REFORM Talk’s Forgotten Angels 2017

In 2017,  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 2016 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.

 

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.

 

Former Foster Child Deaths [Adult]

Jumoke Johnson. See here. From Chattanooga, Tennessee, Jumoke, 23, was “gunned down” on January 20, 2017 as “leader of the Rollin 60 Crips”. He had a “five-year sentence after pleading guilty to a drug conspiracy charge. During the trial, police said Johnson was tied to a number of murders, shootings and other drug deals.””Johnson escaped from a halfway house and sliced off his GPS monitor. He lived less than a week, perishing in a shootout Friday night.”

James Fofanah. See here. From Garland, Texas, 20-year-old James Fofanah, who was a former foster child, was killed on July 28, 2017 when a  drunken-driving suspect ran into him while helping a stranded motorist .

 

Adult International Adoptee Deaths

Gabe Proctor. See here. From Lyndonville, Vermont, Ethiopian adoptee, Gabe,  27, killed himself on “May 20, 2017.”

“Gabe was a world-class distance runner. In 2013 he was the national champion in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters in NCAA Division II. He went on to become a professional runner in the marathon and half-marathon, qualifying to try out for the US Olympic team at the marathon trials in 2016.”

Phillip Clay. See here. From Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Korea, Phillip,42, ” was found dead in an apparent suicide” after being deported from the “United States to Korea in 2012. Adopted by an American family at age 10, Clay never attained American citizenship, a common problem that generations of Korean adoptees face in the U.S.”

“Holt Korea was his custodian due to mental health problems. KAS was aware of his case and interceded when Holt wanted to quickly cremate his body without any memorial, funeral, or wake in order to cover up their continued mishandling of Philip’s case from adoption to adult life in Korea to his death.” “The bible readings and sermon were offensive, fatalistic, and totally dismissed Philip’s life as “God’s will.”

Christian Hoelke. See here. From Excelsior, Minnesota, “Guatemalan adoptee Christian Hoelke , 21, died from a fentanyl overdose”on or about November 15, 2017.

 

Child Deaths-International Adoption

Jonah Min Hwang. See here. From Pomona, California, 8 year-old Taiwanese adoptee, Jonah, died ” in a drive-by shooting” on February 20, 2017.Sengchan Houl, the killer was charged with “murder and could face the death penalty.”

Faye Lin Cannon. See here. From Belize, 13-year-old Chinese adoptee, Faye, died on July 3, 2017 . “A post-mortem conducted on Faye’s body indicated that she was physically and sexually abused. Following the results of the post-mortem, investigators detained the husband and wife. Persons within the San Pedro community have strongly insisted that Faye Lin showed absolutely no signs of any mental illness that her mother reported to police.”

“She also stated the the [Anke and David] Doehms [her adoptive mother and stepfather] did not take Faye to a medial doctor to address the illness they claim she had. Instead they decided to administer Valium to her and perform some Japanese healing technique on her.”

On October 5, 2017, “59-year-old David Doehm [her stepfather] was found dead in a hotel room in Belize City of an apparent suicide. Doehm had been out on a $10,000 Supreme Court bail for the charge of ‘Cruelty to a Child’. Anke still awaits trial for cruelty to a child.

Sherin Mathews. See here.From Richardson, Texas, 3 year old Indian adoptee, Sherin, was killed by her adoptive father Wesley Mathews on October 7, 2017. Wesley Mathews, 37,  was arrested and charged with  felony injury to a child. Sini Mathews, 35, was also arrested and charged with child abandonment. They are due in court on January 26, 2018.

 

Child Deaths-Adoption

Seth Johnson. See here . From Plymouth, Minnesota, this March 30, 2015 case involved  “neglect in the death of their 7-year-old” Seth Johnson. He received ” no professional medical attention for his many bruises, wounds and emotional difficulties before he died on a vomit-stained mattress.” His adoptive parents, Timothy and Sarah, have been charged with neglect but they fled to New Zealand.

Grace Packer. See here. From Abington, Pennsylvania, 14-year-old Grace was “raped and dismembered” “as part of a disturbed “fantasy.” of her adoptive mother and mothers boyfriend.”On Halloween, hunters discovered Grace’s head and torso in a wooded area. She had not been buried. Cadaver dogs later found her arms and legs. Investigators concluded that she had been killed and stored elsewhere. Her wounds showed the marks of a bow saw, and were full of cat litter.” The mother and her boyfriend were charged with murder.

Natalie Finn. See here. From West Des Moines, Iowa, Natalie, 16, “died Oct. 24 [2016]from cardiac arrest caused by emaciation after numerous child abuse reports were made to Iowa’s Department of Human Services.”Her adoptive mother, Nicole, faces “multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder, for allegedly abusing Natalie and two teenage siblings who also were adopted.” Her adoptive father, “Joseph ,trial was continued until Jan. 8.[2018] The 46-year-old has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, neglect, abandonment and child endangerment.”

Kentea Williams. See here. From DeKalb County , Georgia, “10-year-old Kentea Williams drowned in his bathtub Friday [April 28, 2017], his adoptive father was allegedly overheard saying, “You’re going to die tonight.”Leon Williams is accused of “burning the boy’s feet and holding him underwater while lecturing him about acting out in school.”Leon has been charged with “murder and cruelty to children in the first degree.”

Sabrina Ray. See here. From Perry, Iowa, “16-year-old adoptee, Sabrina Ray, was ” found dead Friday [May 12, 2017] was being monitored by Iowa’s Department of Human Services after complaints of inadequate nutrition and corporal punishment.”

“Sabrina Ray, who was adopted out of foster care and home-schooled.” She “weighed just 56 pounds and was severely malnourished, investigators said .”

“Sabrina Lynn Ray’s physical condition indicated that she had suffered unreasonable force, torture and cruelty for an extended period of time, resulting in bodily injury and that was intended to cause serious injury.”

Adoptive parents Misty and Marc, “are being charged in connection in the death of their adoptive daughter.”

Adoptive brother “Justin Ray was charged with child endangerment and willful injury, after “drop-kicking” Sabrina down a basement staircase sometime between April 15 and May 1.”

Savannah Leckie. See here. From Longrun, Missouri, adoptee Savannah Leckie’s ,16, “remains were found in a burn pit on Rebecca Ruud’s rural Missouri property has been charged with murder.

Rebecca Ruud [her biological mother] was charged on Tuesday after authorities confirmed that burned human bones found on the property in Longrun, south-west of St. Louis, belonged to her 16-year-old daughter Savannah Leckie.

Savannah, who had autism, had been given up for adoption at birth but had returned to live with Ruud at the rural property a year ago.”

“Ruud, 39, is now charged with first and second-degree murder, abuse of a child resulting in death, tampering with physical evidence and abandoning a corpse.”

“During the search of the property, police had seized a meat grinder, a knife and 26 bottles of lye, which can be used to speed up the breakdown of human tissue.”

She is believed to have died on July 18, 2017.

Annabelle “Belle” Pomeroy. See here. From Sutherlands Springs, Texas, Annabelle Pomeroy, 14, was “shot dead on Sunday November 5, 2017 “following the grisly murder of dozens of people as”Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas.”

 

Child Deaths-Group-Respite Home/RTC/Hospital/Juvenile Justice Facility/CPS office

Chase Dakota Bridges. See here.From Tulsa, Oklahoma,this December 28, 2016 case involved Chase,”an 11-year-old boy, who was killed …while attempting to cross an interstate highway was in state custody at a foster-care group home.” The Realation Group Home closed on June 30, 2017.

Daphne Jackson.See here. From Houston, Texas, Daphne “was “killed Sunday morning [April 2, 2017 ]after she strayed into the road and was hit by a van in northwest Harris County.” “The incident marks the first time a child has died while staying at a CPS office due to a lack of available foster placements.”

Giulianna Ramos Bermudez. See here. From Orlando, Florida, 16-year-old Giulianna was “sitting in the closet with a belt around her neck” on June 30, 2017. “She left behind a child of her own, a 2-year-old girl who was born shortly after Giulianna was taken into state care.”

Gynnya McMillen. See here. From Hardin County, Kentucky, Gynnya,16, died in a cell on January 10, 2016 after being “assaulted by officers who used a martial arts restraint to force her to remove her hoodie.

The staff then neglected to check on her every 15 minutes as required by the rules, instead falsifying over 60 reports. Gynnya was found dead the next morning.”

 

Child Deaths-Guardianship

Cameron Hoopingarner. See here. From Fontanet, Indiana,”9-year-old [ Cameron Hoopingarner ] died weighing only 15 lbs.” The”child suffered from cerebral palsy and was blind.”His guardians had “meth in their systems when they were arrested.” Robin Kraemer “received a 36 1/2-year prison sentence on nine criminal counts in the neglect death of a 9-year-old child with severe disabilities.”

 

Child Deaths-US Foster Care 

Zane Wolfgang Thomas. See here.From Carlsbad, California, this September 8, 2016 case involved 3-month-old Zane dying from a follicular bronchiolitis infection. No charges were brought against the foster family.

3-Month-old Foster Son. See here. From Temple, Texas, this February 24, 2016 case involved a 3-month-old foster son who”had stopped breathing while taking a nap.”No charges were brought against the foster family.

Nakia Venant. See here. From Miami Gardens, Florida, Nakia, 14, took her own life “as she hanged herself in the bathroom.” of her foster home on January 22, 2017.

Aedyn Agminalis. See here. From Tampa, Florida, “17-month-old Aedyn” “arrived at St. Joseph’s Hospital for Children unresponsive and with signs of head injuries. “”He suffered cardiac arrest, bleeding on the brain and acute respiratory failure.

The small boy was hooked up to a life-support system but doctors could find no brain activity, according to Artha Healton, Aedyn’s biological mother. The youngster died Dec. 11 , 2016 after doctors turned off the machine.”

His Foster mother was charged with”first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse on Feb 20 [,2017].”

3-month-old foster son. See here. From Queens, New York, a” baby boy unconscious and unresponsive, but with no visible signs of trauma, police said. He was taken to Jamaica Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead” on March 7, 2017.No foster parents were arrested.

Lauryn Martin-Everett. See here.From Plantation key, Florida,”Lauryn Martin-Everett,16,” tied a wide, blue-patterned scarf around her neck and hanged herself from a bathroom doorway”on Dec. 20.[2016].

Jacob Redfearn. See here. From Collinsville, Oklahoma, “17-year-old foster child Jacob Redfearn was “shot and killed after breaking into a Broken Arrow home” on March 27, 2017. “The homeowner’s son, Zach Peters, fired at the intruders with an AR-15, killing them all.” “That shooter, Zach Peters, has been cleared by the DA’s office of any wrongdoing that day.”

Nykedrial Dashawn French. See here. From Kernersville, North Carolina, foster child Nykedrial Dashawn French, 5 months old, “died Sunday [4/23/17] while in foster care with the Forsyth County Department of Social Services remains under investigation, though a preliminary autopsy did not reveal anything suspicious in the child’s death.”No foster parents have been arrested.

Heidi Shinn. See here. From Lehigh Acres, Florida, foster child Heidi Shinn, 18, and her foster mom were “fatally shot Thursday by 47-year old Jonathan Jensen before he killed himself”on April 27, 2017.

D.B. See here.From St. Louis, Missouri, “Christina Denise Bell physically abused the 3-year-old child and he later died as a result of his injuries.” “The child had suffered “non-accidental” blunt force trauma and showed signs of injury to the body, head and extremities, the documents said.” She has been charged with “charged with abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death.”

Emma Salinas. See here. From Gary, Indiana, “Jamila Hodge was charged with murder, aggravated battery, neglect of a dependent resulting in death”of her 21-month-old foster daughter, Emma on May 5, 2017. She goes on trial on February 5, 2018.

Travis Weston. See here. From Bangor, Maine, “Maine State Police said Wednesday that a 16-month-old who died at a Raymond day care center Tuesday [May 9, 2017] was there in foster care.” No one was charged in this case.

Wanda Ashley Stock. See here. From Belleville, Illinois, Wanda,17, “committed suicide in 1996 by setting herself on fire.” She “doused herself with gasoline and burned to death.”

Cathy Rainbolt. See here. From Belleville, Illinois, Cathy,26,told a judge that “her foster father hit her in the face when she failed to mow the lawn correctly. She got hit in the face when she argued. She got hit and dragged by the hair when she tried to get away. She later “died in 2015 of a drug overdose after a life “mixed with human suffering and laughter,” her obit read.”

Alexander James Lowell-Henry. See here.From East Montpelier, Vermont, 2-year-old Alexander James Lowell-Henry, “has died after he was found unconscious in a swimming pool “on July 5, 2017. No charges were filed in this case.

Fabian Garcia. See here. From Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 3-year-old  “Fabian Garcia died Tuesday at a hospital in Kailua-Kona.” He “was wearing some virtual reality goggles, and then he was at the table and then he fell from like three or four feet,” Juben Garcia said. “Something startled him and then he fell face first without without putting his hands in front of him.”

“The medical examiner has not released the cause of death.” No one was ever charged in this case.

Mackenzie Fewox. See here. From Fort Myers, Florida, 13-month-old Mackenzie Fewox, “died Jan 29 [2017]”

“38-year-old foster dad,Dustin Gregory Todd, “was arrested Tuesday evening and booked into Lee County Jail on charges of suspected homicide and cruelty toward a child.”

Luke Glenn. See here. From Hillsborough, North Carolina, 3-year-old  “Luke Glenn was found dead at a home on July 31, 2017 on Childsberg Way; first responders received a call reporting a cardiac arrest. No arrests have been made in this case.

Daevon Branon-Banks. See here.From Las Vegas, Nevada,Daevon, 1, died after his foster parent Craig Dickens threw him “multiple times when he was drunk” on August 18, 2017.”The trial for Craig Dickens is scheduled for July” 2018.

Gloria Joya. See here. From Albany, Oregon, 15-year-old Gloria died from “stress from that contributed to gastrointestinal issues that weren’t properly treated and led to her death in April 2016.”

4-year-old foster child. See here. From Lee County, Georgia,”Leshia Green “was arrested Friday afternoon and is facing two counts of cruelty to a child in the first degree” in the death of her 4-year-old foster child on September 27, 2017. She awaits a trial.

Jacob Thomas. See here. From Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 24-year-old foster father Austin Davis “confessed to shaking his 10 week old foster child. Baby Jacob was on life support less than 24 hours after he was placed in Davis’ care.”

“Police reports indicate his injuries were consistent with child abuse, shaken baby syndrome. ” He died on October 13, 2017.

Denetta Franks. See here. From Atlanta, Georgia, 17-year-old Foster daughter, Denetta Franks, was “found shot to death in Atlanta on Sept. 21 [2017] told police three months before she went missing that she was raped at an apartment in north Columbus.” “On Sept. 21, Franks’ body was found in Atlanta in the middle of Hortense Place Northwest near the intersection of Florence Place Northwest.”

“Two men accused of shooting a teenager who was in foster care and leaving her dead in an Atlanta street are in the DeKalb County jail on aggravated assault charges in a separate attempted armed robbery case.” They will go on trial for murder.

Isabella Lee Gamez. See here. From Pensacola, Florida, “four-year-old [foster child] Isabella Lee Gamez died Oct. 1,[2017] three days after she was found at the bottom of the pool at My Father’s Arrows.” No one has been charged in this case.

Connor Hawes. See here. From Fort Scott, Kansas, 22-month-old foster son Connor Hawes “drowned in a decorative fish pond in his foster parents’ back yard near Fort Scott” on August 18, 2017. No one has been charged in this case.

Mariah. See  here.From Stockton, California, 3-year-old  Mariah ,”ingested meth” and died on October 16,2015.

“Paramedics found a baggie of methamphetamine rocks in her room. ”

“The first time the 3-year-old foster child ingested meth, she recovered.

But she wasn’t removed from the California foster home that she had been placed at just days earlier, according to a lawsuit filed this week.”

Kwon Mcgee. See here. From Pinellas, Florida, foster child Kwon Mcgee, 2 1/2 months old, died after being put “down to sleep in an adult bed after a feeding and later found him unresponsive”on October, 24, 2017. No arrests have been made.

Payshience “Tia” Adams. See here. From Douglass County, Oregon, a 16 year old foster brother shot and killed 10 year old Payshience on November 7, 2017. The 16 yeard old has been charged with murder.

2-Year-Old Foster Daughter. See here. From St. Paul , Minnesota, “a 2-year-old [foster] girl died in a St. Paul residence on November 13, 2017. No one has been arrested.

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