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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.

Rufus Young

Rufus Young, (aka Rufus Young Manzie Jr), 4, a foster child, died of a beating by his foster father, Roderick Hall of Detroit, after the boy had soiled himself. "I lost it," Hall told a homicide detective. "I grabbed him, and I hit him in his face and jaw." Hall pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is serving 20-40 years in prison.
Date: 2003-04-06
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Location

Detroit, Michigan
United States
See map: Google Maps

Connre Dixon

11-year-old girl in foster care with Paul Efaw and his wife was stabbed with a knife. Connre was stabbed five times, lacerating her heart, a lung and her stomach. She died from her injuries. Allegedly Paul Efaw had sexually abused her.
Date: 2003-03-13
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Placement

Organizations: Huron County Job and Family Services

Location

Ridgefield Township, Ohio
United States
See map: Google Maps

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: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

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

21 Girls adopted by John and Marian DiMaria

 

Marian and John DiMarias, conservative evangelical Christians, adopted 21 girls from third-world countries. The adopted girls were all impaired; most were deaf. In February, 2003, the State of Vermont learned that John DiMaria had been sexually abusing the older girls for years. He was convicted and jailed by the State.

During 1999 - 2003 DiMaria and her husband, John DiMaria, lived in Jericho, VT  and operated the Gypsy Grace Ranch, advertised as "North America's Largest Breeder" of Gypsy horses, an expensive English draft horse. The DiMarias moved to Vermont from Kentucky, where they also operated a horse farm.

In 2002 and 2003, after the DiMarias had exhausted Marian DiMaria's trust fund of over $7 million, they deceived the Mellon Bank in Pennsylvania, a trustee of the adopted girls' trusts, into sending them $168,000 for fictitious expenses. Further investigation revealed that DiMaria had received and spent $96,000 from one adopted victim's trust, and had defrauded the Social Security Administration of approximately $13,000, after she learned that her husband had been sexually abusing the children.

At least 2 girls were born in China, and Ukraine, at least one girl in India, Russia, Brazil, and Bolivia. (1996 they had 8 from: China, Russia, India, Brazil)  - (Olivia, Hannah, Rikki, Tressah, Anya, Elizabeth, + 15 more)
Date: 2003-02-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse, Economic exploitation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Jericho, Vermont
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boys in foster care with Ian Wathey and Craig Faunch

Homosexual couple sexually abuse four children that were placed in foster care with them. Investigations found out social workers were afraid to act upon allegations for fear of being labeled homophobic. The man fostered 18 children in 15 months, having requested boys aged 5 to 12 years old. After the 4th complaint of inappropriate activity, the police became involved.

Wathey was jailed for five years after being convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a child and one offence of causing a child to watch sexual activity.

Faunch received a six-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of five charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child and two of taking indecent photographs of a child.
Date: 2003-01-01
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Placement

Organizations: Wakefield Council, Yorkshire

Location

Pontefract, Wakefield
United Kingdom

Girl adopted by David and Holly Meyers

4 year old girl adopted as an infant in Russia was molested by her older brother from Romania adopted at age 7. The boy spent his first 2 years tied to an orphanage crib, and was beaten and molested at a state-run orphanage and foster homes. He repeatedly sexually assaulted his sister and threatened to kill her and their mother.
Date: 2003-01-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adopted sibling

Placement

Organizations: Uniting Families Foundation, (Romanian son placing agency)

Location

zeeland, Michigan
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girl in foster care with Robert Jackson and Janie Jackson

Two girls illegally brought from Guatemala to Florida by their bio father, were placed in foster care with Robert Jackson adn Janie jackson. Both were subjected to sexual abuse by Robert Jackson. The mother called the police when she found him on the girl, but after Jackson's arrest, Janie Jackson drove her to Miami and paid for her ticket to Guatemala, where the girl returned to live with her family... and would be unable to press charges.
Date: 2003-01-01
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Placement

Organizations: Children's Network of Southwest Florida

Location

San Carlos Park, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

Joshua Causey


A Detroit foster mother who had adopted a girl and was set to adopt two boys from Pontiac was charged Friday with first-degree felony murder in the beating death of one of the boys. The foster mother, Lynda Carol Baker, was named in a murder warrant issued late Friday by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. She is charged in the death on Tuesday of Joshua Causey, 4, who had been placed in Baker's care in August.
Date: 2003-01-01
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Location

Detroit`, Michigan
United States
See map: Google Maps

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
See map: Google Maps

Christian Blewitt



Three year old Christian was placed with along with his 2 younger siblings with inexperienced parents Angela and Ian Gay in Nov 2002. Six weeks after placement, Christian was admitted to a hospital then died. He had head injuries and a significant amount of salt in his bloodstream. The initial autopsy listed the cause of death as blunt force trauma.

Gays were initially found guilty of manslaughter. This verdict was overturned based on new medical evidence. At the second trial, they were found not guilty.

News reports of the second trial mention hydrocephalus and "salt diabetes" (Diabetes insipidus). Christian was alleged to have been diagnosed with hydrocephalus at 7 months. The condition was not monitored or disclosed to the Gays or the previous foster parents.

It is unclear if a medical condition, forced salt ingestion, physical abuse, or some combination of the three caused his death.
Date: 2002-12-07
Placement type: To be adopted
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Death by unknown cause
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother, Undetermined

Placement

Organizations: Sandwell Social Services

Location

Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
United Kingdom

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. 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

Jaymaya Auls

2-year-old girl in foster care with Anthony and Arthurlein Holcomb was beaten to death by her foster mother.
Date: 2002-10-26
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Location

Buffalo, New York
United States
See map: Google Maps

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 Primorye 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
See map: Google Maps

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

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
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Theresa and Reed Hansen

Theresa and Reed Hansen, of Saratoga Springs, Utah had been accused of felony and misdemeanor charges for withholding food, sometimes for days at a time, from two of their three children adopted from Russia, who were of pre-school age at the time. The abused boy and girl were bio siblings adopted 2 years after the first. All three adoptees were removed from the home in 2002 and have reportedly thrived since in new adoptive homes.
Date: 2002-10-02
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Saratoga Spring, Utah
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy and girl adopted by Maureen and Michael Culhane

3 and 5 year old learning disabled children adopted in 2001 from Latvia were locked in a room by themselves for 4 hours while the Irish-born immigrant parents went shopping. The home was filthy and determined to be uninhabitable. Both parents were convicted.
The parents had a criminal record from 2000 for locking an 87 year old woman in a home.
Date: 2002-10-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Montvale, New Jersey
United States
See map: Google Maps

Kelsey Hyre

Twenty six month old Kelsey Hyre was permanently paralyzed September 26, 2002. Kelsey and her brother Nathan were adopted from Amur Russia, probably Blagoveshchensk, 8 months earlier when they were 18 and 22 months old. Her spine was severed after her adoptive father Gerald Hyre slammed her on the floor. Adoptive mother, Bonnie Hyre, who was at work at the time, took her to hospital when she came home. Ms. Hyre had previously suspected her husband of abusing both Kelsey and her adoptive brother Nathan, 3, and had taken photos of other injuries, discussed suspicions with co-workers, but after husband's arrest she destroyed pictures and did nothing.

Gerald Hyre was sentenced to 16 years for felonious assault and child abuse. Bonnie Hyre was sentenced to 2 years for permitting child abuse and evidence tampering and served 10 months. Kelsey has been adopted by another couple and is reportedly responding well. Nathan was placed temporarily with Bonnie Hyre's mother, but now Bonnie has custody.
Date: 2002-09-26
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Homestudy

Organizations: A Child's Waiting

Facilitators

Organizations: AMREX

Location

Akron, Ohio
United States
See map: Google Maps

Sherry Charlie

 

19-months-old girl in foster care with her uncle Ryan Dexter George was beaten to death.
Date: 2002-09-04
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Placement

Organizations: BC Children and Family Development Ministry, USMA Family and Child Services

Location

Port Alberni, British Columbia
Canada
See map: Google Maps

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
See map: Google Maps

Nicolas Zavala

Nicolas Zavala was placed in the custody of his grandmother Margaret E. Williams by Illinois DCFS after living in several foster homes. 6 months later, in Aug 2002, he disappeared. His skeletal remains were found in April 2003. No one has been charged in his murder.
His grandmother was convicted of felony neglect for administering excessive punishments. Nicolas was forced to kneel on a broomstick for 2 hours while holding heavy objects hands and to lean his forehead against a wall for several hours with his body at an incline and his feet two to three feet from the wall. Nicolas Uncle Miguel Campos who lived with the family at the time also participated in the discipline.
Mrs Williams homestudy was incomplete, did not include 2000 child abuse misdemeanors, and she sis not attend foster training. No one followed up to remove the child after Indiana refused the placement with Willaims
Date: 2002-08-04
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal deprivation, Death by unknown cause
Abuser: Other family member, Undetermined

Post placement

Organizations: Guardian Angel Home, Joliet IL

Location

Oxford, Indiana
United States
See map: Google Maps

Esther Scudder

22-month-old girl from Hunan Province, China, adopted by Sandra Scudder, died of died of brain hemorrhaging due to blunt trauma to the head. Sandra Scudder died of ovarian cancer before she could go to trial.
Date: 2002-06-13
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Death by unknown cause
Abuser: Undetermined

Placement

Location

Loves Park, Illinois
United States
See map: Google Maps

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: Larry VanBloem, Keith A. Reber, Jennie Gwilliam

Location

Springville, Utah
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy adopted by Donald Shissler

14-year-old boy was adopted from foster care by Donald Shissler with the intent to sexually abuse him. At least two other boys were also abused by Shissler, who made sexual explicit photos and videos of the boys while engaging in sexual activity. Shissler was a former Episcopalian priest, high school teacher, and foster parent.
Date: 2002-05-31
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse, Sexual exploitation
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Denver, Colorado
United States
See map: Google Maps

Rilya Wilson

Rilya Wilson missing in Florida
4 year old girl in foster care with Pamela Graham and her live in girlfriend Geralyn Graham, disappeared from the home in December 2000. DCF did not notice she was gone until April 2002 due to falsified reports. When Florida DCF finally realized Rilya was missing, Geralyn claimed a state worker had taken Rilya for testing and never returned with her. Geralyn had a criminal record, including fraud and grand theft, which was not discovered by DCF when they approved the foster home. She used many aliases and claimed at times that she was Rilya's Grandmother and/or that Pamela was her sister. After Rilya disappeared, Geralyn applied for food stamps based on having Rilya in her home. Eleven people were fired by DCF when Rilya's disappearance became known.
Prior to Rilya's disappearance, Geralyn Graham beat her with a switch, tied her to her bed by her wrists, glued a Halloween mask to her face, and confined her to a dog crate.

Though Rilya's body has not been found, in 2005, Geralyn Graham was charged with murder, child abuse and kidnapping after she allegedly confessed to a jail cellmate.
Date: 2002-04-01
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Economic exploitation, Death by unknown cause
Abuser: Foster mother

Placement

Persons: Willie Harris

Post placement

Persons: Deborah Muskelly

Location

Kendall, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

Modesto Blanco

22-month-old boy in foster care with Gilbert and Gracie Escobedo, was beaten to death by his uncle/foster father.
Date: 2002-03-02
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster father

Location

Lubbock, Texas
United States
See map: Google Maps

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
See map: Google Maps

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
See map: Google Maps

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
See map: Google Maps

Amber King

12 year old girl adopted by Sandra Parker was brutalized kept chained and starving in the basement. She was also abused by 2 older, also-adopted, siblings. All 3 were special needs children.
Date: 2002-01-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother, Adopted sibling

Location

Grand Rapids, Michigan
United States
See map: Google Maps

Nikolina Stoyanova aka Nicole Kuchler


Nikolina, adopted from Bulgaria in 1993 at age 4, was sexually abused by her adoptive father, (John Harold Kuchler aka John J Kuchler Jr. aka Justin M. Smith), with the assistance of her adoptive mother, (Janis Kuchler).
The abuse started when she was 10 and continued about 3 years until 2002 when she was removed from their care.
On April 20, 2012, she killed herself by swallowing an item handed to her by a careless nurse in a State Hospital.
Date: 2002-01-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Placement

Location

Pendleton, Oregon
United States
See map: Google Maps

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
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

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
See map: Google Maps

Girl in guardianship of James Matthew McDaniel-Webb

Thomas and Susan Denny adopted an 8 year girl J.D.  from foster care. After 4 years of struggles, they placed her at the Masonic Home for Children to provide the structured environment a therapist recommended. She was there 7 months. While at the Masonic Home, the girl met James Matthew McDaniel-Webb, an volunteer and benefactor of the home. On several occasions, McDaniel-Webb was allowed by the orphanage to take her on unsupervised visits to his home.

In Aug 2001, she entered McDaniel-Webb's custody.

In late Aug 2001, DHS visited his home to investigate after a physician said McDaniel-Webb inquired about castration to stop the inappropriate thoughts he had about minors. The case was closed as "unfounded" in Jan 2002.

In Nov the courts approved the custody arrangement. For close to 2 years, he sexually abused her and took pornographic photos of her. He was arrested on charges of statutory rape and child pornography.

Webb is in federal prison serving a sentence related to Internet pornography. Then he will begin a state sentence for sexually abusing the girl over the two years she lived with him.
Date: 2001-11-01
Placement type: Legal Guardianship
Institution: Masonic Home for Children at Oxford
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse, Sexual exploitation
Abuser: Legal guardian

Location

Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
United States
See map: Google Maps

Maria Isabel Cervantes

4-year-old girl in foster care with her aunt Arcelia Chavez was beaten to death.

Chavez began hitting Maria Isabel after the child spit out food. The beating continued in the bathtub, where Chavez delivered “karate-like chops” to Maria Isabel’s small body, causing the child to repeatedly hit her head on the bathtub.

After the beating, Chavez built an altar in her bedroom, lighted candles, dressed the girl in a white dress and stockings and prayed.

Maria Isabel died sometime before midnight.
Date: 2001-09-27
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Location

North Hollywood, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy adopted by couple from Colorado Springs

11-year-old boy, one of 5 adopted by a couple from Colorado Springs, was forced to spend days and nights in a small room beneath stairs with only a wool blanket and bucket in which to relieve himself.  When he wasn't confined to that space, he was forced to masturbate in front of siblings, do calisthenics in the nude, wear a dog shock collar, and he was forced to eat his meals on the floor while the rest of the family dined at the table.

On good days, the adopted boy lived in a sparse basement day room, kept separate from the rest of the family.

According to the adoptive mother, she followed suggested therapies for his attachment disorder, such as employing reverse psychology and making him earn his meals and play time through good behavior.

She said one unlicensed therapist, Deborah Hage of Silverthorne, told her to put the boy in the space beneath the stairs when he was bad.

Hage wouldn't comment on the case and said she was "never the family therapist."

Prosecutors didn't seek felony convictions in this case because they could not prove the child suffered serious physical injury.

Date: 2001-09-11
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Attachment Therapy

Persons: Deborah Hage

Location

Colorado Springs, Colorado
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Nellie Jasper Johnson

20 children adopted by Gainesville, Fl woman were beaten with sticks, pipes, belts, extension cords and paddles during more than 10 years of abuse.
Date: 2001-09-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Placement

Organizations: Shepherd's Care Ministries

Location

Gainesville, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

Boy adopted by Jennie Malak

18 month old boy, adopted from Guatemala, shaken 6 weeks after arriving in his new home by his mother Jennie D. Malak, an LPN. His adoptive father was not charged. The parents are estranged. The boy is now living at home with his adoptive father, where he is still recovering from various physical and neurological injuries.

Jennie or Jeannie Malak had been treated for psychiatric disorders for several years prior to the adoption. Malaks presented a forged letter from her doctor attesting that she was mentally fit to adopt the children.
Date: 2001-07-17
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Hyde Park, New York
United States
See map: Google Maps

Rochelle LeMajeur

3-year-old girl in foster care with Linda Lysaght was swaddled to calm her down, causing her to suffocate.
Date: 2001-06-24
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Location

Albuquerque, New Mexico
United States
See map: Google Maps

Cameron VanHyning

Cameron was adopted from Aktobe, Kazakhstan in April 2001 by Michael & Jodene Van Hyning. Michael was the primary care-giver. One month home, Michael nearly beat 15 month old Cameron to death in several incidents over a two week period. VanHyning is serving a 28-year prison sentence for aggravated domestic battery.
Date: 2001-06-23
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Placement

Organizations: Main Street Adoption, , Martinez, CA / Lancaster, PA

Location

Clinton, Illinois
United States
See map: Google Maps

Jasmine Garcia

2-year-old girl in foster care with Manuel Garay and Cookie Smith died of catastrophic injury to her head.The foster parents were initially charged with murder, but all charges were dropped.
Date: 2001-06-15
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Death by unknown cause
Abuser: Undetermined

Placement

Organizations: Bright Future Foster Family Agency

Location

Gardena, California
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children in care of Lottie Beasley

At least 3 of 4 children in care of Lottie R. Beasley and her husband were beaten with broomsticks, extension cords and plastic tubing. Boys ages 11 and 10, girls aged 6 and 3. One of the children was adopted, and 3 were in foster care with the Beasleys. Mrs. Beasley, the foster or adoptive mother was sentenced to 2.5 years in jail after pleading to third degree assault. The father was not charged.
Date: 2001-06-01
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother, Foster mother

Location

North Pole, Alaska
United States
See map: Google Maps

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
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by a St Francis couple

5 developmentally disabled children removed from their adoptive home where they were locked in their barren rooms for 14 hours/day. Two young foster children were also removed.
Date: 2001-03-27
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

St Francis, Wisconsin
United States
See map: Google Maps

Steven Bennett

4 year old boy adopted by special education teacher and former state social worker Wanda Bennett, who beat the boy regularly with shoes and tied him up with old socks to keep him from eating. The boy weighed 35 pounds when police removed him from the home. At All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, doctors reported finding six recent fractures and cigarette burns on his back. Wanda had 4 adopted children.
Date: 2001-03-07
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive mother

Placement

Post placement

Persons: Walter Skogland

Location

Bradenton, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

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
See map: Google Maps

Logan Marr

 

Five-year-old Logan Marr was found dead in the basement of her foster mother & father's home in Chelsea, Maine. The foster mother, Sally Schofield, a former caseworker for Maine's Department of Human Services (DHS), was convicted of manslaughter after police determined that Logan had died from asphyxiation after being bound with duct tape and strapped into a high chair in the basement.
Date: 2001-01-31
Placement type: Foster care
Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Foster mother

Placement

Organizations: Maine DHS

Location

Chelsea, Maine
United States
See map: Google Maps

Daughters of Pastor in Ocala, Fl

Two adopted daughters of a pastor in Ocala or Gainesville, Fl were sexually abused by their adopter. The eldest has a child from the pastor.
Date: 2001-01-11
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Ocala, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Sylvia and Michael Wenger

Date: 2001-01-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Location

Chewelah, Washington
United States
See map: Google Maps
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