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
2022 Jan

A boy adopted by Timothy and Tracy Ferriter was locked up in a box-like structure in the garage. 

abuse case
2022 Jan

Three siblings adopted by Roy and Garland Malcolm were severely punished by their adoptive mother. One of the children, a 6-year-old boy has permanent brain damage as a result. Garland Malcolm received 32 years in prison.

abuse case
2021 Oct 30

13-year-old Felicity and 9-year-old Barrett Kreb adopted by Christof M. Kreb and Yvette M. Siegert-Kreb were killed in a murder-suicide where their adoptive father killed the entire family and then took his own life. Felicity was adopted from China, while Barrett was adopted from Albania. Both were born with dwarfism.

Isabella Kalua

public
abuse case
2021 Sep 12

6-year-old girl adopted by Isaac and Lehua Kalua kept her in a dog cage in the bathroom with duct tape on her mouth and declined food. In September 2021, Isabella was reported to be missing. On July 27, 2023 a judge declared the girl deceased. The Kalua's have been arrested for second degree murder and are awaiting trial.

Najir W. Diehl

public
abuse case
2021 Sep 5

11-year-old boy adopted by Mary E. Diehl died of ingestion of methanol, which was given to him by his adoptive mother. She was charged with criminal homicide and plead no contest to murder in the third degree and serves 10 to 20 years in prison.

abuse case
2021 Jun

Children adopted by Karey Hedlund were physically abuse by their adoptive mother. The children were struck with a wood backscratcher, the edge of a wood paddle and the handle of a flyswatter and were locked out of the residence during the day, sometimes without access to food or water. The children were being pushed outside in underwear as it was starting to snow. Hedlund was further accused of biting a victim's fingers until they bled as punishment for biting fingernails; withholding meals when the children did not obey orders; slapping the victims and pulling their hair; and chasing victims with a four-wheeler. Hedlund was accused of locking one victim in a pet cage for 2.5 days as a punishment. The victim was allegedly not let out of the cage to use the toilet and Hedlund was accused of pouring bleach into the cage to clean it while the victim was still inside.

abuse case
2021 May

6-year-old girl adopted by Sophie Hartman was allegedly being given unnecessary medical treatments at the urging of her mother. The child has a surgically implanted feeding tube, a cecostomy tube to flush out the intestines and leg braces and a wheelchair that doctors said the child did not need. 

abuse case
2021 May

 33-month-old girl adopted by a couple from Hwaseong, was beaten to death by her adoptive father.

abuse case
2021 May

Girl adopted by Gerald C. Simmons was sexually abused by him since the age of 12. Simmons was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with 15 years fixed and the remaining time indeterminate.

Aaron Carter

public
abuse case
2021 Feb 16

6-year-old boy about to be adopted by Carl and Tyler Zachare died while in their care. Aaron suffered from autism and apparently hit his head on the tub while throwing a tantrum.