How Could You? Hall of Shame-Chinese adoptee Joseph Maoping Adams 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 Lexington, Kentucky, 5-year-old Chinese adoptee Joseph Maoping Adams died on December 3, 2011. An autopsy was performed on December 4, 2011. Joseph had an undisclosed medical condition.
His obituary indicated that he was “born Oct 16, 2006 in Hangzhou, China.” There were two sisters and one brother that also lived in the home. It is currently unknown if they are adopted or biological to Rick and Deah Adams, the parents. Memorial contributions were asked to go to Sunrise Children’s Services which is a Baptist-run foster care, RTC and psychiatric services organization.
His death was first reported on February 10, 2012. The coroner has ruled his death a homicide. His death was due to ingesting “a lot” of vinegar in a “lethal” dose. It was “not accidental” and “not natural,” according to coroner Gary Ginn in an NBC interview. No charges have been made at this time.
“”The child did not drink that much vinegar on his own accord,” Ginn said. “Because of the amount, because of it being lethal, our manner of death ruling on this is going to be homicide.”
No one has been charged. Homicide means a death was caused by another person, although not all homicides are considered criminal.
Lexington police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts said police started investigating after Joseph’s death. She said officers think the vinegar was “administered by his parents.”
Roberts did not identify Joseph’s parents. However, according to an obituary that ran Dec. 6 in the Herald-Leader, Joseph was the son of Rick and Deah Adams. He was born in 2006 in Hangzhou, China. Ginn said he thought the child was adopted.
Phone calls to a listed number for a Ricky and Deah Adams were not answered.
Roberts said investigators think the boy had an existing medical condition.
Vinegar is occasionally used as a home remedy for minor ailments or to induce vomiting, but poison-control experts say it does not work and is not recommended.
“There is no medical center or poison-control center anywhere that recommends vinegar,” said Henry Spiller, board-certified toxicologist and director of the Kentucky Regional Poison Control Center.
“You would have to go back to texts from the 1920s.
“It is really essentially something no one practicing today would recommend.”
Spiller is not involved in the Lexington case. Speaking in general terms, he said it “would be very difficult” to poison someone with vinegar.
Roberts said “only medical professionals” could determine whether the boy’s existing medical condition was related to his death.
Roberts said police are treating the case as a death investigation. She said it was early in the investigation because the coroner had ruled the death a homicide only last week.
Joseph apparently became unresponsive at his Woodlawn Way home, according to the news release.
He was brought by ambulance to the hospital’s pediatric emergency unit, where he was pronounced dead about 7:15 p.m. Dec. 3.
The case was presented to the coroner’s office because “there was some suspicion from the emergency department about this death,” Ginn said.
The coroner said he had presented his findings on the case to police. The case can go “several different routes” from there, he said.
“They can contact (Commonwealth’s Attorney) Ray Larson and present it to a grand jury, … but at this point, it’s really early, and I’m not exactly sure what they’re going to do,” he said.
Ginn, who has been coroner since 2003, said he had never seen a case in which the cause of death was vinegar. ”
Boy, 5, dies from ingesting vinegar; case ruled a homicide
[Lexington Herald-Leader 2/10/12 by Josh Kegley]
Coroner: Lexington Boy Died From Drinking Vinegar
[Lex 18 NBC 2/10/12 print and video]
Joseph Maoping ADAMS
[Kentucky.com Obituary 12/6/11 published in Lexington Herald-Leader]
Coroner: 5-year-old died from ingesting vinegar
[WHAS 11 2/11/12 by Associated Press]
“Vinegar” can mean a number of things. They do not specify the type. For a quick list of different kinds of vinegars, see here. Synthetic “vinegar” is diluted acetic acid which is an acetaldehyde or formulin, a form of embalming liquid.
Vinegar has been used to treat food-poisoning -the idea is to change the pH balance of the digestive system in order to kill bacteria. This could cause a metabolic imbalance that could lead to death. We don’t know if this is what happened in this case.
Vinegar as a “disciplinary” technique has been used in children. We do not know if this is what happened in this case yet. We have found parenting and adoptive parenting posts dating back to 2004 on the subject of spraying children’s mouths with it. Some parents combine the “discipline” technique with hot sauce or they make their children take “shots” of vinegar. There was a Texas school last year that put vinegar-soaked cotton balls in the mouths of autistic children. See here. A daycare in Tennessee used it. See here. The British Medical Journal reported in 1928 (yes, 1928!) that a glass of vinegar a day for one month (chronic vinegar poisoning) killed an 18-year-old. See here.
REFORM Puzzle Piece
A lot of questions still to be answered on this one. Of course, we want to know which homestudy and placing agency were used, when he was adopted (was he a Special Focus child?) and the specifics of what happened. As the case unfolds, we expect to add additional puzzle pieces.
Update: FINALLY we have an update. Giant hat tip to our reader Yvonne for sharing.
Attorney: Lexington woman accused in vinegar death has ‘solid defense’
“On Sept. 26, the grand jury indicted Deah Adams on one count of reckless homicide, a class D felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Rick Adams was not indicted.
Adams was not taken to jail. [Unbelievable!]”
“Adams, 43, pleaded not guilty in Fayette Circuit Court last month to reckless homicide in the death of her 5-year-old son, Joseph Maoping Adams.”
“An attorney for a Lexington woman accused of causing her young son’s death by giving him a large dose of vinegar said Friday he thinks there is “a solid defense” to the case.However, Matt Boyd, attorney for Deah Daniele Adams, said he could not discuss specifics about the case, which first made headlines in February.””We believe that this was a tragedy that has been blown out of proportion,” Boyd said. “There are a lot of people praying for the Adamses and we’re hopeful that this will all work out for the best.”
“Joseph died Dec. 3 at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital after he fell ill and became unresponsive at his family’s home. About two months later, Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn announced that the boy’s death had been ruled a homicide. Ginn said an autopsy showed the boy had been given “a lethal amount” of vinegar.”The child did not drink that much vinegar on his own accord,” he said.Ginn told reporters he had presented his findings to police detectives, who already had been investigating the incident. Nothing else was heard publicly for more than six months.Police did not charge Adams; detectives turned the case over to the Office of Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Larson, which presented the case to a grand jury in late September.
“In cases like this, the evidence drives the response,” Lexington police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts said. “When the evidence reached a point where a case could be presented to a grand jury, that decision was made by the prosecutor’s office.”
Roberts said the police department had been in contact with prosecutors through the entirety of the investigation.
According to court documents, the grand jury heard testimony from at least 10 witnesses, including police officers, five doctors and both of the boy’s parents, Rick and Deah Adams.”
“The indictment and other court documents shed no light on what transpired before Joseph’s death. Ginn and police have said the boy had an existing medical condition, but have not elaborated.Vinegar is occasionally used as a home remedy for minor ailments or to induce vomiting, but poison-control experts say it does not work and is not recommended.However, it “would be very difficult” to poison someone with vinegar, toxicologist Henry Spiller told the Herald-Leader in February. Ginn said at the time he had never worked a case before in which the cause of death was vinegar.Attorneys Jim Lowry and Katherine Paisley also had been hired to represent Adams, Boyd said. He said he could not comment on the case in detail without conferring with the family and co-council.
He said attorneys would defend the case aggressively.
“We believe that we have a solid defense,” he said. “We will pursue that defense and we believe she will be vindicated.”
A status hearing in the case was scheduled for Nov. 16.”
[Kentucky.com 11/9/12 by Josh Kegley]
Update 2: “The mother of a 5-year-old that died after ingesting vinegar was in court Friday.
Fayette County circuit court records indicate that Deah Daniele Adams, 43, had a status hearing for her charge of reckless homicide.
According to the Fayette County Coroner, Joseph Maoping Adams was brought to the UK Medical Center on December 3rd, 2011 after going unresponsive at home. He was pronounced dead there and his case was forwarded to the coroner for investigation.
At that time, the Fayette County coroner said he’d never seen a case in which a person died from vinegar.
The boy’s adoptive mother was later charged with reckless homicide in his death.
She’ll be in court again to continue hearings in January, 2013.”
Mother In Court For Death Of Child By Vinegar Ingestion
[WTVQ.com 11/16/12 ]
A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that another status hearing is scheduled for January 11, 2013.
Update 3: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that another status hearing is scheduled for March 15, 2013. We could find no articles about the January hearing.
Update 4: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that another status hearing is scheduled for May 10, 2013.
Update 5: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that another status hearing is scheduled for June 7, 2013.
Update 6: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that another status hearing is scheduled for July 19, 2013.
Update 7: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that a hearing called “other hearing” is scheduled for October 10, 2013.
Update 8/January 6, 2014: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that another status hearing is scheduled for January 31,2014.
Update 9: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that another status hearing is scheduled for March 28, 2014.
Update 10: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that another status hearing is scheduled for May 30, 2014
Update 11: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that another status hearing is scheduled for September 5,2014
Update 12: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that another status hearing is scheduled for October 10,2014.
Update 13: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that “other Hearing” is scheduled for 3/30/15.
Update 14: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that another status hearing is scheduled for 4/17/15.
Update 15: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that “other hearing” is scheduled for 8/4/15.
Update 16: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that status hearings have been scheduled for 9/4/15 and 9/11/15.
Update 17: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that a status hearing has been scheduled for 10/16/15.Also, 2 August 2015 articles have been found:
“We’re learning more about the investigation into a Lexington mother accused of killing her son after giving him too much vinegar, a case her defense attorneys call the first of its kind in the country.
Police charged Deah Adams with reckless homicide. Her son, Joseph Adams, 5, died.
His parents say Joseph was born with an intestinal disease and had most of his colon removed, so they watched what he ate, especially dairy. On Dec. 3, 2011 they discovered Joseph had milk, chocolate, springkles, [sic] butter and perhaps a juice box. That’s when they gave him a glass of vinegar.
What happened next to lead up to his death is a matter of dispute, but did that vinegar kill him?
During a hearing Tuesday Adams’ attorneys tried to convince the judge to keep some testimony out of the upcoming trial. At issue in the hearing what the testimony of the prosecution’s expert witness: the medical examinter who performed Joseph’s autopsy.
“I believe his cause of death – and I still hold to this – is metabolic acidosis and cellular necrosis of mucosal linings,” said Dr. Cristin Rolf. “What that is, is part of the cells of the small bowel and portion of the large bowel due to forced ingestion of vinegar.”
Rolf, a former deputy medical examiner in Kentucky, testified via Skype from Alaska, where she is currently a medical examiner.
Dr. Rolf said she found cuts and bruises on his body, signs she says point to his mother forcing him to drink two more doses of vinegar even after he started to fight back.
Rolf described what Joseph’s organs looked and smelled like when she performed the autopsy, but the defense argues it’s not because of vinegar.”
Details emerge in hearing about 2011 death linked to vinegar [WKYT 8/4/15 by Garrett Wymer]
“A Lexington gastroenterologist testified in Fayette Circuit Court on Thursday that there was no conceivable way for a person to ingest a lethal dose of vinegar.
The testimony related to the death of Joseph Adams, 5, in December 2011. His mother, Deah Adams, was indicted in September 2012 on a charge of reckless homicide. She is free on bond pending trial.
On Tuesday, pathologist Cristin Rolf, who performed the autopsy on Joseph, testified that he died from a lethal amount of vinegar administered by his parents. That finding led to the charge against Deah Adams.
But on Thursday, gastroenterologist Jerry Yon supported testimony from fellow gastroenterologist Craig McClain, who testified Tuesday that there was no scientific data suggesting a person could die from vinegar ingestion.
Yon said vinegar was an extremely weak acid, especially when compared to stomach acid, and that it could even lower the strength of other acids. He added that he had never seen any case of vinegar damaging the intestinal system.
Yon also said that he did not consider Rolf’s theory to be credible.
“I don’t know how one could jump to that conclusion,” he said. “I don’t consider that a scientific conclusion.”
The most likely cause of death was asphyxiation, Yon said, caused by inhalation of vomit, which blocked Joseph’s airway.
Joseph was on a dairy-restricted diet because of Hirschsprung’s disease, which affects the colon, and his parents tried to induce vomiting after he drank milk and ate butter.
The autopsy showed signs of a struggle, with bruises on Joseph’s head and body. Rick Adams, Joseph’s father, said he slapped Joseph while struggling to get him to drink the vinegar to induce vomiting.
Yon said consuming large amounts of butter or margarine could lead to vomiting.
Judge Pamela Goodwine said her job was not to decide precisely what killed Joseph but to decide whether the theory posited by Rolf was credible enough to use in court. Goodwine has yet to render a decision.
A status hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sept. 11.”
Vinegar did not cause Lexington boy’s death, second gastroenterologist testifies [Lexington Herald Leader 8/6/15 by Cheyenne]
Update 18: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that “other hearing” is scheduled for 11/23/15.
Update 19: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that “Status Hearing” is scheduled for 1/8/16.
Update 20: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that “Status Hearing” is scheduled for 1/29/16.
Update 21: A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that “Status Hearing” is scheduled for 4/8/16.
Update 22:“Friday was an emotional day for a Lexington mother, who pleaded guilty to charges in connection to her child’s death. Lexington Police charged Deah Adams after they say her son died from a lethal dose of vinegar.
Adams fought back tears as she told the judge about life since her son’s death.
“I wake up wondering what if I had done something different? What if I had made a different decision, a different choice? What if I hadn’t done the thing I chose to do?,” said Adams. “I made decisions regarding Joseph’s medical care in a moment when he was in pain and I know now that maybe those were not the best choices to make.”
Joseph Adams was born with an intestinal disease, and she watched what he ate. Investigators say, back in 2011, she gave him so much vinegar after finding out he ate sugar and dairy, that he died. After several days of extensive hearings, Judge Goodwine ruled earlier this year there was no scientific evidence that vinegar caused his death. Adam’s attorney Matt Boyd says the case has taken a serious toll on his client’s health.
“It’s been a difficult case and it’s one that she’s chose to end today and be sentenced in about a month so that the family can heal,” noted Boyd. “I think she’s been in prison for the last four years.”
The Commonwealth agreed to amend the charge to criminal abuse, third degree. Adams could face up to 12 months in jail.
“Little Joseph was from all accounts a precious little boy. We could have offered 500 years, and we don’t think that’s fair,” said Kimberly Baird, a prosecutor with the Fayette County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.
Adams will be back in court for sentencing in June”
Lexington mother pleads guilty to lesser charge in connection to son’s death [WKYT 4/22/16 by Kristen Kennedy]
A search of public Kentucky court records reveals that Sentencing will be on 6/10/16 at 1 pm.
Update 23/October 3, 2016:She gets probation for 6 months! UGH!
“A Lexington mother originally accused of reckless homicide in the 2011 death of her 5-year-old son after he consumed vinegar was sentenced to six months of supervised probation Friday on a misdemeanor abuse charge.
Judge Pamela Goodwine said that after considering the facts and science of the case, she determined that the death of Joseph Maoping Adams was “a tragic accident.” She also said she believed his mother, Deah Adams, was “truly, truly, truly sorry.” She pleaded guilty to the reduced charge.
“Sending you to jail would simply ruin the lives of three more children,” Goodwine said to the mother of four.
Joseph died Dec. 3 at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital. He had Hirschsprung’s disease, which affects the colon and requires a restricted diet. Adams said she gave him the 2.5 cups of vinegar to try to induce vomiting after drinking milk and eating butter made him sick.
About two months after the boy’s death, Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn announced the boy’s death was ruled a homicide because he was given a “lethal” dose of vinegar. Pathologist Cristin Rolf, who performed the autopsy on Joseph, testified that he died from a lethal amount of vinegar administered by his parents .
On Friday, Goodwine said the science that was presented to her in several hearings indicated that was not the case.
“Ingesting vinegar does not cause death and cannot cause death,” she said.
“It’s time to heal … you have to forgive yourself,” Goodwine told Adams. “Nothing that is said or done here will bring Joseph back.”
More than 40 people were in the courtroom Friday afternoon to support Adams. Before that, about 125 people wrote letters of support to be presented to the judge, her defense attorney Matt Boyd said.
“The fact of the matter is that when you have that many people fill a courtroom it makes it a little easier for a judge to see what type of person you are,” Boyd said. “She’s been that person the whole time, she’s a good lady who went through a really, really tragic event.”
Adams told Goodwine she wanted to go home and grieve in a way she hasn’t been able to in the years since Joseph’s death because of the scrutiny she and her family have been under.
“We all mourn the loss of Joseph,” Boyd said. “That doesn’t change and I know that hopefully now they can heal, that’s all we want.””
Judge says vinegar didn’t kill 5-year-old, sentences mother to probation
[Kentucky 6/10/16 by Morgan Eads]
Remember this from Update 17:”Dr. Rolf said she found cuts and bruises on his body, signs she says point to his mother forcing him to drink two more doses of vinegar even after he started to fight back.” Well actually it was 2.5 CUPS of vinegar! I cannot imagine her forcing a 5 year old to drink 2.5 CUPS of Vinegar!
and “The autopsy showed signs of a struggle, with bruises on Joseph’s head and body. Rick Adams, Joseph’s father, said he slapped Joseph while struggling to get him to drink the vinegar to induce vomiting.”
Update 24: Thanks to Anonymous for this update!I call to this!
“Ten people, most with felony convictions from more than a decade ago, were pardoned Monday by Gov. Matt Bevin.
Perhaps the most high-profile of the group is Deah Adams, a Lexington mother who pleaded guilty last year to criminal abuse.
Adams was charged in 2011 with reckless homicide in the death of her 5-year-old son, whom she gave a large quantity of vinegar to drink, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
A Fayette County judge later called the child’s death “a tragic accident.” Adams was sentenced to six months of probation.
Pardons by the governor restore civil rights, such as the ability to vote, serve on a jury and own a gun.
Gov. Bevin pardons 10, including 3 Louisville men
[Louisville Courier-Journal 7/3/17 by Matthew Glowicki]
Thank you for following this case. Let's not stop talking about it until there IS ACCOUNTABILITY for what happened to poor little Joseph. I imagine he only weighed 30 lbs and was basically "pickled" to death. There is also great concern about the remaining children in the home and it shouldn't matter if they are The Adams biological children or not they should be in protective services.
Joseph was of healthy weight and well cared for by this loving family. He had several severe food allergies. Please don't cast stones.
Someone who doesn't know this family would not be aware of both his severe food allergies and his severe RAD, so I don't blame people for investigating. However, as those of us with internationally adopted and institutionalized children know, sometimes they DO eat strange things and do strange things after joining their forever families. I know the Adams and would trust them with my three children any time. I pray that justice is done.
Anonymous Feb 20, are you saying that a sulfite allergy caused his death?Are you alleging that he voluntarily drank vinegar enough to kill himself even though that is the opposite of what the coroner has declared? What does "RAD" have to do with this?I know what RAD is. I think such an explosive claim needs to be explained.
We are adoptive parents, by the way, and are quite aware of postplacement behaviors.Amazed again at how the child is on trial here for his own death.
Anonymous Feb 15: We do like to make the distinction of which children are biological because we know of too many cases in which ONLY the adopted kid is abused. That doesn't mean we are less concerned for them but there may be different concerns for them.
I am 'anonymous feb 20.' It is ridiculous to say that I am blaming the child. He was five. This was a terrible tragedy for all who knew him and his family. All I am saying is that we should not rush to judgement when there are so few facts being given at this time. If the authorities truly thought there was anything to be concerned about, the other children in the home would have been gone long ago. To put a loving family on a 'hall of shame' is shameful in my book.
Anonymous Feb 23, you are the one that brought up excuses of severe food allergy and RAD, not me. Since you seem to know the family, I asked for an explanation and you come back that it is a tragedy.
The fact is that the coroner ruled this a homicide and he is quoted as saying "The child did not drink that much vinegar on his own accord" Those are big facts.
As for the other children, why do you think having them still in the home is the same as innocence? Our most popular post is the Hana Williams Ethiopian adoptee case. In that case, she died suspiciously on May 12, 2011. The other children remained in the home until July 22,2011 and the parents have been charged with homicide by abuse and assault of a child. We are only 10 days out from the first report in this case.
The child's case is in the Hall of Shame. He is dead. His case will remain. You don't have to like it.We don't like reporting about any of these cases.
Before I rally around a cause, "rally"'s credentials to speak with such authority are??
LOL. What credentials do people need and what do you think "authority" is in the realm of adoption reform? I am seriously asking you this. Please name names while you are at it. Who is "authority" in this matter? We, as APs, contend that there is no One Supreme Authority. In fact, there is no authority at all. And most don't even care to know the facts.
The people that work for the industry and CPS have completely screwed the concept of adoption up, so why should *those* people ever be asked to fix what they messed up to begin with? Together as concerned citizens, we need to make everyone aware of the issues and do our parts as individuals as well.
If you don't like that answer, then this is a human rights issue and I am human.That is my "credential."
Any updates on this situation? Is the Commonwealth Attorney taking this before a Grand Jury? This seems to have just fallen off the radar in Lexington.
We look for updates weekly on this case. No media and no case records in the Kentucky court system as of today.
Maybe there is a reason there isn't anything being found. Maybe this family is innocent….
Anonymous March 8: Well, the coroner ruled it a homicide. There should be some type of followup one way or the other. We have seen cases where arrests take years after the incident. Today we reported on a case of abuse that occurred last Spring and the woman was arrested this week. No news does not equal innocent in these kinds of cases.
Anything new on this?
anonymous May 1, I checked media reports and did a search of Kentucky court cases. No media reports that I can find.There is a case against "Richard Adams" from Fayette County coming soon but no details that are publicly available so I can't verify if this is the same as Rick Adams, the AP.I would hope that this would generate a news article as Joseph did die but Kentucky is the worst state in the country when it comes to releasing dead child information.
Anything new on this? I am very tempted to contact the Fayette County attorney for a status update. This little boy died seven months ago and his death was listed as a homicide 5 months ago and it seems no one cares except an adoption advocate and people who want to make sure the “family” isn’t blamed. It is so troubling that there seems to be ZERO accountability to the deceased or the children left in the home where a homicide occurred. I have contacted several media outlets that covered the story in February with no response at all.
Yvonne, thank you for asking. I can tell you that a search today of Fayette county court records indicates no case file has been opened against either parent. This is one of many disturbing cases that seems to have no follow-up. There is a similar death case from Illinois foster care, Kianna Rudesill. She died in May 2011 and it was ruled a homicide. Finally 13 months later abuse has been acknowledged yet the foster parents have still yet to be named or arrested, See https://reformtalk.net/2011/05/06/how-could-you-hall-of-shame-kianna-rudesill-case-updated-child-death/
Let us know if you contact the DA and hear anything. It is amazing that media do not want to cover this case. I consider that part of the protection of the adoption industry–to not make “adoption” look bad. They never want to look at it from the viewpoint of the child needing justice.
http://www.kentucky.com/2012/11/09/2402059/attorney-lexington-woman-accused.html
I think I would be facing more jail time for beating my dog.
Thank you so much for staying on top of this case. I will update the post with this article
Any updates?
We could not find any media articles about the January hearing, but a search of the public records states that there is another status hearing on March 15, 2013. I added that to the post.
FYI, Deah had a status hearing on May 10. No media reports. Her next one is June 7, 2013
Delay, delay then stall and stall again. I’m sure you. moderator, see this all the time.
I know this is a tactic. Mrs. Adams, her family, even Lisa Whelchel (yes, that Lisa Whelchel actress and also author of “Creative Correction” published by Focus on the Family), and the Adams’ church hope everyone forgets with the passing of time what really happened to little Joseph.
Mrs. Adams’ status of white and middle class are clearly at working in her favor here.
If this had been a black or hispanic woman she would not be home with her children right now. It makes me sad.
I’m glad people like Katherine Joyce are making a critique of what is going on and bringing it to the popular media via her book “The Child Catchers: Rescue, Trafficking and the New Gospel of Adoption”. I haven’t read it but I did see an interview with her a couple of weeks ago and hope to read it myself soon.
Thanks for following up on this.
Are you saying Lisa Whelchel knows this family or just that she feels her “discipline methods” are being impugned by this trial?
No, I’m linking her book to evangelical families via Focus on the Family who is the publisher. The Adams home church used to have a link on their website to Focus on the Family. In Lisa’s book “Creative Correction” she talks about “hot saucing” as a discipline method. I even found an interview on one if the morning shows with them asking her about that form of discipline.
It doesn’t seem too far of a stretch for me to see how Mrs. Adams was exposed to the idea of. “Hot saucing” via Lisa’s book published by Focus on the Family that distributes materials to evangelical churches. If this wasn’t her only exposure to the idea it atleast reinforced it. I have to think the Adams church had an affiliation with Focus on the Family as they had a link on their website in 2/2012( was removed last time I looked).
I have made Whelchel aware of what occured to Joseph. She is a cottage industry among evangelical mothers and I think she needs to know you can’t assume everyone stops with a drop.
Thanks for clarifying. I didn’t know their church website had a link to Focus on the Family.
The very concept of “Creative Correction” makes my skin crawl. If hitting your kids isn’t getting the desired response, then try a DIFFERENT way of inflicting pain, and maybe that’ll do the trick!
The fact is, research has shown that corporal punishment isn’t a reliable way of causing lasting behavior change on the whole, and it’s even LESS effective when used on traumatized or brain-injured children.
This should be covered thoroughly in pre-adoption training, along with teaching parents lots of research-validated techniques for behavior management. Preferably ones which have won the endorsement of experienced adoptive and foster parents as well! ;-D
Any word on the status hearing 6/7/2013?
I haven’t found any media stories. The next status hearing according to online court records is July 19. My guess is that only procedural items occurred.
Updates?
We updated the post early last week because she had a status hearing. No media accounts, but her court record showed that her next hearing is October 10, 2013. Case is still open.
Thank you for keeping up on this.
Any updates to this?
According to the court records there is a status hearing October 18, 2013.
Is this ever going to trial or does the Christian fundamentalist get to walk? Not one day has she spent behind bars and she gets to be withher biological children. I smell coverup.
There is another status hearing scheduled for January 31, 2014.
Any word on this status hearing?
Well it looks like another status hearing has been scheduled for 3/28/14.
Let me guess status hearing July 30, 2014.
Any news?
Just that another status hearing has been scheduled for September 5!
News on this case from Sept. 5?
There just is another status hearing on 10/10/14.
Status of the status hearing 10/10/2014??
Ugh! There is “other Hearing” scheduled for 3/30/15!
Over three years since the coroner ruled this a homicide. Defense keeps delaying and delaying the justice for Joseph.
At my grandson’s school they froze dill pickle juice and sold them as pickle pops. Kids loved them. I can see a kid drinking a jar of sweet pickle juice. My sister’s child drank some beach and so did my neighbors child. I bet that tasted worse than pickle juice. Kids will drink many things if thirsty. We sell jumbo dill pickles at sporting events. A 4 yr old got one and her grandmother said she eats them all time. Not on anyone’s side.
Years keep ticking by, any news?
just that another status hearing is set for April 17th.
Any news from the 4/17/2015 status hearing?
Is there another status hearing date in the Fayette Co. Ky records? Or any other status on this case? Does anyone know?
There is another “other hearing” that is scheduled for 8/4/15.
I found the latest update through the Pingback– his parents are claiming that they discovered that Joseph had eaten some medically-forbidden foods– milk, chocolate, butter, and sprinkles– so they gave him vinegar to induce vomiting. It seems Joseph had Hirschprung’s Disease and had had a colectomy, and he was reportedly not supposed to eat dairy-containing foods.
My thoughts: If this is what happened, why didn’t they call Joseph’s gastroenterologist for advice when they discovered that Joseph had eaten these foods? And if they DID call, and s/he prescribed this vinegar treatment, then why hasn’t this medical professional spoken out in their defense? And why have they played so coy about explaining this for so long?
I Googled– both vomiting as a treatment for poison ingestion and the “low residue diet” for bowel conditions have been medically questioned as being unhelpful and perhaps counterproductive. Admittedly, Joseph’s death came right as the low residue diet was being scientifically challenged, but treating forbidden foods as poisons seems excessive even so. And there’s the failure to consult a qualified medical professional to consider as well… all and all, their story doesn’t seem to hold water.
I also want to know why since BOTH parents were involved in the vinegar dosing, why was Deah Adams the only one charged with reckless homicide? Why does Rick Adams get a pass?
Any updates on the status of this case?
Yes there is a big update! She pleaded “guilty to charges in connection to her child’s death.” according to WKYT on April 22, 2016. The court case says sentencing will be on 6/10/16. WKYT says”The Commonwealth agreed to amend the charge to criminal abuse, third degree. Adams could face up to 12 months in jail.”But she has served 4 years in jail already. But Criminal abuse?…she killed him!
By the way, Deah Adams only got 6 months of PROBATION even though the pathologist said “Dr. Rolf said she found cuts and bruises on his body, signs she says point to his mother forcing him to drink two more doses of vinegar even after he started to fight back.” and “The autopsy showed signs of a struggle, with bruises on Joseph’s head and body. Rick Adams, Joseph’s father, said he slapped Joseph while struggling to get him to drink the vinegar to induce vomiting.” Deah said she gave him 2.5 CUPS of vinegar!!!!
Then the sorry governor Matt Bevin pardoned her.
Unbelievable!!