Homeschooling’s 

Invisible Children

Adam Herrman

Content note: Case narratives include descriptions of severe violence inflicted on children, including abuse and neglect, sexual violence, torture, and murder, as well as mentions of suicide and domestic violence. They also include photos of victims and perpetrators of violence.

adam herrman

Doug and Valerie Herrman are accused of abusing their adopted son, Adam, and of not reporting he was missing after his 1999 disappearance at age 11 or 12. The couple continued to collected adoption subsidy payments until what would have been Adam’s 18th birthday, but told family that Adam had returned to state custody. The case came to light when someone reported that the boy hadn’t been seen in nine years. When questioned, the couple told police that Adam ran away. Relatives alleged that the Herrmans had abused Adam by punching him, pulling his hair, spanking him with a wooden spoon or belt, depriving him of food, and making him sleep in a bathtub without a blanket or pillow. Suspicions of abuse were reported by Adam’s school in 1998, after which the Herrmans withdrew Adam to homeschool him. The case is being investigated as a death.

Date: 1999
Location: Towanda, Kansas

Documents: Date:
Prosecutor: parents are suspects in Adam Herrman case 2008-01-17
Long-missing boy is subject of search 2009-01-03
Search Starts for Kansas Boy Now Missing 10 Years 2009-01-05
Relatives: Boy Missing for 10 Years Was Abused 2009-01-07
Butler County sheriff to search river area, a home in boy’s disappearance 2009-01-07
Adoptive mother denies she abused missing boy 2009-01-07
Sister was one who called officials about Kansas boy missing since 1999 2009-01-08
Missing boy’s uncle says he witnessed verbal and physical abuse 2009-01-10
A timeline for the Adam Herrman case 2009-01-11
Prosecutor: parents are suspects in Adam Herrman case 2009-01-17
The Adam Herrman Mystery 2009-01-24
Adam Herrman case moving ‘behind closed doors,’ sheriff says 2009-02-22
[duplicate to delete] Judge blocks records’ release for missing Kan. boy 2009-03-06
Records in missing-boy case to stay closed 2009-03-07
Judge blocks records’ release for missing Kan. boy 2009-03-07
Case of missing boy Adam Herrman not forgotten in Butler County Read more: 2010-01-03
Herrman couple charged wth fraud 2010-07-08
Adam Herrman’s Biological Father Speaks Out 2010-07-08
KS/PARENTS CHARGED IN ADOPTION FRAUD 2010-07-08
Adam’s family happy with charges; wants more answers 2010-07-08
Couple accused of welfare theft; son missing since ’99 2010-07-09