Damascus Woman Charged With Abusing Her 6 Adopted Children

A Damascus woman is accused of abusing her six adopted children for years. Lora Loethen is facing child abuse, assault, neglect, and several other charges. She is currently being held without bond.

According to court documents, an investigation into Loethen began in March after one of her adopted kids told another adult that she did not feel safe going home. The child then told police Loethen was beating her since she came to the U.S. seven years ago.

Court documents also reveal Montgomery County Police were dispatched for incidents involving the family more than 65 times and police wrote more than 30 reports between August 2021 and March 2023. Most of those calls involved children attempting to run away, which in 2021, one child told police, “Loethen is verbally and physically abusive which is why he runs away.”

In May of 2022, two children also went to the Damascus Fire Station and told medics they had barely eaten or drank in four days. One of the children then told police Loethen has hit, thrown her down the stairs, kicked, shoved, slapped, and spat on her.

Although MCP received reports of assault, there wasn’t probable cause to make an arrest. Child Protective Services are tasked with calling to remove children from an unsafe environment. MyMCM reached out to CPS and did not hear back as of this writing.