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Abused adoptees - Abuse case list

Buddy Cook



Four-year-old boy adopted by David and Angel Cook, died of starvation. The boy had been adopted nine months prior after allegedly having been sexually abused by his biological mother and several men. Buddy Cook died of dehydration and malnutrition. David and Angel Cook were charged with felony injury.
Date: 2013-03-22
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Cleburne, Texas
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by John and Carolyn Jackson

Three children adopted from foster care by John and Carolyn Jackson were allegedly assaulted with various objects by the adopters. The children allegedly sustained fractured bones, which no medical attention was sought for. Furthermore, the children were allegedly withheld food and water and were forced to to consume food that caused them pain and suffering, such as red pepper flakes, hot sauce, and/or raw onion.

One of the three children adopted by John and Carolyn Jackson died May 8, 2008.

John and Carolyn Jackson home schooled their children and claim the Department of Youth and Family Services persecute them for their religious beliefs. John E. Jackson is a Major in the U.S. Army.
Date: 2010-04-16
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes
Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

Mount Holly, New Jersey
United States
See map: Google Maps

Lucretia and Sabrina Day

11-year-old Lucretia and 12-year-old Sabrina, both orphans, adopted by philanthropist Thomas Day, were "trained-up" to become his wife.   Soon after he acquired the girls, he changed the girls’ names and moved to France with the purpose of isolating them from other English speakers and keeping them free from other influence.  Thomas Day quickly abandoned Lucretia because he found her to be "perfectly stupid". Sabrina was kept longer.  In an attempt to make her strong, Day tortured her physically by dripping hot wax on her back and arms while insisting she not scream in pain. Eventually he abandoned Sabrina too.
Date:
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

United States

Boy adopted by Lori Wiley-Drones and Edward Drones

A boy adopted from foster care by Edward and Lori Drones had all but $15 of his $830,000 trust fund spent by his adoptive parents in the 12 months after they gained control of the funds. They adopted the previously abused boy at age 11 and successfully sued the State of Alaska on his behalf a few years later.
Date: 2010-01-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Economic exploitation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Anchorage, Alaska
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girl adopted by Lian

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

Location

Shenzhen, Guangdong
China

Boy adopted by Jay Ram (Gary Winnick)

A boy adopted at age 10 from California in 1983 by Jay Ram (aka Gary Winnick) was later sexually, physically and psychologically abused while living on the Big Island. The boy was isolated on a farm and required to work. Ram had at least 6 boys (5 adopted and 1 foster) in 1993. He also had 3 adult sons, unclear of bio/adopted status.
Tehama County California had investigated physical abuse allegations in mid 1980's. A visiting boy reported sexual abuse in 1992.
Jay Ram worked for the Tropical Rural and Island/Atoll Development Experiment Station (TRIADES) and later Agrinom. He is believed to have moved to Saipan.
Date: 1985-01-01
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Economic exploitation
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Hakalau, Hawaii
United States
See map: Google Maps

Vanessa Pearce


Vanessa Pearce born in India, stolen as a 4 year old, was adopted by a Canadian family at age 8 in 1978. She was sexually abused by her adoptive father. At age 14 she was removed from the family. She was later sexually abused in foster homes.
See also The horrifying story of Vanessa Pearce
Date: 1984-01-01
Placement type: Adoption
Institution: Holy Angels Convent, Trivandrum, Kerala
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Placement

Organizations: Kuan-Yin Foundation
Persons: Clarice D'Souza

Location

Nelson, British Columbia
Canada
See map: Google Maps

Girl adopted by man in Bermuda

Girl adopted as a baby from 'a developing country' was sexually abused by her adoptive father for at least 2 years while she was 8 and 9 years old. The unnamed adoptive father referred to as Mr. X has a history of sexual assaults beginning in 1954.
He was sentenced to 4 years for sexual touching.
Date: 2013-01-24
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

Bermuda

Alexei Nickavick Kelly

Adopted from Russia along with 2 bio brothers, Alexei Kelly (Alexei Nickolayevick?) was beaten by his adoptive father. Later, the family sold their farm and lived in a bus.
Date: 2012-02-14
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father

Location

North Island - location
New Zealand

Andrew Arthur Butler

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

Placement

Location

Hedgesville, West Virginia
United States
See map: Google Maps

Girl adopted by Cindy Patriarchias

8-year-old girl adopted by Cindy Patriarchias was locked up in a home made wooden cage, while her adoptive mother and  her live-in boyfriend Edmond Gonzales went out.
Date: 2013-01-28
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal neglect
Abuser: Adoptive mother, Other non-family member
Disabilities: yes

Location

Las Cruces, New Mexico
United States
See map: Google Maps

Children adopted by Donald and Linda Hannah

A girl and a boy adopted by Donald and Linda Hannah were physically abused by their adoptive parents. The girl was also sexually abused by her adoptive father. When the girl reported the sexual abuse to her adoptive mother, she was accused of lying. The girl was also made to sleep outside as punishment.
Date: 2013-02-14
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Sexual abuse
Abuser: Adoptive father, Adoptive mother

Location

Crum, West Virginia
United States
See map: Google Maps

Two children adopted by Ingrid Brewer

Palmdale resident Ingrid Brewer reported to the sheriff's department that her two adoptive children were missing on January 15. Deputies searching for the children, an 8-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl, found them lying near a parked vehicle on a street near their residence hiding under a blanket. The children were not wearing warm clothing despite temperatures in the mid-20s.

The two children told deputies they ran away from Brewer because they were tired of being tied up and beaten by her. They told deputies that Brewer locked them up in separate bedrooms when she went to work every day, and that on numerous occasions she tied their wrists with zip-ties and beat them, sometimes with an electrical cord or a hammer. They were also reportedly deprived of food.

Both kids had injuries consistent with their descriptions of abuse, including wrist marks indicating zip-tie restraint.

Date: 2013-01-15
Placement type: Adoption
Type of abuse: Non-lethal physical abuse, Non-lethal neglect, Non-lethal deprivation
Abuser: Adoptive mother
Home schooling: yes

Placement

Organizations: Aspiranet

Location

United States

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

Placement

Persons: Orson Mozes

Location

Seven Oaks, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps

Christopher Saitta

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

Location

Oceanside, New York
United States
See map: Google Maps
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