Girl adopted at age 4 was beaten into a coma and subsequently died. Both adoptive parents have been arrested.

An 11-year-old boy in foster care with Wanda Sue Larson and Dorian Harper was found on the porch in his underwear, handcuffed and a dead chicken tied around his neck. Wanda Sue Larson and Dorian Harper also had four adopted children which were underfed, and regularly chained to pieces of rail road. Larson was a supervisor for the Union County Department of Social Services, North Carolina.

Asunta Yong Fang Basterra Porto, a 12 year old girl adopted from China as an infant, was found dead shortly after she was reported missing by her parents. Her divorced parents, Rosario Porto and Alfonso Basterra, have both been arrested.  According to reports, the motive could be economic; researchers are trying to determine if the girl was the recipient of an inheritance left by the maternal grandparents.

Two out of nine children adopted by a woman from Mendon, Utah, used an electric dog collar as a means to discipline the children in her care.

A 12-year-old girl, adopted by Dave and Wonda Dixon, was allegedly sexually and physically abused. She was also deprived of food. The Dixon's had adopted a total of 10 children.

Girl adopted by man from Blackman Township, MI, was sexually abused by her adoptive father.

3 children adopted from Ukraine by Ukrainian natives Lev Dzyuba and his late wife Larisa Dzyuba were allegedly locked in their rooms for several months after Larisa's death from cancer. Lev's 2 sisters helped with the children, who were homeschooled, after Larisa's death.

Five children were adopted by Bernie and Melissa Harmon, in 2008. The couple confined the children in an attic, barely fed them, hit them with a whip and kept them out of school. Bernie Harmon is also accused of child molestation.

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).

A boy, adopted by Lee M Rager and  Diana J. Haley was allegedly tortured by his adoptive parents. He was kept locked in his room and tied up while being beaten. The boy was removed from school twice to prevent further investigations into child abuse.