How The Oregonian reported this story

The Oregonian's investigation of Adrianna Romero Cram's abuse in Mexico involved months of reporting that included dozens of interviews in Oregon and Mexico, and reviews of hundreds of pages of documents.

Reporter Michelle Cole spearheaded the Oregon records work, using repeated requests under the state public records law to obtain documents from the Department of Human Services and other court records. Not all the records were released. The Oregonian has asked the Oregon Supreme Court to require the release of the court order that sent Adrianna to Mexico.

Cole also interviewed caseworkers, supervisors, policy managers, court officials and child welfare experts in other states.

Reporter Susan Goldsmith and photographer/videographer Faith Cathcart, both Spanish speakers, traveled to Omealca, Mexico, in February. They interviewed Adrianna's teachers and the state prosecutor, and met Elizabeth Romero Marin in a Veracruz prison.

In Oregon, Goldsmith and Cathcart met multiple times with Tausha Cram, Adrianna's biological mother, and attended a memorial service for Adrianna last year.

In Mexico, all court records pertaining to a criminal prosecution are sealed; only parties to the prosecution and their attorneys are allowed copies. Cram gave reporters confidential court documents she was allowed to obtain because she was Adrianna's biological mother. Goldsmith confirmed the authenticity of the documents in interviews with court officials and Adrianna's teachers in Mexico.