Missing children abuse cases

15-year-old Erica Parson was taken in by Casey and Sandy Parsons two weeks after her birth, and adopted two years later. In November 2011 she went missing, however the adoptive parents never reported this to authorities. Upon investigation allegations of continuous abuse were made.

Erica was abused and maltreated by her adoptive parents, who encouraged their other children to abuse the girl.

Note: Given the preliminary state of this case, the abuse has been labeled "non-lethal neglect" (for the failure to report Erica Parson's disappearance).

Date: 2013-07-30

Placement type: Adoption

Type of abuse: Non-lethal neglect

Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Home schooling: yes

Location

Salisbury, North Carolina
United States

See map: Google Maps

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

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

Date: 2010-12-01

Placement type: Adoption

Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse, Economic exploitation

Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Krasnodon, Luhans'k
Ukraine

9-year-old girl adopted by Kimberly Dye was murdered by her 18-year-old adoptive brother. Several reports about abuse had been ignored by Kentucky authorities.

Date: 2011-02-07

Placement type: Adoption

Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse

Abuser: Non-adopted sibling

Location

Trenton, Kentucky
United States

See map: Google Maps

  Austin (left) Edward (right)
Two brothers, adopted by Edward and Linda Bryant, both went missing. Edward (age 9 at the time) disappeared in 2001. Austin (age 7 at the time) disappeared in 2003. One of the boys was reportedly denied food, spanked, forced to run up and down stairs and rolled up tightly in blankets as punishment. Bryants reported they were advised to roll the children in blankets "like a burrito" by a Colorado therapist.

The Bryant's moved to Texas in 2005 and never declared the boys missing. They kept receiving adoption subsidies for the remainder of the decade, grossing in $175,000. They were arrested early 2011.

Date: 2011-01-22

Placement type: Adoption

Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse

Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Home schooling: yes

Location

Monument, Colorado
United States

See map: Google Maps

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

Date: 1985-01-01

Placement type: Adoption

Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse

Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Wakefield, West Yorkshire
United Kingdom

 

13-year-old girl adopted by Alfreedia Gregg-Glover, disappeared on January 7, 2009. Her dead body was found two weeks later in a Woodbridge, Va, creek. Freedia Glover was later arrested for killing Alexis.

Date: 2009-01-07

Placement type: Adoption

Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse

Abuser: Adoptive mother

Home schooling: yes

Location

Manassas, Virginia
United States

See map: Google Maps

  

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

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

  

3 year old boy adopted by Tim and Mary Jane King, slain by his adoptive mother, who first claimed he had been kidnapped, later she confessed to killing him. Ahmad had been hit more than 50 times with the pipe and a belt buckle. Ahmad had been adopted just a month before his death. Mrs. King was also charged with abusing Ahmad's foster sister. She was sentenced for life.

Date: 2006-01-23

Placement type: Adoption

Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse

Abuser: Adoptive mother

Location

Alma, Georgia
United States

See map: Google Maps

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

Location

Summit Township, Michigan
United States

See map: Google Maps

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

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

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

Date: 1992-01-01

Placement type: Adoption

Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse

Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Bear Rocks, Pennsylvania
United States

See map: Google Maps