Homeschooling’s 

Invisible Children

Children of Lev Tahor

Lev Tahor, a Jewish sect located in Quebec, Canada, came under scrutiny from child welfare officials in 2013 amid concerns of psychological abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, improper education, medical neglect, and underage marriages. The sect’s children were homeschooled, and officials learned that girls were not receiving the same education as boys, that the children were only […]

3 Children by Timothy and Esten Ciboro

A 13-year-old girl was starved, imprisoned, and sexually abused by her stepfather, Timothy Ciboro, and his son, Esten Ciboro. The girl’s 9-year-old sister was also sexually abused. The girls and their 10-year-old brother were homeschooled. The children were placed with the Ciboros by child services after their mother moved away. Social workers examined the 13-year-old […]

Daughter of Julio Valladares and Linda Richmond

An 8-year-old girl was beaten, starved, and tortured by her father, Julio Valladares, and his partner Linda Richmond. The girl was homeschooled. Richmond also had a son on whose behalf no charges were filed. In 2013, someone at the girl’s elementary school noticed her bruises and called in a tip. In response, Valladares pulled the […]

2 Children of Timothy Hogan and Patricia Haugstad-Hogan

Two girls, L.H. (age 17) and L.H. (age 16), were neglected by their parents, Timothy Hogan and Patricia Haugstad-Hogan. The girls were homeschooled. The girls were forced to sleep on a mattress in the basement of their family home for five years, while their parents lived in a camper in the driveway. The house was […]

10 Children of Odalis Sharp

Caleb Vasquez (b. 1996) and seven of his nine younger half-siblings were starved and beaten by their mother, Odalis Sharp. All the children were homeschooled. In 2011, Caleb was removed from the home of Odalis Sharp and her husband Tim Sharp after Caleb ran away following a punishment where he was fed only bread and […]

Colt Clark

Colton Levi Clark, who went by “Colt”, was 9 years old when he went missing in April 2006. Officials believe he was murdered by his aunt and uncle, James “Rex” Clark and Rebecca Faith Clark. Colt and his older brother Austin “Homer” Clark were homeschooled. Colt and Homer were taken in by the Clarks in […]

3 Children of Echo Terry

Three girls–V.T. (b. 2004), J.T. (b. 2005), and M.T. (b. 2010)–were starved and imprisoned by their adoptive mother, Echo Marie Terry. Their infant sister, Ma.T., was not reported to be abused. The girls were homeschooled. Terry became the foster mother of the three girls–biological sisters–in 2011 and formally adopted them in 2013. The abuse began […]

3 Children of Jim and Paige Nachtigal

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 […]

Dylan Seabridge, and 1 Sibling

Dylan Mungo Seabridge, age 8, died of scurvy as a result of neglect by his parents, Glynn and Julie Seabridge (pictured). Dylan and his brother were homeschooled. Dylan missed a developmental check in 2006; when officials tried to rearrange the visit, the Seabridges refused. Though Dylan was a registered patient at a local doctor and […]

Simonne Say

Simonne Say, age 17, died as part of a suicide pact with her mother, Elizabeth Genthner (pictured). Simonne, who went by Sammi, was homeschooled. Genthner “had a history of mental illness, drug-related arrests, and alcohol abuse.” Simonne was removed from Genthner’s home in 2001 due to felony child neglect, but reunited with her in 2002. […]