Brandon Gray, age 14, was starved to death by his mother, Terra Wells, and several other family members. Brandon’s 12-year-old sister K. was also starved and physically abused. The other eight children in the home were not reported to be abused. All ten children were homeschooled. Brandon lived with three generations of his family: his grandmother Yvette Charleston, his mother… Read more »
Omera Anna Akinloba, age 7, was starved to death by her parents, Aremo and Anna Akinloba. Omera was homeschooled. When Omera was around 2 years old, the Akinlobas noted that her behavior changed. They self-diagnosed her with autism, ceased to offer her medical care, and began to limit her to a diet of only french fries. Omera developed a full-body… Read more »
Trinity Love Jones, age 9, was murdered by her mother, Taquesta Graham, and Graham’s boyfriend Emiel Hunt. Trinity was homeschooled. Graham experienced child abuse or neglect and was performing sex work around age 18. Graham “pleaded no contest in 2009 to enticing a girl [under 16] for prostitution in San Bernardino County” and was placed on probation and the sex… Read more »
Josie Ann Abney, age 10, was starved to death by her parents, Randall and Susan Abney. Josie was homeschooled. Josie was born in 2010 and adopted by the Abneys in 2013. She was the first of “12 or 13 children” that the Abneys fostered. According to her obituary, “Josie was a cute little redhead who was full of life and… Read more »
Kaya Centeno (b. 2002) disappeared while being homeschooled. Her sister S. (b. 2003) and brother B. (b. 2005) were physically, emotionally, and sexually abused by the children’s adoptive parents, Gina and Jose Centeno. It is unknown if the children’s twin adoptive siblings P. and Q. were also abused. The Centenos adopted Kaya, S., and B., who were all biological siblings,… Read more »
James Alex Hurley, age 12, who went by Alex, was tortured and murdered by his grandparents, James Sasser, Jr. and Patricia Batts, and their 14-year-old son, J.S. A family friend, Gage Roush, was also charged in connection with Alex’s death. Alex also lived with his 18-year-old aunt M.S. and his 6-year-old uncle H.S. Alex was homeschooled. Alex originally lived with… Read more »
Tazmir Ransom, age 7, was murdered by his mother, Natasha Franks. Tazmir was not in school due to pandemic-related school closures. Tazmir had previously been in foster care and his father, Jaleel Ransom, was trying to get custody of him. His maternal aunt, Tanjala Pinckney, reported that the family knew Franks was abusing Tazmir for a few months prior to… Read more »
Alejandro Ripley, age 9, was murdered by his mother, Patricia Ripley. Alejandro was being educated at home due to pandemic-related school closures. Prior to the pandemic, Alejandro, who was autistic, attended The Friendship Circle of Miami. On May 21, Ripley was caught on video pushing Alejandro into a canal. After neighbors heard his screams and rescued him, she took him… Read more »
Two children–Heather “Sophie” Gray (b. 2006) and Jonathan Gray–died in the custody of their adoptive parents, Michael and Shirley Gray. Three other adopted children–M., a boy born in 2005; L., a girl born c. 2007; and T., a boy born in 2009–were imprisoned, starved, and abused by the Grays. The Grays’ adult children, Anthony “Bubba” and Carolyn Gray, lived with… Read more »
Two children—Tylee Ryan, age 17; and Joshua “J.J.” Vallow, age 7—died under suspicious circumstances while under the care of their mother, Lori Vallow. The children were homeschooled. Tylee was born around 2002. Lori later married Charles Vallow, and the Vallows adopted J.J., who was autistic. The family lived in Chandler, Arizona, where the children attended school. Around 2017, Lori Vallow… Read more »