How Could You? Hall of Shame-Natalie Finn case-Child Death and Natalie’s Adopted Siblings case 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 West Des Moines, Iowa, adoptee Natalie Finn, 16, “died Oct. 24 [2016]from cardiac arrest caused by emaciation after numerous child abuse reports were made to Iowa’s Department of Human Services.”

“The West Des Moines teen was one of four children adopted out of foster care by Nicole and Joseph Finn, a divorced couple who has pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges related to her death and the abuse of other children in the home. Three of the children were allegedly tortured in the Finns’ home after she pulled them from public school last spring and said she was home-schooling.”

Former Iowa pastor, foster parent charged with child molestation[Des Moines Register 1/26/17 by Lee Rood]

“Natalie Finn and her siblings were the subjects of “numerous” reports of alleged child abuse and neglect before the 16-year-old died in October of starvation, a state lawmaker said after a confidential briefing Thursday with top officials in Iowa’s Department of Human Services.

State Sen. Matt McCoy, a Democrat who represents West Des Moines, where Natalie died Oct. 24 from emaciation, said the details of the children’s suffering made him want to vomit.

“This young woman was essentially put through one of the most torturous forms of death I could think of,” he said. “It’s absolutely tragic. We need to do all we can to make sure this never happens again.”

McCoy said details unveiled during the briefing underscored the need for changes in the way home-schooled children are monitored, additional vetting of potential parents before children are adopted out of foster care, and better direction of child-protective workers to ensure they are giving “more trust and validity” to abuse reports from mandatory reporters.

McCoy will be the ranking Democrat on the Legislature’s Oversight Committee when the Legislature convenes in January. He asked for the private briefing with Human Services chief Chuck Palmer last week with other lawmakers, Republican and Democrat, who he was told not to name.

He said he also was told not to say how many child abuse reports or assessments were made by Human Services, but he confirmed some of the reports involved school officials and neighbors who lived near Natalie and her siblings in West Des Moines.

Last week, Gov. Terry Branstad said in a statement that the Iowa Department of Human Services made “personnel changes” in the wake of its investigation into Natalie’s death. Asked how many employees might have been fired, a governor’s spokesperson responded that “appropriate action” was taken with more than one employee, but did not elaborate.

McCoy said the review involved a child-protection worker and supervisor, but he could not say what discipline occurred. He could not use the word “termination,” he said.

McCoy said the numerous abuse reports that came into Human Services, “should have been red flags to these child protection employees,” but he said there were several “miscues” that prevented more action.

Palmer was joined at the briefing by Vern Armstrong, a veteran division administrator who oversees Human Services’ field operations. McCoy said he was satisfied with the honesty and transparency in the meeting, but he still intends to move forward with a request for the state medical examiner to convene an ad hoc committee to review the case.

Finn’s shocking starvation, and the torture she and her siblings allegedly suffered in a middle-class, West Des Moines neighborhood, have rippled through Iowa in a way few child deaths have over the past 15 years.

News that there were numerous reports of neglect and abuse of the children underscore similarities with the state’s most high-profile death in recent history — the death of 2-year-old Shelby Duis in 2000. In that case, child care workers called Human Services repeatedly, reporting abuse and neglect two months before the Spirit Lake toddler died.

Finn’s parents, who were divorced, were charged this month with multiple felonies tied to Natalie’s emaciation and the alleged abuse of two of her siblings.

Nicole Finn, 42, faces first-degree murder, three counts of first-degree kidnapping, one count of child endangerment resulting in death, three counts of child endangerment causing serious injury and three counts of neglect of a dependent person.”

‘Numerous’ abuse reports made in starved child case, lawmaker says[Des Moines Register 12/28/16 by Lee Rood]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: “When police and medics found Natalie Jasmine Finn in late October, the 16-year-old Iowa teen was wearing an adult diaper, lying on a linoleum floor in her own waste “for some time,” according to court documents unsealed this week.

Finn shared the empty room, without furniture or beds, with two of her siblings and scores of dogs and cats that had the run of the home, West Des Moines police Detective Chris Morgan wrote in an affidavit. It smelled of human and animal waste, with blankets “heavily soaked” in what authorities believed to be urine, according to Morgan.

“Many animals roamed freely, including well over a dozen kittens and cats,” Morgan wrote in the document obtained by the Des Moines Register. “There were numerous kennels with dogs scattered inside the residence.”

Finn was unresponsive and not breathing, according to a search warrant application filed by Morgan that emerged Tuesday after a judge’s order to keep the documents under seal expired. The document detailed interviews conducted by investigators with three other Finn children, two of whom were underweight and had bedsores.

Natalie Finn died at a nearby hospital on Oct. 24. She died from emaciation due to the denial of critical care, according to the Polk County medical examiner’s office.

Nicole Marie Finn, 42, of West Des Moines, was arrested in December on first-degree murder charges for her daughter’s death and child endangerment charges for her treatment of Natalie’s 15-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister — all of whom were adopted.

Joseph Michael Finn II, of Urbandale, Finn’s ex-husband, faces charges of first-degree kidnapping, child endangerment and neglect of a dependent person in the case. Both remain in the Polk County Jail and are awaiting a trial scheduled for October, the Des Moines Register reports.

Investigators determined that Nicole Finn had controlled Natalie’s food intake, as well as that of her siblings, in an effort to control their behavior. The children also did not attend school regularly, although Natalie Finn was being home-schooled by her mother at the time of her death, according to the warrant.

Joseph Finn told investigators during interviews with police that he helped Nicole Finn nail a window shut in the bedroom after learning that the children had snuck out to beg for food at a nearby convenience store. Finn also admitted to investigators that he replaced the carpet in the children’s room with linoleum.

“It’s a horrific situation and I feel heartbroken for Natalie and her siblings who were, in essence, sealed in that room and left to die,” state Sen. Matt McCoy told KCRG.com.

Meanwhile, lawmakers held an oversight hearing Monday in connection with the handling of Finn’s case. Wendy Rickman, administrator of adult children and family services for the Iowa Department of Human Services, defended the agency’s response, KCCI.com reports.

“I would tell you as the child welfare director, as a child welfare administrator, that our system is functional,” Rickman said. “It is beyond functional.””

Adopted girl dies after life in most horrific circumstances imaginable [NY Post 3/16/17 by Joshua Rhett Miller]

Update 2:“Natalie Finn’s parents took out two life insurance policies on their adopted daughter before the 16-year-old died from starvation and abuse in the family’s West Des Moines home, Polk County court filings show.

A Hartford Life Insurance policy carried a $10,000 benefit, according to a court filing related to Natalie Finn’s estate. Another policy that Natalie’s adoptive mother, Nicole Finn, took out in 2009 carried a $25,000 benefit.

A court petition filed this month shows that Natalie’s adoptive father, Joseph M. Finn II, called about the second policy from Quad Cities-based Modern Woodmen of America the day after Natalie died in October 2016. Nicole Finn was subsequently sent information on filing a claim.

Both Joseph and Nicole Finn have been charged in Natalie’s death.

Natalie’s oldest adoptive brother, Alexander Finn, also called about the policy. He has not been charged.

Whether anyone receives anything hinges on Nicole Finn’s upcoming trial, according to Ned Miller, who was appointed to represent Natalie’s estate.

Nicole Finn, 42, faces a Nov. 27 trial in Polk County on multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder, for allegedly abusing Natalie and two teenage siblings who also were adopted.

Nicole Finn has pleaded not guilty, and her lawyers have said she will use a defense of diminished mental capacity.

Joseph Finn’s trial was continued until Jan. 8. The 46-year-old has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, neglect, abandonment and child endangerment.

His attorney, Jim Cook, said Finn doesn’t anticipate using any “special” defenses, instead contending that the father didn’t live in Nicole Finn’s home after the two divorced in 2011 and “wasn’t around the kids that often.”

Numerous people, including school officials and neighbors, reported they believed Natalie was being abused before she was pulled out of public school last year and died in her own waste in the West Des Moines home.

She was wearing an adult diaper and lying on the linoleum floor of her bare bedroom when police and medics discovered her, according to court documents.

A medical examination found the teen died of emaciation because of the denial of critical care.

Natalie’s death and those of other children adopted out of state foster care have prompted probes by Iowa legislators, the state ombudsman, Iowa’s Child Death Review Team, Iowa’s Department of Human Services and a private consultant hired by the state to review the state’s child-welfare policies.

Joseph Finn has agreed to relinquish any right to the $10,000 he stood to receive from the Hartford Life policy he took out in the event of Natalie’s death.

A court petition filed this month by Modern Woodmen asks that a judge ultimately decide who should receive the $25,000 benefit since Natalie’s death was a homicide and her parents may both be disqualified as beneficiaries.

The non-profit fraternal organization asked to turn over the $25,000 to the court so it can be relieved from any liability in any potential court action “because of a controversy not of its making.”

Modern Woodmen and its attorney, Debra Hulett, declined to comment Monday on the civil court action.

The petition shows that the policy Nicole Finn took out in 2009 on Natalie’s behalf named Nicole herself as the principal beneficiary and her oldest son, Alexander K. Finn, an adult, as a contingent beneficiary.

Finn bought the policy after Natalie’s adoption from foster care but before her 2011 divorce from Joe, the filing shows.

On Nov. 8, less than two weeks after Natalie’s death, Modern Woodmen sent Nicole Finn information about filing a claim. The company said Alexander Finn also contacted the company in January this year and was sent information about filing a claim.

Cook said it’s his understanding both parents obtained life insurance on all their minor children.

Normally, the Woodmen policy would pay Nicole Finn first, then Joseph Finn, in the event of Natalie’s death, according to Modern Woodmen’s petition.

But under Iowa law, if a beneficiary is disqualified, that beneficiary “shall be considered to have predeceased the insured.”

Death “by the hand of a beneficiary” automatically disqualifies that person from receiving proceeds under company bylaws.”

Parents charged in starved teen’s death took out life insurance policies on her

[USA Today 10/30/17 by Lee Rood]

Update 3:“On the day of her death, 16-year-old Natalie Finn was found in an adult diaper, lying on the cold, linoleum floor of her West Des Moines home.

On Friday, state attorney Bret Lucas reminded Polk County Judge Karen Romano of the horrors Natalie endured during her short life.

“Finally, when she was too weak to move, too weak to sit up, and too weak to swallow, she left her on the floor of a barren room, filthy, covered in urine and feces, and left her there to die,” said Lucas.

Judge Romano seemed almost at a loss for words and in disbelief as she sentenced Finn to three life terms, saying, “The injuries that were suffered by these children, the actions are just inexcusable to treat children in this manner.”

The judge also explained why the three life sentences should be served consecutively–one after another–rather than concurrently.

“The court finds that if these sentences were in concurrent of each other, it would be inappropriate,” said Romano.  Lucas agreed, saying, “You have to take into account the three separate victims in this case, and I think the message needs to be sent that what happened to Natalie and the other two are three separate, distinct crimes.”

Judge Romano denied Finn’s request for a new trial based on Finn’s claims that her attorneys were ineffective, yet Finn failed to provide new evidence. In an exchange with judge, who was asking Finn for any evidence that would show proof of a new trial, she said, “These guys probably wouldn’t do it.”

Judge Romano then replied, “That is not my question, whether these attorneys would do something. What type of evidence do you think there is?”

Finn replied, “I wouldn’t be able to present anything. I mean, I don’t have anything.”

It was the only reaction from Finn, who offered no statement or apologies for abusing, neglecting, and murdering her daughter.

“It’s good to finally have this case behind us,” said Lucas, adding, “This was a very taxing case. Difficult to see, difficult to work with. The children in this case, it takes a toll, and so we can at least close this chapter and look toward Mr. Finn.”

Nicole Finn told the court she will appeal the decision. She is also required to pay $150,000 to the estate of Natalie Finn.

Joseph Finn, Nicole’s ex-husband, will stand trial in April. He faces charges of kidnapping, child endangerment, and neglect or abandonment of a dependent in the death of Natalie Finn.”

http://whotv.com/2018/01/26/nicole-finn-to-serve-three-life-sentences-in-connection-to-adopted-daughters-death/

[Who Tv 1/26/18 by Justin Surrency]

Update 4:” The adoptive father of 16-year-old Natalie Finn has pleaded guilty to assault and injuring the starved teen and her siblings.

Joseph Finn, 47, entered a guilty plea Wednesday afternoon in Polk County to three amended counts of Assault while participating in a felony causing a serious injury (Class C Felony).

Finn was originally charged with Kidnapping in the First Degree, Child Endangerment – Death, Child Endangerment – Serious Injury and and Neglect or Abandonment of Dependent Person in the 2016 starvation death of Natalie Finn. Each of the amended counts carries a maximum possible prison term of 10 years, for a total possible term of incarceration of 30 years.

During the plea hearing, Finn said he would be asked by his ex-wife Nicole Finn to help out with the kids—Natalie, M. Finn and J. Finn. While at the house, Finn said he seemed confused as to why the kids were acting the way they were, and was told by Nicole to remove the carpeting and put in linoleum flooring.

Finn said he “unfortunately bought into” the picture painted by Nicole about the actions of the children, and admitted to being manipulated by Nicole.”

Nicole, Natalie’s adoptive mother, was convicted of Murder in the First Degree and three counts of Kidnapping in the First Degree in December 2017—she received three consecutive life sentences in January.

Finn will be required to pay $150,000 restitution to the estate of Natalie Finn. Sentencing in the case is scheduled for May 4.”

UPDATE: Adoptive father said he “unfortunately bought into” picture painted by Natalie Finn’s mother

[KCRG 3/21/18]