Homeschooling’s 

Invisible Children

Jaquan Porter

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.

Jaquan Porter was 10 years old when he died from fatal head injuries after being slammed against a wall. His mother, Melissa Sekulski, did not seek immediate medical treatment for the boy. Sekulski had removed her obese son from public school to protect him from bullying, but went on to beat him to death less than a year later. The beatings had begun three years earlier. His mother had filed the proper paperwork to begin homeschooling, but his grieving father blamed the school board for not checking up on him. Neighbors said they couldn’t recall seeing the boy. The boy’s mother admitted to the abuse.

Date: December 26, 2008
Location: Staton Island, New York

Documents: Date:
Mother charged with beating obese son to death: I homeschooled to spare boy fat taunts 2008-12-29
“I Lost It,” Sez S.I Ma 2008-12-29
Grieving Boy’s Father: I’m Glad He’s Not Suffering 2009-01-03
Grieving Dad’s Pain 2009-01-04