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Children killed or abused within their homeschooling adoptive family

11 Children adopted by Michael and Sharen Gravelle

11 children adopted by Michel and Sharen Gravelle were found to be kept in cages.
Date: 2005-09-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Homestudy

Organizations: Adopt America Network

Placement

Organizations: The Cradle , Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Illinois Department of Children's and Family Services, Huron County Department of Job and Family Services, Williams County, Stark County, Cuyahoga County, Chicago CPS, Hamilton County

Post placement

Organizations: Adopt America Network

Location

Clarksfield, Ohio
United States
See map: Google Maps

28 children adopted by Kathy and Dan Blackburn

28 children, many special needs, adopted by Kathy and Dan Blackburn while they were missionaries in Haiti. Parents divorced after 30 year marriage and both alleged the other parent was guilty of child abuse. Initially Dan was granted custody of the minor children, he lost it after the children were neglected.
Date: 1996-06-06
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

SHELBYVILLE, Indiana
United States
See map: Google Maps

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 neglected in their beds: Natasha (India or Bangladesh), an infant girl who allegedly died of malnutrition and starvation in March 1988, Jason about 2 and Jodi, about 4, who died of a form of dysentery called shigella in 1985, days apart.

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.

The children were adopted from Vietnam, India, Korea, Mexico, El Salvador, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Israel, and the United States
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
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Sisters, Oregon
United States
See map: Google Maps

Adam Herrman (Irvin Groeninger III)

Adam Herrman  

Adam was last seen in 1999 at age 11 or 12. His adoptive parents, Doug and Valerie Herrman, did not report him missing for 10 years and continued to collect adoption subsidy payments until he would have turned 18. The Herrmans told their family that Adam had returned to state custody. They are telling the police that they think he ran away. Adam was adopted when he was 2 yrs old. Valerie Herrman allegedly mentally and physically abused the boy: punching, hair-pulling, spanking with a wooden spoon or belt, refusing to feed him, and making him sleep in the bathtub without a pillow or blankets. CPS investigated several times. The sheriff is investigating the case as a death. (Left age 11, middle photo is an age progression, right 2 years)
Date: 1999-01-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation, Economic exploitation
Abuser: Adoptive mother, Undetermined
Home schooling: yes

Location

Towanda, Kansas
United States
See map: Google Maps

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 Novemeber 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.
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
See map: Google Maps

Alloma Gilbert, Christopher Spry and Child A

 

3 children, 1 adopted and 2 fostered by Eunice Spry were abused over 20 years. The children were beaten, starved, forced to eat  vomit, had sticks rammed down their throats, skin rubbed with sandpaper and were locked naked in their rooms for weeks. Spry was convicted in 2007.
Date: 2005-01-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive mother, Foster mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Placement

Organizations: Gloucestershire social services

Location

Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
United Kingdom

Andrew Burd



4-year-old boy, about to be adopted by 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 a medical clinic, vomited and drifted in and out of consciousness. He was no longer breathing when he finally arrived there. A day later he died. Mrs. Overton was sentences to life; Mr. Overton is on probation.
Date: 2006-10-02
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Placement

Organizations: Spaulding for Children

Location

Corpus Christi, Texas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy adopted by Jeremiah Lovato

A 15-year-old boy adopted by single-father Jeremiah Lovato, was repeatedly beaten with a 2-by-2 piece of lumber and suffered long time physical abuse. After the boy's school suspected abuse, his father decided to "home school him".
Date: 2010-01-08
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father
Home schooling: yes

Location

Cimarron Hills, Colorado
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy adopted by Steven and Mikelann Renwick

6 year old boy only allowed in the house for meals, was beaten with switches, and had to sleep in the laundry room with the dogs. He was admitted to the hospital with severe injuries to his head, legs and body, after beng in the home about 1 1/2 years. Three other children in the home were adopted as infants. Mikelann Renwick is a Worship & Creative Arts Pastor of a Holiness church.
Date: 2010-08-18
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Tavares, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy adopted by Tai-Ling Gigliotti

16 year old boy adopted at age 4 in Taiwan by his biological aunt Tai-Ling (Han) Gigliotti. She beat him for at least 3 years ending in 2009 when he escaped from the home after he was beat with a board and a hose. His arm was broken; he was covered with bruises and lacerations.
Date: 2009-02-11
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Location

Spring Hill, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy and girl adopted by Richard and Christine Dodson

4 year old girl and 5 year old girl adopted by Richard and Christine Dodson were abused by their adopters. The girl's leg and arms were broken and the boy was being starved and beaten. Both children were home-schooled.
Date: 1995-07-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Placement

Organizations: Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services

Location

Round Rock, Texas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy in foster care with Tammy Renea Andrews

10-year-old boy in foster care with Tammy Renea Andrews was allegedly tortured by his foster mother. The boy was repeatedly hit with the fist, a small baseball bat and a hammer. He was hog tied, and his tongue was pinched with a staple puller.

Tammy Andrews took the boy out of school to homeschool him.
Date: 2010-02-24
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother
Home schooling: yes

Location

Safford, Arizona
United States
See map: Google Maps

Brian Edgar


9-year-old Brian Edgar, died when he was bound like a mummy in duct tape by his adoptive mother as a punishment for stealing cookies. The boy was left overnight with only his nose uncovered and suffocated on his own vomit at the family's home in Overland Park, west of Kansas City. Neil and Christy Edgar, pastors of God's Creation Outreach Ministry were also charged with abusing 3 other adopted children. Christy Edgar was referred to as a prophet, and reportedly claimed God told her to tie up children as a discipline method.
Date: 2002-12-31
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Overland Park, Kansas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Bruce, Michael, Tyrone and Keith Jackson

   

Four New Jersey boys who had been systematically starved by their adoptive parents, while state child welfare workers, in a bewildering series of errors, failed to make the most basic checks on the children over a dozen years. Bruce(19) was 45 lbs, Keith (14) was 41 lbs, Tyrone (10) was 28lbs,  Michael (9) was  23lbs. The boys were also beaten with brooms, rulers, sticks, shoes and belt buckles. Above is a family photo, a close up of Bruce and Bruce 27 months later.
Date: 2003-10-10
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Placement

Organizations: DYFS' Southern Adoption Resource Center

Location

Collinswood, New Jersey
United States
See map: Google Maps

Carmina Salcido

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

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

Location

Missouri
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Dwayne and Pamela Hardy

Two children, ages 6 and 9, adopted in February 2010, by Dwayne and Pamela Hardy, were locked in their rooms and not allowed to eat. If they were caught sneaking food from the garbage, they were paddled with wooden spoons or a belt.
Date: 2010-08-12
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Placement

Location

Altamonte Springs, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by John and Linda Dollar

Five children adopted by the Dollars who starved them, shocked them with electricity, pulled out their toenails with pliers, bound them with chains and strips of plastic and struck their feet with hammers.
Date: 2005-02-04
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Beverly Hills, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Judith Leekin

Nine teenagers and young adults were held like prisoners in Trinidad native Judith Leekin's home in what appeared to be a decades-long scheme to line her pockets with the government payments she received for adopting and raising them. One of the children an 18-year-old boy named Shane Graham, with Down's and need round the clock care, is missing.
Date: 2007-07-30
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Economic exploitation
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Placement

Organizations: Four separate New York City agencies among which: HeartShare Human Service and St. Joseph’s Children’s Services

Location

Port St Lucie, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Patrick and Sherry Kelley

In 2004, the Kelleys were accused of burning, beating, and slapping their five adopted children, 10 to 15 years old. Later investigation cast doubt on whether the evidence would hold up in court, according to prosecutors. In January 2007, Superior Court Judge Mike Wolverton accepted no-contest pleas to greatly reduced charges and released the Kelleys, who had served about 17 months in jail.

George and Shirley Long were accused of standing by while their adopted grandchildren were abused for years.

George Long, the adoptive grandfather, is found guilty of chaining his 10-year-old adopted grandson to a dog run.
Date: 2004-07-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother, Other family member
Home schooling: yes

Location

Wasilla, Alaska
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Shelley Blair

A 12 year-old boy and a 13 year-old girl, the adopted children of Shelley Blair, were found wandering a busy road. The children were bruised and malnourished. Shelley Blair is now under investigation.

In 2003, Blair pleaded guilty to three counts of child abuse.
Date: 2008-10-23
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Placement

Organizations: DCS Tennesee

Location

Spring Hill, Tennessee
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Tom and Debra Schmitz

 

11 children adopted by Tom and Debbie Schmitz were abused by their adopters. For years the Schmitzes took in disabled and otherwise troubled children in their home and were part of an under-ground network of people taking in children from disrupted adoptions. As adherents of Attachment Therapy, they beat their children, locked them up in cagelike bunk beds, forcing one child to eat his own vomit; holding another child's head underwater as punishment; sitting on a girl and urinating on her; and hurling a wheelchair-bound girl into a swimming pool; placing a hose in a girl's mouth and turning on the water, and lancing a boil on another child with a box cutter as she screamed in pain; forcing children to dig what they were told were their own graves.

Seven children in the "care" of Tom and Debra Schmitz were illegally placed.
Date: 2004-06-30
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Location

Trenton, Tennessee
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children placed with Todd and Lisa Mortensen

12-year-old girl placed with Todd and Lisa Mortensen was sexually abused by her "foster father". The placement was a private arrangement with the adoptive family of the girl.

In 2004, Todd Mortensen was charged with 65 counts of criminal sexual penetration and 20 counts of criminal sexual contact against another girl placed with his family. All 85 counts were dismissed by the prosecutor in 2005 because the girl was deemed mentally unstable to testify.
Date: 2010-04-01
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Foster father
Home schooling: yes

Location

Farmington, New Mexico
United States
See map: Google Maps

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. Bob Forder was not charged.

In addition to Christopher who was adopted from Oregon DHS, Forders had 3 adult bio children and 4 adopted or foster children. An adult child was charged with raping another adult child. In 2005, after Christopher's death, they adopted a set of infant triplets from Liberia with the assistance of West African Children Support Network.
Date: 2002-11-22
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Location

Seabeck, Washington
United States
See map: Google Maps

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
See map: Google Maps

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. Both parents have been charged. News videos report 1 of the other 5 children in the home was adopted, and that the Jones were a church going family who homeschooled.
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
See map: Google Maps

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

Placement

Location

Whiteford, Harford County, Maryland
United States
See map: Google Maps

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.
Date: 1986-10-29
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Virginia Beach, Virginia
United States
See map: Google Maps

Elsa Garcia aka Esther Alice Combs

 

Elsa Garcia was taken from Baptist Children's Home in Valparaiso, IN by Baptist Minister Joseph and Evangeline Combs in 1978 at 4 months old. Raised as Esther Combs, she was never adopted, although believed she had been. She was sexually abused by Joseph and beaten by Evangeline. Mrs. Combs beat her with a baseball bat, burned her with a curling iron and pulled out chunks of her flesh with pliers, causing more than 400 scars on her body. She was treated as a family servant and did not attend school.

The Combs were arrested in 1998. Joseph Combs was sentenced to 114 years in prison for kidnapping, rape, assault and perjury. Evangeline Combs was sentenced to 65 years for kidnapping and child abuse.

Date: 1978-01-01
Placement type: To be adopted
Institution: Baptist Children's Home in Valparaiso, Ind
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Non-lethal deprivation, Economic exploitation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother, Adopted sibling
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Placement

Organizations: Baptist's Children's Home and Family Ministries Valparaiso, IN

Location

bristol, Tennessee
United States
See map: Google Maps

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.
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
See map: Google Maps

Girl adopted by Ardee Verlon Tyler and Penny Sue Tyler


Girl adopted from Liberia in 2005 at age 8 along with 4 sisters was tied with a rope during the day and restrained in the basement at night because she lied and urinated on the floor. She was forced to spend the night outside in the cold on at least one occasion for stealing a cookie. She was sexually assaulted by her adoptive brother Ashton Malachi Tyler. Her adoptive sister Nathania Dellare (or Dellrae) Tyler is also accused of restraining her.

She was being adopted by another family when the abuse came to light. It is not clear if the other 4 girls were abused as well. 

Ardee Verlon Tyler and Penny Sue Tyler, were convicted of felony child abuse and received 10-year suspended prison sentences. Ashton Tyler plead no contest to rape by instrumentation of his 9-year-old adopted sister, and was sentenced to 2 years. 21-year-old Nathania Tyler a 90-day suspended sentence for assault and battery.

Further information on this case can be found at: weepnomore.org

Date: 2007-10-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother, Adopted sibling
Home schooling: yes

Homestudy

Organizations: Oklahoma Home Study
Persons: Erlene Logan

Location

Fairview, Oklahoma
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girl adopted by Stephen Douglas James

12-year-old girls was sexually abused by her adoptive father. She was adopted with her three brothers by James and his wife, who home-schooled the children.
Date: 2001-12-04
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father
Home schooling: yes

Location

Bastrop county, Texas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girl to be adopted by Ernest Richard Davison and Cynthia Joan Davison

5-year-old girl to be adopted by Ernest Richard Davison and Cynthia Joan Davison, had been bound at her wrists and ankles for a considerable time and was suffering from malnourishment. She has Down's Syndrome. There were 3 other special needs adopted and foster children in the home.
Date: 2005-01-01
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Beachwood, New Jersey
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girls adopted by Jessica Banks

Five girls adopted by Jessica Banks were beaten daily, fed spoiled food and hidden in a garage. Banks, a pastor of the Word of Life Apostolic Church, was sentenced to life in prison.
Date: 2005-05-09
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Placement

Organizations: Children's Way, San Bernadino

Location

Moreno Valley, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

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
See map: Google Maps

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
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Placement

Organizations: Children's Protective Services in Harris County

Location

Tarkington Prairie, Texas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Lydia and Zariah Schatz

8-year-old Lydia and 11-year-old Zariah (or Zacharia) were adopted by Kevin P. and Elizabeth H. Schatz from Liberia 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. The Schatz's had 6 biological children and three adopted children.
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

Location

Paradise, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

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.
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
See map: Google Maps

Phoebe and Joseph Dinkler

Siblings from Ukraine adopted 5 years prior to the abuse allegations by Georgia couple Earl and Deborah Dinkler. The children had been forced to run 15 laps around the property before breakfast "just about every day" for the last four years. If the parents weren’t satisfied with their children’s speed, they would be punished with a belt, a miniature baseball bat or a bamboo rod. The Dinklers also withheld food and water as punishment.
Deborah Lynn Williamson-Dinkler pleaded guilty, and Earl Thomas Dinkler was convicted of cruelty.
Date: 2007-08-09
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Location

McDonough, Georgia
United States
See map: Google Maps

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
See map: Google Maps

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. 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
See map: Google Maps

Sean Paddock


Beaten to death, age 4, by his adoptive mother Lynn Paddock, who had sought Christian discipline advice in the books of Michael and Debi Pearl.
Date: 2006-02-26
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Location

Johnston County, North Carolina
United States
See map: Google Maps

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
Home schooling: yes

Location

Remsen, Iowa
United States
See map: Google Maps

Tyler Sullivan

17-year-old boy adopted by Wilson and Brenda Sullivan, was found caged in a crib and weighing 49 pounds by the Ohio state Department of Children and Families . Wilson Sullivan died in the middle of the trial. Brenda Sullivan got 20 years imprisonment.
Date: 2005-03-08
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Placement

Organizations: Stark County Children Services

Location

Jacksonville, Ohio
United States
See map: Google Maps

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: Lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect, 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
See map: Google Maps