Homeschooling’s 

Invisible Children

Christian Choate

After abuse concerns were raised at his school, Christian Choate’s parents removed him from school and told neighbors that they were homeschooling him. He was kept inside a locked dog cage and was routinely kicked and beaten by his parents. Sometimes Christian’s parents chained his hands to the top of his cage. As his health […]

Nubia and Victor Barahona

After abuse reports were lodged by teachers, Nubia and Victor Barahona, twins who had been adopted by Jorge and Carmen Barahona, were withdrawn from their Florida school by their parents, who told officials that they were going to homeschool the children. In the months that followed, Jorge and Carmen systematically and horrifically tortured the children, […]

Nathaniel Michael Craver

Nathaniel Craver, who was adopted from Russia along with his twin sister, was hospitalized at age seven for physical injuries suffered at the hands of his parents, Michael J. Craver and Nanette L. Craver. Nathaniel died not long thereafter, having suffered irreparable brain injury. Nathaniel and his sister were homeschooled and the family lived in Pennsylvania. After […]

Lydia and Zariah Schatz

Lydia Schatz, adopted from Liberia, was seven when she succumbed to liver failure after being whipped with plastic tubing for several straight hours, interspersed with prayer breaks by her parents. Her parents, Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz, said Lydia was being disciplined for mispronouncing a word. Lydia’s sister Zariah, 11, also adopted, was hospitalized with similar […]

Chandler Grafner

Seven year old Chandler Grafner starved to death at the hands of his guardian, Jon Phillips. In a case described as “horrific,” Phillips locked Chandler in a dark linen closet where he died of starvation and dehydration, surrounded by his own excrement and screaming for something to eat and drink. Phillips, the father of Chandler’s half […]

Samuel Hudson, and 5 Siblings

Samuel Hudson was thirteen years old when he died at the hands of Cynthia Hudson, his adoptive mother. Adoptive father William Hudson was charged with tampering with the evidence. Samuel was beaten to death with a broom handle, rake, computer cord, and baseball bat. Samuel and his siblings, all of whom were homeschooled, were frequently […]

Brittany and Tatianna Jacks, N'Kiah and Aja Fogle

Brittany Jacks, 17, Tatianna Jacks, 11, N’Kiah Fogle, 6, and Aja Fogle, 5, were withdrawn from the Washington, D.C., public school system in March of 2007 to be homeschooled by their mother. In January of 2008, their bodies were discovered in an advanced state of decomposition by marshals serving an eviction notice. Their mother, Banita […]

Tyler Gene McMillan

Thirteen year old Tyler Gene McMillan died after spending two nights tied to a tree in oppressively hot summer weather in North Carolina. The boy was homeschooled by his parents, Brice Bryan McMillan, 41, and Sandra Elizabeth McMillan, 36. Neighbors said the family kept to itself. The couple’s remaining two children, aged seven and nine, […]