Noah, 7, John, 5, Paul, 3, Luke, 2, and Mary, an infant, were drowned in the family’s bathtub by their mother, Andrea Yates, one after another. Yates believed that she had to kill her offspring as children lest they come of age and turn away from God. Yates had long suffered from depression, and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. The family lived in Texas, and Yates homeschooled her oldest child while the others had not yet reached school age.
Date: June 20, 2001
Location: Houston, Texas Read More
Posted: May 4, 2013 by rachel Leave a Comment
Nathaniel Michael Craver
Nathaniel Craver, who was adopted from Russia along with his twin sister, was hospitalized at age seven for physical injuries suffered at the hands of his parents, Michael J. Craver and Nanette L. Craver. Nathaniel died not long thereafter, having suffered irreparable brain injury. Nathaniel and his sister were homeschooled and the family lived in Pennsylvania. After Nathaniel’s death, his sister was taken into protective custody.
Date: August 19, 2009
Location: Dillsburg, Pennslyvania Read More
Posted: May 4, 2013 by rachel Leave a Comment
Valerie Charlene Lucie
Eleven year old Valerie Lucie hung herself after being brutally raped in the shower by her father, Timothy Lucie. Valerie was described as a happy and outgoing girl whose homeschool social calendar was filled with soccer and choir. While the family’s pastor initially defended the father and urged the congregation not to jump to conclusions, Lucie eventually confessed to the rape, explaining that he had told Valerie that she had better keep quiet because her mother would never believe her. The family lived in New York.
Date: September 30, 2003
Location: Onondaga County, New York Read More
Posted: May 4, 2013 by rachel Leave a Comment
Noah, John, Paul, Luke, and Mary Yates
Noah, 7, John, 5, Paul, 3, Luke, 2, and Mary, an infant, were drowned in the family’s bathtub by their mother, Andrea Yates, one after another. Yates believed that she had to kill her offspring as children lest they come of age and turn away from God. Yates had long suffered from depression, and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. The family lived in Texas, and Yates homeschooled her oldest child while the others had not yet reached school age.
Date: June 20, 2001
Location: Houston, Texas Read More
Posted: May 4, 2013 by rachel Leave a Comment
Lydia and Zariah Schatz
Lydia Schatz, adopted from Liberia, was seven when she succumbed to liver failure after being whipped with plastic tubing for several straight hours, interspersed with prayer breaks by her parents. Her parents, Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz, said Lydia was being disciplined for mispronouncing a word. Lydia’s sister Zariah, 11, also adopted, was hospitalized with similar injuries but ultimately recovered. The Schatzes, who were devout Christians, had six biological children in addition to their three adopted children. Neighbors described the California couple as loving and devout.
Date: February 6, 2010
Location: Paradise, Califonia Read More
Posted: May 4, 2013 by rachel Leave a Comment
Chandler Grafner
Seven year old Chandler Grafner starved to death at the hands of his guardian, Jon Phillips. In a case described as “horrific,” Phillips locked Chandler in a dark linen closet where he died of starvation and dehydration, surrounded by his own excrement and screaming for something to eat and drink. Phillips, the father of Chandler’s half brother, Dominic, had developed an intense dislike for Chandler and withdrew him from public school to homeschool him after teachers began to suspect that he was being abused.
Date: May 6, 2007
Location: Denver, Colorado
Last Updated: July 3, 2021 by rachel Leave a Comment
Dennis Gene Merryman
Dennis Merryman was 8 years old when he died of starvation. He had been adopted from Russia some years earlier along with four brothers and sisters. His Maryland parents, Samuel and Donna Merryman, devout Christians who served as Sunday school teachers, homeschooled Dennis and his siblings. When Dennis died in January of 2005, he weighed 37 pounds, 2 pounds lighter than he had when examined by a doctor in October of 2000.
Date: January 22, 2005
Location: Whiteford, Harford County, Maryland Read More
Last Updated: July 3, 2021 by rachel Leave a Comment
Samuel Hudson, and 5 Siblings
Samuel Hudson was thirteen years old when he died at the hands of Cynthia Hudson, his adoptive mother. Adoptive father William Hudson was charged with tampering with the evidence. Samuel was beaten to death with a broom handle, rake, computer cord, and baseball bat. Samuel and his siblings, all of whom were homeschooled, were frequently punished with brutal beatings and were sometimes confined to a prayer room. The family lived in Texas. After his death, Samuel’s five siblings, all also adopted, were taken into protective custody.
Date: December 3, 2008
Location: Queen City, Texas Read More
Posted: May 4, 2013 by rachel Leave a Comment
Brittany and Tatianna Jacks, N'Kiah and Aja Fogle
Brittany Jacks, 17, Tatianna Jacks, 11, N’Kiah Fogle, 6, and Aja Fogle, 5, were withdrawn from the Washington, D.C., public school system in March of 2007 to be homeschooled by their mother. In January of 2008, their bodies were discovered in an advanced state of decomposition by marshals serving an eviction notice. Their mother, Banita Jacks, 33, said that the four were “possessed by demons” and claimed that they had died in their sleep. Their bodies showed evidence of stabbing and strangulation. Jacks was tried and convicted.
Date: January 2008
Location: Washington, D.C. Read More
Posted: May 4, 2013 by rachel Leave a Comment
Tyler Gene McMillan
Thirteen year old Tyler Gene McMillan died after spending two nights tied to a tree in oppressively hot summer weather in North Carolina. The boy was homeschooled by his parents, Brice Bryan McMillan, 41, and Sandra Elizabeth McMillan, 36. Neighbors said the family kept to itself. The couple’s remaining two children, aged seven and nine, were taken into protective custody.
Date: June 2008
Location: Macclesfield, North Carolina Read More
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