How Could You? Hall of Shame-China and Mongolia Adoptive Parent Mary Heller

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Decatur, Indiana, international adoptive parent Mary Heller “has been arrested after police say she kept her children inside her home for years, neglecting to educate or even sometimes feed them.

Mary Heller of Decatur has been charged with felony neglect after a 9-month investigation. Decatur Police found two teen girls inside the home on Twin Lakes Drive in horrifying conditions.

The girls are both adopted; a 19-year-old from China and a 15-year-old from Mongolia. They were found appearing skinny, pale, with dry and cracked lips. Heller’s home also had a foul odor and no food.

“It’s pretty sad to hear what happened in our neighborhood. We knew that there was an ongoing problem in that house, just by the exterior of the house,” said neighbor Tony Wolpert.

A woman who came to check on the girls took them to McDonald’s, she remembers they had no social skills. The next day, Heller called 9-1-1 because she couldn’t get up from the bathroom floor. According to court documents, the girls did not ask about their mother’s condition.

Wolpert says the last time he saw the girls outside was a few years ago. He said his daughter tried to interact with them, but they were extremely shy and withdrawn.

“We knew that there were kids in the house, we just never saw them. A few years back, we would see them for very short periods of time under very close supervision.”

People who live in the Decatur community says the news of the neglect comes as a shock.

“It’s scary, it’s horrifying that kids would be neglected and abused,” said resident Jennie Powell.

Police said that Heller’s daughters were removed from public school at a young age. The girls told police, Heller, “gave up on them” after the investigation. Teachers said the younger girl was functioning behind special needs students.

“It makes me realize that we need to reach out to our neighbors and really pay attention to the children and families around us,” said Powell.

According to the affidavit, the girls are suffering from psychological trauma from the neglect and isolation.”

Decatur mom arrested after she confines daughters for years

[WFFT 9/30/17 by Melea VanOstrand]

“The girls told police they were only allowed to go outside to get the newspaper and the mail.

According to court documents obtained by WANE-TV, police found clumps of black hair in most rooms, a broken refrigerator, and “brown-colored smelly stains” on the carpet.

Child Protective Services was called to the home and took over care of the girls.

Police interviewed Heller at the hospital and she apologized for the condition of the home, saying she was too ill to clean. She also admitted to not feeding her daughters.

In an interview with DCS, one of the girls said they were pulled out of school in preschool , but Heller didn’t homeschool them. According to court documents, the girl told DCS that Heller “gave up on us a long time ago.” Heller is currently in the Adams County Jail.”

http://fox8.com/2017/09/29/indiana-woman-kept-girls-locked-in-home-that-smelled-of-rotting-flesh-court-docs-say

[Fox 8 9/29/17]

 I would love to know what adoption agency placed these girls with her!

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