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Most recent abuse cases

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

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

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

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

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

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
See map: Google Maps

Xavian David Cull-Munoz

2-month old boy in foster care with his grand parents, David and Donna Cull, died from suffocation. His grand father intoxicated from prescription drugs, sat down in the chair where the infant was laying and passed out in the chair.
Date: 2008-02-14
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect
Abuser: Foster father

Location

Campbellsburg, Kentucky
United States
See map: Google Maps

Adopted sibling of Kenneth Ray Knightingale

The girl was sexually abused by her older adopted brother since the age of seven,
Date: 2008-02-11
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adopted sibling

Location

Livingston, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy adopted by Scott Legrand

17-year-old former foster child was sexually abused by his adoptive father, who was a Devereux Florida state-contracted foster care facility worker
Date: 2008-02-08
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Orange County, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy adopted by Tamara and Jeffrey LeFevre

17-year-old boy adopted by Jeffrey and Tamara LeFevre was made to live outside without adequate water and toilet facilities and being struck on the back, buttocks and/or legs with a belt, wooden spoon and/or spatula.
Date: 2008-01-22
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Eagar, Arizona
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Richard and ? Hill

Two boys and a girl, all 9 or 10 years old, were sexually abused by their adoptive father, Richard Hill, beginning Jan 2006. He allegedly sexually abused children, including his sisters, since he was a child. His sisters say they objected to the adoptions. Hill was sentenced to 9 years to life. His wife was unaware of the abuse.
Date: 2008-01-15
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Kearns, Utah
United States
See map: Google Maps

Alex Angulo

A 4 year old boy was mauled to death by his foster family's Rottweiler dogs.
Date: 2008-01-11
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect
Abuser: Undetermined

Location

Chicago, Illinois
United States
See map: Google Maps

Amariana Crenshaw and other children in foster care of Tracy Dossman

  4.5 year old child dies under suspicious circumstances
Date: 2008-01-11
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal neglect, Death by unknown cause
Abuser: Foster mother

Post placement

Organizations: Positive Option Family Service

Location

North Natomas, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girl adopted by Gerald Dale and Hope Snapp

15-year-old  girl is taken in by a man who works for a state agency charged with protecting children. He sexually assaults her on several occasions while she is living with him and his family and, after adopting her, impregnates her when she is 17.
Date: 2008-01-10
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Berkley, Michigan
United States
See map: Google Maps

Daisia Derzon

3-year-old girl in foster care with Michele Baber was shaken violently until she hit her head hit the floor, causing head injuries she died three days later of.
Date: 2008-01-09
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Location

Grand Lake, Colorado
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys at Project Pierre Toussaint

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

Location

Cap-Haïtien, Nord
Haiti

Girl adopted by Stephen and Kathy Rhoten

14-year-old girl, adopted from Panama at age 3, by Stephen and Kathy Rhoten, was kept in unlawful constraints.
Date: 2007-12-07
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Edwardsville, Illinois
United States
See map: Google Maps

Kahina adopted by French parents

Kahina, a 4 year-old girl, was tortured by her adoptive parents. The first violence reportedly began almost immediately after her adoption at 3 moths old. Six of her teeth were broken. Grasps of hair were torn and several bones broken. Her mouth and esophagus were ulcerated by ingestion of corrosive product. There is even worse.
Date: 2007-11-15
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Sartrouville, Yvelines - Ile-de-France
France

Lilly Manning

At the time 15-year-old girl adopted by her great-aunt Lillian Manning, escaped from a closet she had been locked into. Prior to that she had been tortured by her adoptive mother and her adoptive mother's husband.
Date: 2007-10-31
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive mother, Other non-family member

Location

Sacramento, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Tamaihia Lynae Moore



17-month-old girl in foster care with Tamekca Walker was suffocated by her foster mother.
Date: 2007-10-22
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Location

Sacramento, California
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

Davion Winrow



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
See map: Google Maps

Boys adopted by James and Stephanie Dickinson

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

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

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

Location

Lancaster, Pennsylvania
United States
See map: Google Maps

Two girls adopted in Fosses-la-Ville, Belgium

The two girls in the family of Fosses-la-Ville at 7 and 8 . Their adoptive father began to abuse them when they were about 12 years. For almost six years, the girls are silent, keeping their big secret to themselves. At 17 and 18, they confided in their friends who reported the facts to the police. Their father partially admitted having acted not in an appropriate way, and not in a very respectful to his adopted children and their teenage intimacy but he denied any rape and touching. After his interrogation, he was placed under arrest warrant of count of indictment for rape.
Date: 2007-09-14
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Fosses-la-Ville, Namur
Belgium

Tyler Addington

2-month-old boy about to be adopted by Melanie Leathers Addington, was allegedly shaken and slammed, causing permanent brain injury.

Melanie Leathers Addington was sentenced to three years probation, continued mental health treatment and a $750 fine.
Date: 2007-09-11
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Muscatine, Iowa
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girls adopted by John and Alicia Bryan

The same day he resigned amid a criminal investigation into whether he sexually abused two of his adopted daughters and a nanny, St Petersburg, Fl, City Councilman, John Bryan committed suicide. The Byrans were separated and considering divorce when he killed himself. There had been rumors for 20 years of sexual indiscretions and pedophilia.
Date: 2007-09-05
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

St Petersburg, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

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
See map: Google Maps

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
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

Girls adopted by Patricia Harris

Patricia Harris, 54 year-old woman, pleaded guilty to second-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse of her three children ages 5, 6, and 8 whom she adopted in April 2006 after serving as their foster parent.
Date: 2007-08-17
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Placement

Organizations: Kentucky Children's Services

Location

Danville, Kentucky
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

Boy adopted by couple in Manitoba

14-year-old boy, adopted by a couple from Manitoba, Canada, killed both his adoptive mother and his adoptive sister with a rifle. The boy claimed years of abuse prior to the shooting.
Date: 2007-08-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

St Lazara, Manitoba
Canada
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Judith Leekin


Eleven 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. She adopted at least 11 children and fostered at least 22 children. One of the children an 18-year-old boy named Shane Graham, aka Moo, with autism, Down syndrome and needing round the clock care, is missing, and presumed dead. An infant placed with Ms. Leekin died in 1988 of "crib death".

The children did not attend school. The police and CPS investigated Leekin for abuse in 1999.
Date: 2007-07-30
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Economic exploitation, Death by unknown cause
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Disabilities: yes
Home schooling: yes

Placement

Organizations: Four separate NYC agencies: HeartShare Human Service, St. Joseph’s Children’s Services, SCO Family of Services, and New York City Administration for Children’s Services

Location

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

Illegally adopted child of Arab Emirat Couple

53-year-old UAE national A.S. was yesterday sentenced to eight years in jail for molesting his illegally adopted minor daughter repeatedly and for misrepresentation of facts to obtain her birth certificate. His wife, M.K., 30, was awarded a three-year jail term for helping him to obtain the certificate. A.S. said "I am a God-fearing Muslim and a haj"

The child's Iranian biological mother, M.A., 30, and an Emirati housewife, M.B., 30, who mediated between the couple and the Iranian, were sentenced to five years in jail followed by deportation for helping A.S. to get the birth certificate.
Date: 2007-07-12
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Children adopted by Jerry Wayne Love

Three boys adopted by an unordained priest from Huntsville Alabama were sexually abused by him. Circuit Judge Karen Hall sentenced Jerry Wayne Love, 51, to 15 years on each of three first-degree sodomy charges. But she followed the prosecutors' recommendation, ordering Love to spend five years on probation and undergo treatment in a sex offender program.

In the 1990s Love and his wife were named as adoptive parents of the year by the Madison County Department of Human of Resources
Date: 2007-07-09
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Huntsville, Alabama
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girl in care of Vladimir Karpov

7 year girl from Ukraine was brought to the US by Delaware man in 1999 after her foster family in Ukraine agreed to the move. He abused her sexually for six years. In 2005 the girl's former Ukrainian foster family visited and the girl told about the abuse. Karpov, a Ukrainian native, fled and was eventually found in 2007 by Mantega, CA, police. He is charged with 50 counts of first-degree rape and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child

This was an informal foster or adoption arrangement, and likely there was no homestudy,etc.
Date: 2007-07-07
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Newark, Delaware
United States
See map: Google Maps

Malachi Jermaine McBride-Roberts


Almost 2 year old Malachi died of massive brain injuries. His foster mother Linda Coleman was charged.
Date: 2007-06-30
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Location

San Diego, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy in foster care in Alberta

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

Location

Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
Canada
See map: Google Maps

Girl in foster care of Matthew Lewis Anderson

Foster parent charged with shaking child: 2-year-old suffered brain damage, will need long-term nursing care. Matthew's wife Cassiopia has not been charged.
Date: 2007-06-01
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Homestudy

Organizations: Lutheran Social Services of the South Inc

Location

waco, Texas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girl adopted by a couple of Jurbise, Beligum

The six year-old blind girl was living with her adoptive parents, also blind. She was adopted in July 2005.
In May 2007, the adoptive father was placed under arrest warrant for indecent assault and technical rape. 
Date: 2007-05-30
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Jurbise, Hainaut
Belgium

Boy in foster care with Tarquin Craig Thomas

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

Location

San Mateo, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girls in foster care with Ted A. Klaudt

Two girls in foster care with Ted A. Klaudt, a member of the South Dakota House of Representative, were raped and sexually exploited.
Date: 2007-05-19
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse, Sexual exploitation
Abuser: Foster father

Location

Walker, South Dakota
United States
See map: Google Maps

James Earl Bradley Jr.



3-year-old boy in foster care with Christine Woodward and Lasana Karva was beaten to death.
Date: 2007-04-08
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Location

Belleville, Michigan
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girls adopted by Eugene Richard Putnam and DoyAnne Putnam

Eugene Richard Putnam admitted he sexually molested four adopted daughters. Putnam also beat three of his adopted children with a plastic or rubber device.He also faces four counts of child abuse, one count of child neglect and one count of committing a lewd act with a child. Putnam’s charges were filed in March 2007, following a multijurisdictional investigation of the girls’ allegations of molestation and abuse. Mrs Putnam was charged with abuse and neglect.
Date: 2007-04-07
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Non-lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Porter, Oklahoma
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girl adopted by Christopher and Eva Pitzer

13-year-old girl adopted by Christopher and Eva Pitzer was encouraged to drink alcohol at a party in honor of her adoption and later raped by her adoptive father.
Date: 2007-04-00
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Haysville, Kansas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girl adopted by Acharya family

11-year-old girl who had been adopted by the Archarya family two years earlier, was systematically raped by the eldest son, Bishnu, and his relative Bedhari Bhattara. 
Date: 2007-03-11
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Non-adopted sibling, Other family member

Location

Kaski district
Nepal

Johnny Dragomir



9-year-old quadriplegic boy with cerebral palsy was placed by his mother, Elena Andron, into foster care because she had lost her job and couldn't afford to care for him. Johnny died March 9, 2007 at Monroe Foster Home. His weight dropped from 80 to 40 pounds while there. His mother frequently complained about his weight loss, but her concerns were ignored and she was barred from further visits.

November 4, 2008, the family of Johnny Dragomir sued Community Living Services Inc., the organization responsible for his placement.
Date: 2007-03-09
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect
Abuser: Undetermined

Placement

Organizations: Community Living Services Inc.

Location

Detroit, Michigan
United States
See map: Google Maps

LoReyna Barea

7-year-old girl in foster care with her aunt Genevieve Barea was found dead, severely malnourished and bruised.
Date: 2007-03-09
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Lethal neglect
Abuser: Foster mother

Location

Evans, Colorado
United States
See map: Google Maps

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
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Mechelle and Bessie Saffold

Former foster parents of the year Bessie and Mechelle Saffold, neglected and battered five children they adopted.
Date: 2007-02-28
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Indianapolis, Indiana
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Sandy June Linn

A 6 year old girl and an 8 year old boy were deprived food and water, which resulted in severe malnourishment. The adoptive father was living out of state at the time.
Date: 2007-02-26
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Gardnerville, Nevada
United States
See map: Google Maps

Jennifer Prinder

3-year-old girl adopted by Troy and Rosetta Sweeting was beaten to death by her adoptive father.
Date: 2007-02-25
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

New Providence
Bahamas

Children adopted by couple in Quebec, Canada

Three children were abused for six years by their adoptive parents, in Becancour Quebec. They have been beaten with fists, feet and with sticks. The children were also subjected to backbreaking works for their age. Parents were sentenced to community service.
Date: 2007-02-19
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Becancour, Quebec
Canada
See map: Google Maps

Boy adopted by Raymond and Lisa Sangraw

Eight year old boy was scalded in bathwater. His adoptive parents waited six weeks before seeking treatment for him.
Date: 2007-02-17
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Green Bay, Wisconsin
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girl in foster care with Robert and Betty Clinton

3-year-old girl in foster care with Robert and Betty Clinton was sexually abused by her foster father, who took pictures of the assault. Robert Clinton was arrested for the possession of child pornography when the abuse was discovered.
Date: 2007-02-16
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Location

Deltona, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps
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