How Could You? Hall of Shame-Lawrence Drumgoole

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 Charlotte, North Carolina, adoptive father Lawrence Drumgoole, 67, “has been convicted of sexually abusing his adopted child for nearly a decade, including fathering her child when she was just 12 years old, according to the Charlotte Mecklenburg District Attorney’s Office.

Lawrence Drumgoole, 67, pled guilty to first-degree statutory rape. Officials say the abuse survivor, who was around 5 years old, was a foster child placed with Drumgoole and his wife in 2006 while the family was living in New York.

Records state Drumgoole began to abuse the foster child when she was 7 years old. Around age 10, she was adopted by Drumgoole, and the family moved to Charlotte.

The abuse continued in NC, and the survivor became pregnant by Drumgoole when she was 12 years old. At age 13, she gave birth to a little girl.

Officials say Drumgoole continued to abuse the survivor until she was 16 years old. In 2024, the survivor told authorities of the abuse she had endured throughout her childhood.

Drumgoole denied the claims; however, DNA and paternity testing in 2024 confirmed that Drumgoole was the biological father of the survivor’s child.

In March 2026, Drumgoole was sentenced to between 16 years and 20 years, 3 months in prison. When released from prison, he will be required to register as a sex offender.

Drumgoole still faces pending charges in Union County for the same abuse from when the family was living in that area.”

Charlotte man convicted of raping 12-year-old adopted daughter, fathering her baby: DA
[QC News 4/16/26 by Abby Mittower]

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