REFORM Talk’s Forgotten Angels 2015

In 2015,  we honor US adopted children that are missing; missing and presumed dead;  and/or related to the out-of-original family placements and surrogacy industry that are otherwise forgotten since December 2014 and years earlier that we have discovered.

This post includes all child deaths and children missing from US foster care or adoptions and adult adoptee deaths as well as those otherwise forgotten that we could find.

 

Missing

Erica Lynn Parsons. See here. From Rowan County, North Carolina, homeschooled adoptee Erica Lynn Parsons was just reported missing on July 30, 2013 by her older brother. She was last seen on November 19, 2011. Casey Parsons pleaded guilty in Winston-Salem to 16 federal fraud charges.Erica’s adoptive father, Sandy Parsons, was sentenced to eight years. Her adoptive mother, Casey Parsons, was sentenced to 10 years.

Still Missing

The 400 children presumably disrupted from Russia. See here.

Still Missing and Presumed Dead

In 2011, it was brought to light that two adoptees from the same family were missing: Austin and Edward Dylan Bryant. See the case  here.

A child nicknamed Moo, foster child of Judith Leekin . See the case here.

Rilya Wilson, 4, went missing in December 2000. In 2011, her foster mother was ordered to trial. It was delayed until end of 2012. Geralyn Graham was sentenced to 55 years in 2013 though they haven’t found Rilya’s body. See  here.

Jhessye Shockley. See here. Jhessye’s mother, Jerice Hunter, had been convicted of child abuse and served 4 years in a California prison. After being released in 2010,  Arizona CPS allowed Jerice to take custody of Jhessye from Shirley. On a day in October 2011 when Shirley Johnson was in Maricopa County Superior Court for a custody hearing, Jerice reported Jhessye  as missing. Jhessye’s body has never been found.

Hasanni Campbell. See here. From Fremont, California, disabled foster child Hasanni Campbell, who was five when he disappeared on  August 10, 2009. His foster mother was his aunt.His foster father, Louis Ross, told police he parked in a Rockridge neighborhood, taking his daughter into a shoe store while leaving Hasanni, who wore leg braces due to cerebral palsy, inside the car. When he returned, Hasanni was gone.

Reader-Shared

Xavier Jones. From China. See here.

Brooke Joss. From China. This child with Down Syndrome died from Pneumonia. Seehere .

 

Child Deaths-International Adoption
Mieya Daniel. From Guatemala. From Medina, Ohio, 63-Year-old adoptive father “is believed to have committed suicide after shooting his wife” and special-needs adoptive daughter.”A gun believed to have been used for the commission of the crime was found clasped in the hands of the 35-year-old man, who had one bullet wound on the forehead. William Nemeth, 63; Michelle Nemeth, 47; and Mieya Daniel, 12, were found dead Sept. 18, 2015 at the Pinewood Estate condominium complex, Medina County Coroner Neil Grabenstetter said Friday. The girl was Michelle Nemeth’s adopted daughter from a previous marriage.

Russian Adoptee. See here. From Brown Deer, Wisconsin, The boy was born in Russia and adopted by an Oak Creek family when he was 9. The family was unable to take care of the child, and he was placed in the state-licensed group home.The boy was depressed. Sometime during the night of July 14, 2015 , foster parent Jermarro Dantzler told investigators, the boy sneaked out of the house and, using a nylon belt, hanged himself.
Adult Adoptee Deaths
Courtney Liltz. See here. From Schaumburg, Illinois, Adoptive mother Bonnie Liltz, and her 28-year-old adopted daughter, Courtney, were found unresponsive in their beds on May 27, 2015.“A Schaumburg woman is accused of forcing her severely disabled daughter to take a lethal combination of drugs.” Courtney Liltz had cerebral palsy, needed constant care and had severe mental and physical disabilities, officials said. She died on June 1, 2015. Bonnie has been charged with first-degree murder. She pled not guilty in July 2015.This case is ongoing.
Child Deaths-Adoption

Hannah Hoag. See here. From Wyoming, Michigan,Rebecca Cotes, 26, is accused of neglecting her daughter’s medical condition, which required a certain level of care, police said. Hannah Hoag was found dead in her crib on the morning of March 24.[2014]” She was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in October 2015.
Alex and Benjie Vidinhar. See here. From Farmington, Utah, adoptive brother Aza Ray Vidinhar,17, “stabbed his adopted siblings, Alex, 10, and four-year-old Benjie, a total of 116 times while he was babysitting them at his family’s home in West Point, Utah, on May 22, 2013.” He has been sentenced to  15 years to life in adult prison.
Edgar Morey. See here. From Duluth,Minnesota, 17-year-old Edgar Morey died of an apparent suicide on August 11, 2015. Edgar’s adoptive father, Scott Morey, a Lutheran pastor, was charged in December with 16 counts of criminal sexual conduct, after he was accused of assaulting Edgar and two other children.
Erika Hill. See here. From Fitchburg, Wisconsin, 15-year old adopted niece Erika Hill was abused in 2007  and burned and then “ultimately dumped it in a garage in Gary, Indiana.” Taylin Hill [also goes by Minnie and Marie Hill],her aunt ,was charged in the death of her adopted daughter eight years ago. Erika Hill had been Jane Doe since her body was found in 2007, stashed in a Gary garage, beaten,strangled and burned. Taylin was charged with homicide and child abuse charges after she waived her right to a preliminary hearing.This case is ongoing.
Michael Tomassian. See here. From Los Angeles. California, Adoptee Michael Tomassian, 1 year old, “was found strapped into a high chair, had choked on the food and died.” on October 4, 2015.“A mother and her one-year-old son were found dead in their apartment, with her two-year-old boy left scavenging for food and water.
La’Marion Jordan.See here. From Lancaster, South Carolina, Robert Jordan, 47, of Lancaster, was arrested Tuesday and has been charged with homicide by child abuse stemming from the death of his 5-year-old son, La’Marion Jordan.Lancaster County authorities received a call on September 4 , 2015 concerning the death of the child. Robert told them that the child, who had a disability, fell out of his wheelchair and hit his head on the floor the day before. Jordan drove the child to the hospital where he died as a result of blunt force trauma to his head.Robert Jordan is charged with homicide by child abuse  of La’Marion Jordan, who had cerebral palsy.
Child Deaths-Guardianship
Delylah Tara and Shaun Tara. See here. From Redding, California, Guardian and Kinship Aunt Tami Joy Huntsman,39, and her 17-year-old boyfriend, Gonzalo Curiel, “are behind bars and facing charges of felony child abuse, torture, and mayhem, after the gruesome discovery in Redding, California, on Monday night.[December 14, 2015]” A woman who was arrested after the bodies of a three-year-old girl and six-year-old boy were found shoved inside plastic tote containers hidden away in a storage locker said her career was: ‘Being The Best Mom I Can Be’.”.Homicide detectives said they believe three year old Delylah and six year old Shaun were slain in Salinas on Nov. 27 or Nov. 28,2015.Tami joy and Gonzalo have been charged with murder, torture and child-abuse charges.
Child Deaths-Group-Respite Home/RTC/Hospital/Juvenile Justice Facility

16 year old Van Vleck house student. See here. From Jackson, Wyoming, the 16 year old male student, was found unresponsive just after 10 p.m. Thursday June 25,2015, according to Teton Youth and Family Services and call logs from Teton County Dispatch.It was a suicide.

Elord Revolte. See here. From Miami, Florida, “A 17-year-old boy in the custody of state juvenile justice administrators was grievously injured in a melee at Miami-Dade County’s long troubled lockup, in late August 2015, but he was not sent to the hospital until the next day.Five staffers, including three supervisors, were fired for violations linked to Elord’s death that include failing to oversee detained children and falsifying official reports.Police and prosecutors must determine who is criminally responsible. This case is still pending.

Kencia Derat. See here. From Sorrento, Florida, in September 2015, group home resident Kencia Derat, 12, “was found unresponsive” in a Betty’s Home & Health Services home.She later died in a Florida hospital.The family said the girl was sexually abused before she died. Kencia had cerebral palsy and in 2012 was moved into a group home.The Lake County Sheriff’s Department said there is not yet a criminal case; it is considered an open death investigation.

Male Teenager. See here. From Goshen, New York, “a mentally disabled teenager who died while under state care in 2013 writhed in excruciating pain for months when a doctor ignored his rejection of a stomach feeding tube, according to a watchdog group that faulted the state’s oversight agency for not substantiating neglect in the case.Saint Dominic’s home was never charged.

Child Deaths-US Foster Care 

Xavier Brothers-Bartholomew. See here. From Cleveland, Ohio, 10-year-old Special Needs Foster Child Xavier Brothers-Bartholomew “was found in full arrest when EMS crews responded .” “The boy was taken to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead in January 2015.They said it was an accident.

Steven Unangst. See here. From Contra Costa, California, 16-year-old youth, Steven Unangst, ” was found dead in his bed” after ” taking psychotropic medications” on December 19, 2014. [P]olice and state social services officials are investigating why he didn’t receive medical care after he showed signs of being heavily impaired. No charges were filed even though “Steven slurred his speech, had trouble focusing and needed help walking, according to court reports and a cellphone video taken by his father. Steven’s father and grandmother implored Schwartz [his foster mother] to take him to one of two hospitals located within a mile of the sandwich shop where the family visit took place.” A lawsuit has been filed.

Kenyon Slacks. See here. From Hephzibah, Georgia, Foster mom Elizabeth Osei, age 52, “is charged with the murder of Kenyon Slacks, her 3-year-old foster child.”“Kenyon Slacks died last June.[2014] A toxicology report delivered to a grand jury earlier in January showed that little Kenyon was “positive for morphine 0.27mg/L,”The lethal range for the drug is between .2 and 2.3mg/L.” This case is ongoing.

Justice Hull. See  here. From Dallas Texas, Justice’s mom received approval from Child Protective Services to leave her baby in the care of a friend. But when that friend left for work Monday morning, police say her 14-year-old daughter murdered the 2-month-old infant in January 2015. She received 40 years in prison.

Codrick Mantrell McCall Jr. See here. From Houston, Texas, 4-year-old Codrick Mantrell McCall Jr., “somehow got hold of a loaded handgun and shot himself” to death in late February 2015. Foster mother  Franchesia Parrish has been charged with misdemeanor making a firearm accessible to a child. This case is ongoing.

12-Year-Old Foster son. See here. From Palm Bay, Florida, a 12-year-old foster son “accidentally hanged himself on Sunday night March 8, 2015, according to the Palm Bay Police Department.” The  child was playing in the backyard alone for about 20 minutes on a “Tarzan” style rope swing, with an open loop at the bottom, when he allegedly got wrapped in the loop and asphyxiated.

Bryson Lowell. See here. From Fletcher, Oklahoma, Heather Valentine Adams, a 24-year-old foster mom  “is in jail following an infant’s death Sunday night that is currently being investigated as a homicide on March 15, 2015. She is set for a trial on May 13, 2016.

Ka’ron Mason. See here. From Fredericksburg, Virginia, foster father David John Marcussen, 33, was indicted by a Stafford County Special Grand Jury “in the death of the 12-month-old foster son, Ka’ron Mason. ” Stafford sheriffs say the 33-year-old man was giving the boy a bath earlier this year when the child suffered burns to his face, torso and neck. Child Protective Services notified detectives on January 6. Ka’ron was flown to VCU Medical Center where he died on February 1., 2015.“The death of a child in the care of a foster family in Stafford County has been ruled an accident. “Death was ruled  for “complications from thermal injuries.”

Tamiah Hamilton. See here. From Lawrenceville, Georgia, Kinship Adoptive Father Rodney Hamilton was arrested for the death of his adopted 3-year-old daughter, Tamiah Hamilton.“The case stretches back to January 30, 2015, when Tamiah Hamilton was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center with reports of a seizure. The medical examiner determined she had a closed head trauma with a subdural hematoma. During that second interview, police say Hamilton offered no explanation for the severe head trauma. He was charged with Felony Murder and Cruelty to Children in the 1st degree. He remains in the Gwinnett County Detention Center.”

 Aaliyah Rodriguez. See here. From Houston, Texas, 6-month-old foster daughter Aaliyah Rodriguez is dead on May 7, 2015. CPS said there was a “little accident.” She sustained head trauma and severe brain damage. No charges have been filed.

Callen Lee Mullins. See here.  From Franklin County, Virginia, foster mom Hope Perdue “was arriagned [sic] Wednesday [May 13,2015] morning in Franklin County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court” “facing charges of second degree murder and felony abuse and neglect after the death of a [3-year-old] toddler in her care” on May 11, 2015.”According to the warrants investigators say they saw “O” shaped marks on the child’s body.”This case is ongoing.

Kalisha Hill. See here. From Marion, Illinois, “Marion Police have launched an investigation into the death of a 10-month-old girl, who died Wednesday morning, May 20, 2015. No charges have been filed.

Madison Parrott. See here. From Lacombe, Louisiana, foster mother,40-year-old Trenique Faciane “was previously booked with one count of felony second-degree cruelty to a juvenile and is now charged with first-degree murder. ”She “allegedly beat and abused her 22-month-old foster child [Madison Parrott] will face a first-degree murder charge after the girl died Friday,” May 22, 2015. “A St. Tammany Parish grand jury has indicted a Lacombe foster mother of second-degree murder in the death of 22-month-old Madison Parrott.” Ray Travis Parrott and Mindy Parrott are suing the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, three DCFS employees and others, including Trenique Faciane, the foster mother.

Jamie J. Hernandez-Zubia. See here. From Kansas City, Kansas,  16-year-old foster child Jamie J. Hernandez-Zubia “was reported missing from the Kansas foster care system in 2012 has died after a shooting.”She “was shot early Saturday morning May 30, 2015 in Kansas City, Kansas. Police say they responded to calls about shots being fired and found the victim dead in the street. The killer still has not been located.

Lily Marie Brown. See here. From Beverly, Massachusetts, Foster Child Lily Marie Brown, 2 months old, died from unsafe sleeping practices on January 21, 2012. The baby died eight days after she was put in the care of a giant corporation,Mentor foster homes. They were  not charged.

Omarion “Mars” Humphrey. See here. From Pontiac,Michigan,Omarion “Mars” Humphrey disappeared on July 4, 2015. Khisha Humphrey, the biological mother of Omarion Humphrey, has confirmed that the search for her son is over and that her son was found, like a staggering number of autistic children, drowned in a lake not far from where he went missing.Lulu Richardson was the foster mother. No criminal charges were filed in connection to the case. Omarion’s estate is suing Alternatives for Children and Family as well as the foster mother.

Jenica Randazzo. See here. From New Port Richey, Florida,from February 5,2015, kinship foster child Jenica Randazzo,9, was killed by her uncle Jason Rios.A grand jury charged Jason Rios with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. She died from being beaten about the head and face with the tire iron. The case is ongoing.

Avalena Conway-Coxon. See here. From Auburn, Massachusetts,2-year-old foster child, Avalena Conway-Coxon, “died and a second young girl was left in critical condition after they were found unresponsive at a foster home in Auburn.”Jessica Conway, the biological mother of a 2-year-old girl who died while in foster care last month, died of a suspected overdose. Kim Malpass was the foster mother. No charges have been filed. Avalena died from heat stroke.

Paris Bena Hall. See here. From Edgemere, Maryland, “An infant left in a car earlier this month has died, according to Baltimore County police. Emergency crews were called shortly after noon on Aug. 21, 2015 to Shiloh Baptist Church on a report of a child in cardiac arrest. Investigators said a woman who worked at the church was going to drop off her 13-month-old foster child at a day care center next to the church. No charges have been filed.

Cyrenity Gordon. See here. From Madison County, Missouri, “a foster mother, Apryl Pitman,  is being sued for wrongful death by the administrator of the estate of a girl who died while in her care.She died on March 24, 2014.

Braydyn Scheidt. See here. From Fresno, California, “the Sheriff’s Office is investigating the suspicious death of a 2-year-old foster child who died in a home southeast of Fresno on Sunday, September 13, 2015.  After a few hours, a sibling told the woman that the boy did not look well. The woman went into the bedroom and found the boy discolored and not breathing. The foster father immediately began CPR on the boy, but he had passed away. No arrests have been made.

Brae’ Leigh Bode. See here. From Corpus Christi, Texas, 23-month-old Brae’ Leigh Bode  “who was about to be adopted is dead.She died on September 20, 2015.No arrests have been made.

Teresa J. Potts. See here. From Jasper, Missouri, “a 13-year-old boy deliberately shot and killed a 12-year-old girl outside a foster home in rural southwest Missouri where they both lived using a gun he had taken from the house, the local sheriff said Friday on October 8, 2015.The boy was arrested. The case is ongoing.

Dontel Jeffers. See here. From Dorchester, Massachusetts,on March 6, 2005 , 4-year-old “Dontel Jeffers endured excruciating pain in the last hours of his brief life, according to doctors. Yesterday, the only person held accountable for his death, his foster mother, Corinne Stephen,was sentenced to a minimum of eight years in prison.”Dontel died from  a forceful squeeze to his neck or a blow to his abdomen that ruptured his bowel.

Serenity Nickelberry. See here. From Dallas, Texas, 5-month-old Serenity Nickelberry was under the care of a foster parent’s babysitter when “”the baby “stopped breathing. on October 15, 2015.”“The foster parent was out of town.” No charges have been filed.

Amanda Foster.See here. From Anderson, South Carolina, “a 17-year-old girl has been shot and killed while deer hunting with her foster father in Anderson. Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore told media outlets that Amanda Foster was struck by one bullet from a high-powered rifle fired by her father around 6 p.m. Thursday, October 15, 2015.The coroner’s office is investigating along with the Department of Natural Resources.No charges have been filed.

Laila Marie Daniel. See here. From Mc Donough, Georgia, foster child “Laila Marie Daniel, 2, was in the care of Jennifer Rosenbaum of Lincoln Terrace in McDonough when she died”on November 17, 2015.Sources close to the case said the child was covered in bruises and her body displayed evidence of new and old injuries. The older sister was examined the day after Daniel’s death, according to the source, and doctors found similar injuries and bruising on her body. Jennifer Rosenbaum has been charged with murder, reportedly in connection with the death of a 2-year-old foster child in her care.Rosenbaum’s husband, Joseph, 26, was also arrested but charged only with two counts of first-degree cruelty to children.The child suffered a transected pancreas Nov. 17, suffered internal bleeding and went into shock, according to the warrant. The injury was a “major contributing factor to the child’s death.”GBI agents allege Jennifer Rosenbaum administered the blow to the child’s stomach, and described her hands as “deadly weapons.”The autopsy showed “severe bruising” on the child’s back, face, legs and abdomen, and breaks of her arms and legs. The child was “injured about her body in its entirety.”Rosenbaum also “failed to feed the child in quantities necessary to sustain an adequate body weight.”

Alexis Baxter. See here. From Mansfield, Ohio, “a 14-year-old foster child [Alexis Baxter] who was found unresponsive in a bathtub early Friday morning [1 AM on November 27, 2015].Mills said Alexis was supposed to be going back to her mother’s house to live on Dec. 17 after a court hearing.

strong>Daylen Brown. See here. From St.Louis, Missouri,”the St. Louis Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide Tuesday, saying he suffered internal injuries.”He died on December 8, 2015.No one has been arrested.

Sivam Lekh. See here. From Sacramento, California, 5-month-old Sivam Lekh died from SIDS on November 24, 2014.There have been no charges filed.

Destine King. See here. From Cordova, Tennessee,a 14-year-old boy, Antonio Evans is charged in connection with the death of Destine King. She was found unresponsive .According to investigators, the girl had a bruised and swollen face when they arrived to the scene.King was in critical condition when she went to the hospital. Police said she died on December 27, 2015. Her cause of death has not been determined at this time.
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