G.N. (a 15-year-old girl), C.N. (an 11-year-old boy), and E.N. (an 11-year-old girl) were beaten, starved, and tortured by their adoptive parents, Jim and Paige Nachtigal. The children were taken out of public school in 2014 to be homeschooled.

G.N. was adopted in 2011, and E.N. and C.N. were adopted in 2012 (the children were not biologically related). All were adopted from Peru, where the Nachtigals were missionaries. The Nachtigals were “active in business and ministry in the Newton community. Jim Nachtigal serve[d] as the CEO of Kansas Christian Home. Paige Nachtigal [was] a former employee of the Newton Area Chamber of Commerce.” The children described being beaten by the Nachtigals using a board and a cane, and the two 11-year-olds were malnourished and had various broken bones. The children had only seen a doctor once or twice since coming to the United States, and C.N. had a serious heart condition for which he had not received treatment.

The abuse came to light after C.N. was reported missing February 6, 2016. When police found him walking barefoot outside, he reported that he was afraid to go home. A February 9 fundraising post on Paige’s blog announces the Nachtigals’ plan to move permanently to Peru as missionaries. The children were removed from the home February 11. The Nachtigals were arrested February 16 and charged with child abuse, child endangerment, and aggravated battery.

Date: February 8, 2016
Location: North Newton, Kansas

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