Homeschooling’s 

Invisible Children

James Marsh

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 […]

Daughter of Jerald Hall

J. (b. 1996) was repeatedly sexually assaulted by her father, Jerald A. Hall. J. was homeschooled. In 2005, J.’s mother sent her to live with her father in Oklahoma. When J. was in fifth grade, her father began homeschooling her. He began to sexually assault her at this time. He moved her to Arkansas, then […]

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 […]

Son of Tina Graham and Vernon Widner

A 14-year-old boy was starved, caged, and physically abused by his mother, Tina Louise Graham, and her fiance Vernon D. Widner. The boy was withdrawn from school in January 2011 to be homeschooled, although no education actually took place. The boy’s older minor sister participated in the abuse; it is unclear if she or the […]

9 Children of James and Lucinda Haskin

Nine children, ages 3 to 17, were starved, neglected, and sexually abused by their parents, James E. Haskin Jr. and Lucinda Catherine Haskin. The Haskins claimed to be homeschooling them. According to an affidavit, the children were neglected from December 2009 to October 20, 2011. The Haskins “withheld proper food, shelter, clothing, hygiene and education.” […]

9 children of Peter Lucas Moses Jr.

Nine children ages 8 and under were abused by their father, Peter Lucas Moses Jr., and his three wives Vania Rae Sisk (second from left), Lavada Quinzetta Harris (far right), and Larhonda Renee Smith (second from right). Four of the children were Sisk’s and five were Harris’. The children were homeschooled and home-churched in the […]

Children of Martin and Kathleen O'Brien

Six children, ages 9 to 17, were abused by their adoptive parents, Martin and Kathleen O’Brien. Some of the children were homeschooled. The O’Briens’ three biological children (an adult daughter, Diane, and two minor sons) were not abused and were sometimes forced to participate in the abuse. Four of the children were biological siblings from […]

2 children of Sandra and Jeffrey Weller, and 4 siblings

16-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, were beaten, imprisoned, and starved by their adoptive mother Sandra Weller and their stepfather Jeffrey Weller. The twins were pulled out of school to be homeschooled after school officials reported suspicions of abuse. Despite the abuse, the twins “participated weekly in home-school social events outside the home,” according […]

Desirae, Deondra, and Melody Brown

Desirae (b. 1979, right), Deondra (b. 1980, center), and Melody (b. 1984, left) Brown were sexually abused by their father, Keith Scott Brown, who was also their business manager. The girls were part of the piano chamber ensemble The 5 Browns and were homeschooled, primarily by their father, while their mother Lisa was in charge […]

6 children of Lora and Aubrey Thomas

T.T. (a 15-year-old boy), G.T. (a 14-year-old girl), B.T. (a 14-year-old boy), and E.T. (a 13-year-old girl), were tortured, starved, and sexually abused by their adoptive parents, Lora (or Laura) and Aubrey Thomas, and their older brother Garrett, the Thomases’ biological son. The Thomases also had at least two other older biological children, who did […]