Four children—Taye (age 13), Rylan (age 12), Arye (age 10), and Kadyn Cockman (age 8)—were killed by their grandfather, Peter Miles, as part of a murder-suicide. The children’s mother, Katrina Miles, and their grandmother Cynda Miles were also killed. The children were homeschooled. The children and their parents, Aaron Cockman and Kristina (Miles) Cockman, moved in with Katrina’s parents due… Read more »
James Marsh, age 11, died as a result of abuse by his mother, Sarah Marsh, and his stepfather Martin Marsh*. James was homeschooled. James was diagnosed with autism and ADHD around 2003. He received disability services as late as 2008. Sarah and Martin Marsh married in 2009. The Marshes moved to Central West in 2010 with James and their two… Read more »
Megan Walls (pictured, b. 1997) was sexually abused by her father, Michael Walls. Megan and her siblings were homeschooled—Walls distrusted the government and told Megan school would “brainwash” her. Walls married Megan’s mother M.S. when he was in his twenties and M.S. was 14 years old. Walls and M.S. had four children together: A., B., Megan, and Mi. The children’s… Read more »
Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj (pictured), age 3, died as a result of medical neglect by five of his family members. Their compound also housed 11 related children, ages 1 to 15, who were malnourished and neglected. The children were homeschooled. Abdul-Ghani, who had hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, was the child of Siraj Wahhaj and Hakima Ramzi of Jonesboro, Georgia. After a trip to… Read more »
VK, an 11-year-old boy (pictured), was starved and medically abused by his foster mother, Lyubov Korotkova. VK was homeschooled. Korotkova also had an adult son who lived with them and an adult daughter. Korotkova became VK’s foster mother and removed him from an orphanage in 2009 when he was 3 years old. For eight years, Korotkova habitually starved VK and… Read more »
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… Read more »
A girl, Jane*, was imprisoned, physically abused, and medically neglected by her adoptive parents, Joseph and Samantha Ferguson. The girl’s sister, Jean*, was also imprisoned. The girls’ four siblings were not reported to be abused. All six children were homeschooled. Jean and Jane, biological sisters both adopted by the Fergusons, “were undergoing trauma therapy for sexual and physical abuse in… Read more »
Sanaa Cunningham (pictured right with her siblings), age 7, died as a result of abuse and neglect by her father, Germayne Cunningham, and her stepmother Lisa Cunningham. Sanaa was homeschooled. Sanaa’s biological parents, Germayne Cunningham and Sylvia Norwood, married in 2007. Cunningham was a police detective. Their first daughter X. was born in 2007 and Sanaa was born in December… Read more »
Olivia Farrell (pictured), b. around 2001, was beaten and imprisoned by her adoptive parents, Neil and Janet Farrell. Olivia was homeschooled. Olivia’s three older sisters, who were also adopted, were not reported to be abused. The Farrells began caring for Olivia when she was 5 months old. Janet Farrell had previously been a certified teacher and homeschooled Olivia K-12. The… Read more »
Mason Jordan, age 7, was murdered by his mother, Tashina Jordan. Mason was homeschooled. Mason had multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus. He used a wheelchair and a feeding tube and was partially blind and nonverbal. Mason was homeschooled after Jordan decided “that public elementary school wasn’t right for him and came up with elaborate lesson plans tailored to… Read more »