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.

Four girls adopted by Henrique Cruz, were sexually abused for more than six years by their adoptive father.

Henrique Cruz was sentence to 40 years in prison.

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.

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.