Dosdall

3-year-old boy adopted by Michelle Dosdall, died of blunt-force trauma to the head. His adoptive mother was charged with murder.
Date: 2010-03-24
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Peyton, Colorado
United States
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  • 6190 reads

Tyler DeLeon

  

7-year-old boy adopted by Carole Ann DeLeon was severely dehydrated and weight only 28 pounds at the time of his death. Official cause of death was dehydration. While living in Wyoming, Carol Ann DeLeon had already had three children removed from her home because of child abuse. Tyler and his foster brother told teachers they were abused by DeLeon and her adult daughter Christina Burns-DeLeon. The school called CPS several times.
Date: 2005-01-13
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Deer Park, Washington
United States
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  • 6094 reads

Tyler Vanpopering



6-month-old boy about to be adopted by Leonard and Carissa Columbus. On 11 April 2004, they brought Tyler to the emergency room of Wyandotte Hospital. Four days later later he died from injuries suffered consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome. On Saturday, April 17, Southgate police broke into the Columbus' home and found the couple dead in their garage of carbon monoxide poisoning. The boy and his sister MacKenzie had been placed with the Columbus' by their 19 yo natural mother who needed a break. She was considering allowing their adoption.
Date: 2004-04-11
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother, Undetermined

Placement

Organizations: independent

Location

Detroit, Michigan
United States
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  • 5339 reads

Vicky Dawn Louise Rinkel

9-year-old girl adopted by Stanley and Nellie Rinkel died as a result of a head injury, upon autopsy another head injury was found and more than 100 bruises. In 1997 her death was called a homicide, yet no one was ever charged.

Vicky was adopted a few months prior to her death.
Date: 1993-10-15
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Undetermined
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Hooker, Oklahoma
United States
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  • 4745 reads

Victor and Nubia Barahona (Doctor)



10-year-old twins adopted by Carmen and Jorge Barahona were physically abused. Florida Department of Children and Families investigated the family on several occasions. On February 14, 2011, Victor was found by the side of Interstate 95 doused in chemicals, his adoptive father had poured gasoline on himself and his adopted son, with the plan to set himself and the boy on fire. Police found the dead body of Nubia wrapped in plastic in the bed of the pickup.
There were 2 other adopted children in the home.
Date: 2011-02-14
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Location

West Palm Beach, Florida
United States
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Viktor Alexander Matthey (Viktor Sergievich Tulimov)


Viktor Matthey: age 6, of Hunterdon County, New Jersey died of cardiac arrest due to hypothermia after adoptive parents Robert and Brenda Matthey locked him overnight in a damp unheated pump room. Viktor was also severely beaten by his adoptive father. The Matthey's attended a Pentacostal (AG) church and homeschooled their children. Both parents are sentenced to 10 years for confining Viktor to a pump room, 10 years for excessive corporal punishment and 7 years for failing to provide medical care. The sentences run concurrently. Viktor, along with twin bio brothers,  was adopted from Blagoschevensk, Amur, Russia 10 months before his death. The twins are now adopted by Robert's mother who has disavowed her son. Both Mattheys were released from jail in Fall 2008.
Memorial site: http://www.viktorspromise.org/
Star Ledger Special Report series http://www.nj.com/specialprojects/index.ssf?/specialprojects/viktor/main...
Photos http://www.nj.com/photos/viktor/
Date: 2000-10-31
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Homestudy

Organizations: Bethany Christian Services, , Hawthorne NJ

Facilitators

Organizations: AMREX

Placement

Organizations: Adoption Alliance (CO)

Post placement

Organizations: Bethany Christian Services, , Hawthorne NJ

Location

Union Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
United States
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  • 13803 reads

Wendy Kay Ott

Girl adopted by Howard and Edith Ott. Mrs. Ott was indicted for second degree murder in the death of 22 month old Wendy from Korea. Wendy had head trauma. There were 3 other adopted children in the household. 2 caucasian, and Timothy (19 months) also from Korea who was placed in the home along with Wendy in October 1956. Outcome of the case is unknown. Apparently the Otts adopted at least 2 more korean girls (twins) in 1958.

Wendy and Timothy were among the first 100 Korean children brought to the US by the Holts.
Date: 1957-06-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Roseburg, Oregon
United States
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  • 7614 reads

Weyland Brown Mitchell

7 year-old boy adopted by Robert and Carmencita Mitchell died of starvation.
Date: 1992-05-20
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect, Lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Placement

Location

Wantagh, New York
United States
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  • 5214 reads

William G. Rohrer III "Billy" (Miguelito Alvarada)

Billy or Billie Rohrer was a 2.5 or 3.5 year old boy from El Salvador who died from brain hemorrhage 3 months after his adoption.

Maryanne "Mimi" Rohrer and her husband prominent politician/banker William G. Rohrer Jr. flew to San Salvador to arrange visa's for 2 unrelated children prior to having fully completed INS paperwork. Miguelito Alvarada (aka Pepe), 2 1/2, and Ana Cecelia, 2, were renamed William 3rd and Laura Lisa. Billy died under suspicious circumstances in 1975. The investigation was delayed and charges were not brought until 12/82 after the statute of limitations expired for manslaughter charges. Mimi was charged with murder. The Jury was hung on the murder charge, but thought they may have convicted on manslaughter, which was not available.

Likely no agency was involved, and it is unclear if a homestudy was fully completed, although Rohrer's had been working for 6 months on domestic adoption. Several background checks were missing from the INS files.
Date: 1975-05-28
Placement type: Adoption
Institution: Pro Amora Y Futuro
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Haddon Township, New Jersey
United States
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Yana and Anatoli Kolenda

 

Two 11-year-olds, adopted at age 7 in Russia, by Richard and Gienia Kolenda, died in 2002--nearly five years after their arrival in America. Their adoptive father stabbed them and his wife to death at their home in Westfield, Mass., then fatally shot himself. The Kolenda's were both Polish immigrants, and had financial troubles.

Date: 2002-10-21
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Westfield, Massachusetts
United States
See map: Google Maps
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Zachary Higier (Nikita Khoryakov)

2-year-old boy adpted from Orenburg Russia, died of severe head trauma. Adoptive mother Natalia Higier, stated that he had fallen out of his crib or hit his head on the floor. She later admitted to tossing him into the air and he hit his head on the coffee table. Zachary sustained a bilateral skull fracture, strokes, brain swelling, and detached retinas. Natalia pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in jail with 18 months balance of sentence suspended for 4 years.

The agency failed to note that Natalia Higier, a Latvian native, took out a restraining order against her husband in 1995, but dropped it a day later. Her husband, Louis, had also taken out a restraining order against his wife in the past.
Date: 2002-08-15
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Homestudy

Persons: Laura Nemeyer

Facilitators

Placement

Location

Braintree, Massachusetts
United States
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Pound Pup Legacy