Cases

7-year-old boy adopted by Timothy David Johnson and Sarah Nicole Johnson died died of acute pancreatitis and possible sepsis because his adoptive parentsdid not take him to a doctor.

Seth was underweight and “had bruising on his cheek, forearms, chest, buttocks, and lower abdomen. He also had two large lesions on the back of each heel that were consistent with pressure ulcers. The Johnsons treatinged him with prayer, Neosporin, and “medical honey”.

The Johnson's fled to New Zealand after being charged, but were eventuall arrested and put on trial. Both were found guilty and sentenced to 1 year in prison for child neglect.

Five children adopted by Tinitale and April Makalea were physically abused and deprived of necessities by their adoptive father. He also sexually abused one of the girls. He pleaded guilty to two of the charges in 2017 and was sentenced 45 days in jail and five years of probation. April Makalea was charged with witness tampering, as police said she knew of the abuse but did not report it and told the girl not to report it.

At the time 17-year-old girl adopted by Miny Knapp ran away from home after years of abuse. She and other adopted children were beaten and locked in with no toilet, sometimes for a week at a time.

Two sisters from Poland were sourced for adoption by European Adoption Consultants (EAC) in 2015. One of the girls was placed with a couple in Utah, who told the agency they could only care for one child. The left-over child was placed with agency worker Debra Parris son John Tufts and his wife Georgiana. The authorities in the US and in Poland were never told about this arrangement and the Tufts were never vetted by adoption officials. The girl placed with the Tufts went on to be sexually abused by her adoptive father.

7-year-old boy, adopted by Stephen Bauer and Megan Finlan was physically abused by his adoptive parents. They also withheld food from him and locked him up regularly. The adoptive parents were sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison.