Seven children, ages 15 to 3, were starved, imprisoned, and physically and sexually abused by their adoptive mother, Machelle Hobson (pictured left). The children were homeschooled. Hobson’s four adult biological children were not reported to be abused; her sons Logan and Ryan Hackney (pictured center and right) knew about the abuse but did nothing to stop it.
The children were forced to participate in videos on Hobson’s popular YouTube channel “Fantastic Adventures” and were abused when they refused or forgot their lines. They were beaten with various objects and doused with pepper spray, forced to take ice baths, and locked in closets for days without food and water. According to Hobson, at least one of the children had a disability. While some of the children originally attended school, they were withdrawn to be homeschooled so they could spend more time filming the series.
The abuse came to light when Hobson’s adult biological daughter reported it to the authorities, prompting a welfare check which revealed the abuse. Hobson was charged with molestation, child abuse, child neglect, and unlawful imprisonment. The Hackneys were charged with failure to report abuse.
Date: March 13, 2019
Location: Maricopa, Arizona
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