Louisiana Domestic Adoption Scam UPDATED

“Heather Hill, 21, has been arrested for fraud, extortion, money laundering and racketeering. She was arrested in Texas and extradited to the Bossier Maximum Security Facility yesterday and is currently held at $180,000 bond.

Hill is said to placed her aborted child up for adoption and defrauded a family in Denham Springs, Louisiana out of thousands of dollars for the adoption.

Bossier Sheriff’s investigators discovered the family in Denham Springs was not Hill’s only victim. Two more families have emerged from the case – one from Kentucky and one from Virginia.”

“Hill allegedly attempted to adopt her aborted baby out to at least two families at the same time, one in Denham Springs and the other in Kentucky. However, the family from Virginia was set to adopt another child of Hill’s, a baby girl by the name of Aaliyah Lashay Hill. Aaliyah Hill is said to be one and one half years of age and could be anywhere, say Bossier Sheriff investigators.

This is not the first time Hill has been in trouble with the law. In December of last year, Hill was incarcerated for domestic abuse and possession of marijuana.

If you know anything about this case you are urged to call the Bossier Sheriff’s office at 318-965-2203. ”
Woman Arrested In Adoption Fraud Charge
[KTBS 6/3/11]

“The victims in Virginia flew here to meet Hill and the baby during the adoption process. The adoption fell through, but investigators are unable to locate baby Aaliyah. It is supposed that she was adopted out to another family, but investigators would like to make contact with this family in order to find out more details about Hill’s scandal and ensure Aaliyah’s safety.

Adoption scam arrest: Victims in three states
[KSLA 6/3/11 by Carolyn Roy]

Update: The adoption agency has yet to be identified. There are several large ones in Lake Charles.

“According to medical records, Hill was pregnant, but had an abortion at a local women’s clinic, Aug. 23. But in mid-October, she went to an adoption agency in Lake Charles, La., to put her unborn child up for adoption, signing the necessary paperwork.

Furthermore, Hill was not pregnant when she was incarcerated in December for domestic abuse and possession of marijuana. Medical records also show that she obtained birth control medicine in December and was still not pregnant in April. However, in March she signed a pre-surrender agreement with the adoption agency, showing her intent to have the child and give it up for adoption.

The Denham Springs family made preparations to adopt Hill’s child soon after she put it up for adoption. The family paid her on 25 different occasions for the child, totaling more than $6,800. All money was handled through the adoption agency. Hill called and texted the family on multiple occasions threatening to give the baby to another family if they did not pay her more money.

Last month, after the supposed birth, Hill told the family and the agency she no longer wanted to give up her child, which mother’s have the legal right to do. The adopting family gave Hill additional funds even after they found out that she was keeping the child. The family was concerned for the welfare of the infant and wanted to make sure the baby had the necessary supplies.

In the case that a mother decides to keep her child, she has to pay the adopting family back all of the money provided to her for the adoption, but Hill didn’t do so.”

Adoption scam nets additional victims
[Bossier Press 6/6/11]

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