Tag: 2014

David Martinez

David Alfonso ‘Davie’ Martinez, age 8, died of malnutrition and medical neglect. A criminal investigation is ongoing. Davie was homeschooled. Davie lived with his mother, Rachell Martinez, and his stepfather Steven Zahara. Davie had four siblings. He died Read More

5 Children of the ‘Springs Monster’

Five children (a 16-year-old girl, an 11-year-old boy, two younger girls, and a 2-year-old girl) were tortured by their father, dubbed the ‘Springs Monster’. Their mother was also charged with child abuse, although she claimed that she was Read More

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 Read More

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 Read More

Son of Charlie Mayes

A 16-year-old boy was physically abused by his father, military veteran Charlie Mayes. The boy was forced to carry a heavy stone for miles in hot weather as punishment for failing to do his schoolwork. The boy “had Read More

Boy by Jennifer Yanke and Stephan Alcox

A 13-year-old boy was neglected and deprived of food by his mother, Jennifer Yanke, and his stepfather Stephan Alcox. The boy had been pulled out of school and was reportedly homeschooling himself. The boy was left alone in Read More

7 Children of Sonia Kubisak

Seven children, ages 7 to 17, were neglected by their mother, Sonia Kubisak, who claimed to be homeschooling them. In March 2014, Kubisak moved the children to a campsite in Oklahoma, reportedly to escape an abusive relationship in Read More

Thomas Elberling

Thomas Elberling, age 11, was shot to death by his father, Jens Elberling, who then committed suicide. Thomas had been homeschooled for the past two years. Thomas was recognized internationally as a chess champion and was ranked fifth Read More

Granddaughter of Steve and Joetta Sells

A 15-year-old girl was beaten, imprisoned, and nearly starved to death by her grandfather, Steve Sells, his wife Joetta Sells, and Steve’s daughter Crystal Sells. The girl, who had special needs, was withdrawn from school in 2010 to Read More

Children of Christine Baughman

An 11-year-old boy was physically and emotionally abused by his adoptive mother, Christine Evelyn Baughman. The boy’s adoptive father, pediatrician Henry Baughman, has not been charged. The boy and his brother were adopted from Ukraine in 2013. The Read More