Homeschooling’s 

Invisible Children

Child of Recardo and Therian Wimbush

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.

recardo and therian wimbush
Recardo and Therian Wimbush locked their oldest son in a lightless basement room for almost two years with only a bucket for a toilet. The boy was 13 when the ordeal ended. His siblings were not included in the allegations. All 10 children were homeschooled; however, the Wimbush’s oldest son had not received any instruction since he was locked in the basement.

The Wimbushes claimed that the boy had been imprisoned for running away and molesting his younger siblings; however, the boy reported that he was being punished for lying and stealing a DVD. Although the Wimbushes were highly educated—Recardo had played football for Georgia Tech and later finished his degree; Therian was former military had a degree in mechanical engineering—they were also members of a strict religious movement called the Way of Yah, which forbids members to celebrate holidays.

The abuse came to light when an anonymous tip brought social services to the Wimbushes’ home. The Wimbushes were charged with child cruelty and false imprisonment.

Date: June 16, 2014
Location:
Buford, Georgia

Documents: Date:
Cops: Football player locked up son for a year 06-27-2014
Ultra-religious former college football star locked one of his ten children alone in a basement with blacked-out windows for TWO YEARS because the boy, 13, had ‘sinned’ by stealing a DVD player 06-27-2014
Georgia parents who kept boy locked in basement to surrender: police
Police: Parents who allegedly locked son in basement room turn selves in 06-28-2014
Former Georgia Tech player Recardo Wimbush, wife held without bond on child cruelty charges 06-29-2014
Bond again denied to former Ga. Tech star, wife in child cruelty case 08-05-2014