How Could You? Hall of Shame-Kelly Morris 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 Hanford, California, adoptive mother Kelly Doreen Morris, 50, was arrested on charges of felony child abuse, torture and assault with a deadly weapon against her four adopted children. There are three girls and one boy all between the ages of 12 and 16.

KSEE says “The children revealed to investigators they were subjected to severe beatings with a belt, often times resulting in welts and bruises. Photographs taken of the injuries also revealed sever[sic] bruising on the their backs, buttocks, and shoulders.

Authorities also say punishments against the children included forcing a child’s head under water for periods of time in a bathtub.

Child protective Services removed all children from the home and placed them in temporary custody for the children’s safety and welfare.

Kelly Morris was arrested and booked into the king County jail on charges of felony Child abuse, torture, and assault with a deadly weapon.”

Hartford Sentinel says that “Neighbors learned of the abuse on Wednesday and reported it to local law  enforcement. ” and that the children have been in her care for seven years.

REFORM Puzzle Pieces

Hanford Woman Arrested on Child Abuse Charges

[KSEE 5/25/12]

Hanford Woman Arrested in Beating

[Fresno Bee 5/25/12 by Eddie Jimenez]

 

Woman arrested in child torture case

[Hanford Sentinel 5/25/12]

Hanford Woman Accused of Beating Adopted Children

[KMJ Now 5/25/12]

Update: “All four children have been in Morris’ care for about seven years now, Putnam  said.

Child Protective Services have been called out to the home on past occasions.  On Thursday, they removed the kids from the residence and placed them into  temporary custody “for their safety and welfare,” a news release said.”

 

Local woman accused of beating adopted kids

[Hanford Sentinel 5/26/12 by Joe Johnson]

Update 2: The biological mother speaks out. “Kristina Fowler admits there was probably good reason her four children were taken away from her back in 2005.  “I had a CPS case a CPS case of being a very depressed woman, a single mom, my house was a disaster all the time.”

Now, claiming she is a changed woman, Fowler wants to be able to see her children more than just twice a year.    She said she was sickened when she heard Kelly Morris was arrested for physically abusing the children for years.

Fowler said, “I’m horrified, I’m upset, I’m wanting, I want to cuss her out. I want to do all those things but it’s not an option.”

Last week, the Kings County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kelly Morris after one of the four children arrived at a neighbor’s house with bruises from being severely beaten.  Investigators believe the convalescent home nurse had been abusing and torturing the children for years.

Fowler says her 16-year-old son had been continuously running away from the home since January.  At one point he stayed with her at her house in Visalia for several days.  “He tells me I just want to live with you.   There’s ascertain school over here that he’s actually very interested in it’s a military academy.”

Wednesday morning, Fowler showed up to Kings County family court for a hearing on who the children would be staying with.  The children are currently in foster care.

Fowler admits that financially, supporting all four of her biological children would be difficult.  She has maintained a job at a local pizza shop for the last five years.  She’s hoping she can somehow have her children back in her life again.  “Now I have an opportunity to say hey this is my life now let’s put the kids with the life and I hope that god will give me that opportunity again.”

Kelly Morris will be back in court next month on the felony child abuse and torture charges.

Kristina Fowler says she will be back in family court in a few weeks to see if her visitation rights can be enhanced.”

Mom discusses alleged child abuse by adopted mother[ABC News KFSN 5/30/12 by Jessica Peres]