How Could You? Hall of Shame-Brogan Duhon case-Child Death UPDATED

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 Lake Arthur, Louisiana, adoptive parents, Adam and Jennifer Duhon, “remain in jail in Jennings awaiting trial on charges of second-degree murder. Brogan was their [12-year-old] adopted son who died in October of 2022.”

Yet the alleged circumstances of his short life were not made public until February of 2023 when his parents were arrested. Authorities said the pre-teen boy weighed only 28 pounds when he died from complications of malnutrition.   In 2023, at least one neighbor said Brogan had come to her door asking for food.

“He knocked on the door, I opened it, and he told me that he was hungry. So, he came, sitting and I fed him,” said Roxanne Zaunbrecher, a neighbor.

She said Brogan’s mother came to her concerned whether she had called law enforcement.

“I didn’t call anybody you know, but next thing I know, she was here, and she asked me if I had called the cops or OCS. And I said no I hadn’t called anybody, you know. But he was hungry. She goes, ‘Well, I feed him.’ I say, ‘Well, I understand that, but you know he ate. He was so hungry,” said Zaunbrecher.

Though Brogan had been the subject of abuse allegations over the years, visits by state workers seemed to show the children were safe. Details of the investigation have been kept close to the vest by investigators and attorneys.

The parents’ trial date had been set for June of this year but has been moved to Jan. 27 of next year in Jeff Davis Parish.

Brogan’s parents are each represented by a public defender. And at last word, their biological children are with relatives.”

2025 Trial Date Set for Parents of 12-Year-Old Brogan Duhon
[KPLCTV 5/23/24 by Theresa Schmidt]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

UPDATE:A new trial date has been set for Adam and Jenifer Duhon. They will go on trial on July 13, 2026.
New Trial Date set for Jeff Davis Couple accused of Starving 12-year-old to Death
[KPLCTV 1/22/26 by Devin Cruise]

UPDATE 2:“Adam, 44, and Jennifer Duhon, 43, are charged with second-degree murder in the death of their 12-year-old son, Brogan, who died of malnutrition in 2022. Jury selection began this morning.

Neighbors said Brogan’s parents kept him inside most of the time, and he had knocked on their door asking for food. They said they had thought, based on his size, that he was 5 or 6 years old.

The sheriff said in 2022 that Brogan was 42 inches tall and weighed only 28 pounds when he died. A defense attorney later said at a hearing that he had weighed 47 pounds, and we have not received an explanation for the discrepancy.

Brogan was placed in state custody in 2010, and the Duhons adopted him in 2012, when he was 2.

The Department of Child and Family Services launched a child welfare investigation in 2015 and found evidence of abuse. The family received services until 2016.

No other abuse or neglect was reported, according to officials. Jeff Davis Parish deputies performed a welfare check at the Duhons’ home just two months before Brogan’s death.

The Duhons have been in jail since February 2023. They are each held on a $1-million bond.

KPLC will be in the courtroom when testimony begins and will have updates throughout the trial.”

Trial begins for couple accused of starving 12-year-old son to death
[KPLC 7/13/26 ]

UPDATE 3:“A judge declared a mistrial Monday in the second-degree murder trial of a Lake Arthur couple accused in the death of their 12-year-old adopted son after four days of jury selection failed to produce an impartial panel.

Jennifer Duhon, 45, and her husband, Adam Duhon, 46, of Lake Arthur, were indicted in April 2023 in connection with the October 2022 death of their adopted son, Brogan Nash Duhon. Authorities have said the boy died from complications of malnutrition, and his death was ruled a homicide after an autopsy listed malnutrition as a contributing factor.

Defense attorney Deuce Domengeaux, who represents Adam Duhon, requested the mistrial after a fourth day of jury selection concluded without seating a panel.

“We knew it was going to be an issue and luckily the court agrees,” Domengeaux said after court. “After four days of jury selection in Jeff Davis Parish we were not able to get an impartial panel.”

District Judge Steve Gunnell granted the motion, citing the difficulty of selecting an unbiased jury after local news coverage and social media discussions.

“Unfortunately we were unable to obtain a jury so we must declare a mistrial in this matter,” Gunnell said.

Gunnell also said he will consider a change of venue before any retrial and scheduled a hearing on motions for Aug. 31.

During Monday’s proceedings, Assistant District Attorney Alexander Guinn asked the court to direct attorneys involved in the case to refrain from engaging on social media, noting online activity complicated efforts to seat an impartial jury. Guinn alleged that defense attorney Ric Oustalet Jr., who represents Jennifer Duhon, had “liked” a social media post about the case.

“It is because of social media that we have issues in this case,” Guinn said.

Oustalet declined to comment after the hearing, telling the American Press he was not permitted to speak with the media becsuse of a gag order.

The judge instructed all attorneys to refrain from engaging on social media about the case.

During jury selection, Oustalet told prospective jurors that the Duhons were entitled to “be tried by a jury of their own peers who can be unbiased, listen to the evidence and render a verdict.”

District Attorney Lauren Heinen thanked prospective jurors who reported for service and said prosecutors remain committed to pursuing the case.

“I want to thank the jurors for showing up and doing their civic duty,” Heinen said. “Our office remains committed to seeking justice in this matter.”

Court officials initially summoned nearly 400 prospective jurors for service last week and subpoenaed an additional 75 potential jurors over the weekend in an effort to seat an impartial jury. Despite those efforts, no panel could be selected before the mistrial was declared.”

BREAKING: Mistrial declared for pair accused of starving adopted son

[American Press 7/20/26 by Doris Maricle]