Irma and Dino Pavlis adopted two children from Russia, Alex, aged 6, and his biological sister, aged 5. Only six weeks after the adoption, the boy died in the hospital of injuries sustained from beatings he suffered at the hands of his adoptive mother. Irma said she beat Alex because the child was difficult and she lost control, but she denied that those injuries could have killed him and insisted that Alex also harmed himself. Irma was charged and convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and sentenced to 12 years in prison. The children were being homeschooled while a sufficient school was located.
Date: December 18, 2003
Location: Schaumburg, Illinois
