Nine children, born between approximately 1995 and 2005, were starved and tortured by their mother, X. The children were homeschooled.
The family were active in their local “conservative Christian” church. At some point X. separated from her husband, who was not charged in connection with the abuse. X. began abusing the children in 2000. They were starved and forced to eat non-food substances; forced to do extreme exercise and spend hours in stress positions; beaten and thrown down stairs; submerged overnight in cold swimming pools; and emotionally abused. X.’s eldest daughter, M., reported that she now requires hearing aids due to head trauma from the abuse, and said “I am still learning that I am not stupid, disgusting, dumb and a servant.” Another adult daughter, P., reported ongoing daily headaches due to head trauma.
The abuse came to light in 2017, when five of the children were adults and had moved out of the house. Six of the children testified against X., who took a plea deal in the middle of the trial due to overwhelming evidence. She pleaded guilty to cruelty to children and assault on a child and was sentenced to four years in prison.
Date: 2017
Location: New Zealand
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