How Could You? Hall of Shame-Krista Crossett

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 Bonaparte, Iowa, adoptive mother, Krista Crossett, 48, was arrested after “a report of possible child abuse at a residence…in Bonaparte.”

“Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the victim, who stated that her adopted mother, 48-year-old Krista Crossett, had become angry and punched her in the eye several days earlier. Officers noted the victim had a black eye, along with a knife wound on her right index finger, which she said came from Crossett swinging a knife at her.

The victim was transported to a hospital for further evaluation. Medical staff discovered extensive bruising across her body in different stages of healing. The victim told investigators that some of the bruising on her chest occurred when Crossett stepped on her during an argument. She was also found to have a broken nose and a broken hip.

When questioned about the injuries, Crossett reportedly claimed she had no idea how they occurred.

Following the initial investigation, deputies obtained a warrant for Crossett’s arrest. She was taken into custody and later released from the Van Buren County Jail on August 13th while awaiting a scheduled sentencing hearing. A no-contact order was issued, prohibiting her from having any contact with the victim.

The investigation continued, and on November 21st, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department issued a second warrant for Crossett’s arrest. She was taken into custody again and is currently being held in the Van Buren County Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond. A preliminary hearing is set for December 1st. A new no-contact order has also been issued, prohibiting her from having contact with any minors.

Crossett now faces multiple charges of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person involving a male child and two female children. According to court documents, the charges stem from incidents occurring between September 2024 and August 2025, during which Crossett allegedly exposed two of her minor children—both under the age of five—to hazardous situations from which they could not reasonably protect themselves. She faces one Class B felony and two Class C felony counts of child endangerment.

The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to gather information.”

Arrest of Bonaparte Woman for Child Abuse and Neglect
[Ottumwa Radio 11/25/25 by Donna Savits]

“A southeast Iowa woman faces up to 45 years in prison on charges related to child abuse involving her adopted children. Now, her past raises questions about how she came to adopt and whether the safeguards designed to screen adoptive parents functioned as intended.

Krista Crossett is expected to stand trial in July [2026] for multiple acts of child endangerment and two counts of neglect or abandonment in Van Buren County.

Court documents allege one of the adopted children, identified as A.C., who has mental and physical disabilities, suffered a broken nose, a broken hip, a laceration to the hand, and significant bruising while in Crossett’s care.

Investigators from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation believe the abuse occurred over the course of about a year before her arrest in August of 2025.

As disturbing as those allegations are, a review of Crossett’s past raises another question: How did these children come to be placed in her care?

This is not the first time Crossett has faced allegations of child abuse. She was convicted of child endangerment in 2001.

Washington County court records show that a four-month-old child Crossett had been babysitting suffered multiple fractures while in her care. Court documents state the infant had a spiral fracture of the femur, a fractured arm, and two healed broken ribs– all injuries determined to be the result of physical abuse. According to the court’s findings of fact, Crossett gave differing accounts before ultimately admitting, “What I did was bad.””

Crossett was sentenced to prison for up to ten years. [What?She was convicted and served time!!!]

So how could a person with that history adopt children in Iowa? I put that question to Des Moines-based attorney Scott Wadding, who previously represented children in claims against the state stemming from the death of Sabrina Ray.

Wadding points to Iowa Code section 600.8(1)(b), which prohibits approval of an adoptive applicant who has certain felony convictions, including child endangerment.

“In my view, allowing Krista Crossett to adopt children, especially one with special needs, is like going 100 miles an hour through a red light. That violates basic safety norms,” Wadding said.

Adoption records are generally sealed, making them difficult to access.

Wadding added, “There would have to be remarkable circumstances for any responsible and careful adoption agency to allow this adoption to occur.”

A source familiar with the case told me that the children were placed with Crossett after the biological parents lost their parental rights. After Crossett’s arrest, a family member wrote on social media that she “wished people would have listened” when she warned against placing the children in Crossett’s care. I have attempted to reach the family member on social media but have not yet heard back.

I also reached out to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to ask whether the agency was involved in the adoption and to clarify its adoption screening policies.

HHS said confidentiality laws prevent it from discussing specific cases.

A public information officer for the agency told me that crimes against children, including child endangerment, are disqualifying offenses for adoptive applicants.

When asked if exceptions could be made, HHS said no exceptions could be made regarding those disqualifying offenses.

Whether this adoption was handled through HHS, a private agency, or some other process remains unknown.

Wadding says that lack of information makes it difficult to determine whether existing safeguards were followed.

“I think it goes to a broader point of transparency,” said Wadding. “We don’t know which adoption agencies were involved or if certain background requirements were waived. We don’t know those facts. And so, I think when you have a case like this and a child who’s been severely abused like A.C. had, there needs to be transparency in this process, and accountability.””

Crossett has pleaded not guilty. The Iowa Attorney General’s office is prosecuting the case in Van Buren County.

A jury trial is currently set for July 21, 2026.”

Prior conviction raises questions about adoption in Van Buren County child abuse case

[KTVO 7/8/26 by Maddie Lee]

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