Child of Lee Ann and Troy Miller

On March 12, 2004, law enforcement found Lee Ann Miller’s 17-year-old daughter living in squalor in the basement of the family home. The girl had been withdrawn from public school 3 years prior, supposedly to begin homeschooling. Soon… Read More

6 Children of Patrick McMullen

Patrick McMullen raped his daughters, beat his wife and sons, and isolated his family in a converted nightclub with an eight-foot double fence from 1995 to 2001. Patrick, who was active in the John Birch Society, covered the… Read More

Chrystal Ramirez and Sister

Chrystal Ramirez, 8 years old, died of abuse suffered at the hands of her adoptive parents, Rubin Stephen and Bettie Ramirez. She was beaten with a cane until her brain bled, and was also starved and severely malnourished…. Read More

Brian Edgar and 2 Siblings

Brian Edgar, aged 9 years, died of asphyxiation after a sock was put in his mouth and he was covered from head to toe in duct tape as a punishment for stealing cookies. Doctors found that the boy… Read More

Rachel L., Jonathan L., and Mary Grace L.

At age 14, Rachel contacted police saying she had run away from home. When questioned by the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), she said her father beat her with a stick, hanger, or shoe, that she… Read More

Child of Peter and Deedra Mitchell

Peter and Deedra Mitchell withheld food from their six year old adopted son, locked him in a basement, forced him to sleep on a rubber mat, handcuffed him, and hung him upside down in a garage, spinning him… Read More

Child of Matthew and Amy Sweeney

An 8 year old adopted son of Matthew and Amy Sweeney ran away from home after yet another beating and sought help from a neighbor. The child had deep bruising across his arms and back that indicated that… Read More

Adam Herrman

Doug and Valerie Herrman are accused of abusing their adopted son, Adam, and of not reporting he was missing after his 1999 disappearance at age 11 or 12. The couple continued to collected adoption subsidy payments until what… Read More

Children of Tom and Debra Schmitz

All 18 of the children living with Tom and Debra Schmitz, some adopted and some biological, were removed from their home after a nurse in their employ reported abuse and neglect. Many of the children had been placed… Read More

Jeanette Marie Maples

Jeannette Marie Maples was 16 when paramedics arrived at her home to find her dead. A Department of Human Services worker described the girl’s death as “horrific” and her mother, Angela Darlene McAnulty, and stepfather, Richard Anthony, were both… Read More