exposing the dark side of adoption
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Cases

abuse case
The assumption behind child-placement is that the safety and living conditions of a child improve. These cases demonstrate that this assumption is often invalid.
child trafficking case
There is often a fine line between adoption and child trafficking. In many cases this line is being crossed.
coerced adoption case
Adoption is assumed to be the result of a choice made by the parents of the child. These cases demonstrate women are pressured to give up their children.
deportation case
Adoptions before 1997, didn't automatically lead to naturalization. As result, people adopted from outside the outside US that ran into problems with the justice system face deportation to their country of birth.
disrupted placement case
Although the adoptive family is called the "forever family" by the adoption industry, adoptions can end in disruption. These cases demonstrate that the "forever family" is sometimes only temporary
father's rights violation case
Adoption requires the consent of both biological parents. These cases demonstrate that the rights of fathers in adoption cases are being violated.
wrongful medication case
Children in foster care can have serious mental health issues. Too often these children are given large doses of psychotropic medications, just to keep them quiet.
wrongful removal case
The removal of children from their family's should always be a last resort. These cases demonstrate that Child Protective Services sometimes remove children for all the wrong reasons
abuse case
2011 Jul 6

2 girls adopted by Verna A. Kennerson were allegedly abused by their adoptive mother. The girls were allegedly denied food, were allegedly whipped on their legs until they bled, and one of the girls was struck in the face with a wooden object, chipping her tooth.

In addition, it's alleged while attenting school, the two girls had to wear a piece of paper stapled to the back of their clothing which read, "We work as a team, we lie and steal."

Verna Kennerson passed away a few months after her arrest.

abuse case
2011 Jul 5
A boy and a girl, adopted by Heidi L. Robinson, were choked to the point where he couldn’t breathe.
abuse case
2011 Jun 30
Scott and Drew Anne Hamrick adopted five girls from foster care while having three sons of their own. Four of the girls were sexually abused by their adoptive father, while three were physically abused by their adoptive mother. The girls were locked up and starved. The adoptive mother knew about the sexual abuse, but did nothing in response.

Scott Hamrick committed suicide soon after investigations started. Drew Anne pleaded guilty to witness tampering.
abuse case
2011 Jun 18
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.
abuse case
2011 Jun 15

Four siblings, currently (as of June 2011) in the age between 11 and 14, were allegedly abused by their adoptive parents. Between 2002 and 2008, several referrals of physical and emotional abuse were made, but were regarded unfounded after the children retracted their allegations.

In June 2010, one of the children again made allegations of physical and emotional abuse of the adoptive parents, initially backed up by one of the siblings, who later retracted the support of the allegations.

The Court of Appeals of California, Second District, Division Eight, believed the children were pressured by the adoptive parents to retract their allegations, threatening them with homelessness.

abuse case
2011 May 27
Girl adopted by couple in Kent, UK, was sexually and physically abused by her adoptive father.
abuse case
2011 May 13
Adopted son and 3 foster children removed from the home after allegations of molestation of other children.

John Michael McGuigan was also the foster home of Gabriel Myers until 3 weeks before Gabriel's suicide
abuse case
2011 May 12
Hana Williams  Hana Grace-Rose Williams  Two videos, before and after Hana Williams

13-year-old girl adopted from Ethiopia in 2008, by Larry and Carri Williams, died after being forced to stay outside the home on a rainy night. Hana Williams had Hepatitis B and was adopted at age 10 along with an unrelated 7 yr old deaf boy, Immanuel from Kidane Mihret orphanage. Williams had 7 bio children.

Both adopted children were beaten with various implements, hosed off, and forced to eat wet sandwiches and frozen food outdoors. Hana was frequently locked in a closet and made to sleep in a barn. She was required to use an outdoor hose to shower and port a pot for elimination.

The coroner said Hana's cause of death was “hypothermia and chronic starvation caused by a parent’s intentional food restriction, severe neglect, physical and emotional abuse and stunning endangerment.” Hana had H Pylori and Giardia (easily treated parasites). Hana weighed 78 lbs, having lost 30 pounds in the year prior to her death, and was about the same weight as when she arrived from Ethiopia 3 years earlier.

The Williams attended several churches but were home churching around the time Hana died. The Williams read and recommended "How to Train Up a Child". Both children were homeschooled and beaten with a belt, wooden spoon, a plumbing supply rod, and a gluestick.
child trafficking case
2011 May 10
Children seized by family planning in Longhui County, Hunan province and placed for adoption in exchange for money.
abuse case
2011 Apr 27
A 16 year old girl adopted by Stacey Garrett Begay and his wife Terry D. Begay was sexually abused for months before being discovered by Mrs. Begay who fired shots at both her daughter and Stacey Begay. Stacey provided a written confession. Later he recanted and requested he be allowed to be free so “that I can keep on doing Jehovah’s will.” Begay is a Jehovah's Witness. Mrs. Begay was charged with perjury after Begay's conviction as she was not cooperative on the stand.
DNA proof showed that Stacey was the father of his adopted daughter's child.

Stacey Begay was found guilty of abuse in two separate trials.