Homeschooling’s 

Invisible Children

Girl by the Smiths

A 9-year-old girl was beaten, starved, and imprisoned by her uncle, Joel Smith (pictured left), Joel’s wife Amanda Smith (pictured center), and their 19-year-old daughter Allison Smith (pictured right). The girl was homeschooled. It is unclear how the girl came to live with the Smiths, but she thought of them as her parents and sister. […]

Children of Brian Keene

At least five children were sexually abused by their siblings. Their father, Brian Keene (pictured left), knew about the abuse and did nothing to stop it. The children were homeschooled. Brian Keene and his wife had at least nine children, including: James (b. 1990, pictured second from left), Elijah (b. 1992, pictured second from right), […]

Sarah Dubois-Gilbeau

Sarah Dubois-Gilbeau, age 5, was beaten to death by her father, Brandon Reynolds. Sarah was homeschooled. Sarah liked fishing at Tingley Beach and once won a fishing contest. Her favorite colors were pink, purple, and blue. Reynolds had sole custody of Sarah due to her mother’s drug use. Neighbors described him as “very strict” and […]

11 Children of Machelle Hobson

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 […]

Damon Decree, Jr.

Damon Decree, Jr. (pictured), age 13, was murdered by his mother, Shana Decree, and his older sister, Dominique Decree. Damon was homeschooled at the time of his death. Damon lived with his mother; older siblings Naa’Irah Smith (age 25), Dominique Decree (age 19), and Joshua (age 17); maternal aunt Jamilla Campbell; and Campbell’s twin 9-year-old […]

Daughter of Randall Pruitt

A 14-year-old girl, S., was sexually abused for 12 years by her adoptive father, Randall Lee Pruitt (pictured). The girl’s mother, Christine Pruitt, knew about the abuse and did nothing to stop it. S.’s three younger siblings were not reported to be abused. S. was homeschooled. S. and her family moved from Lawrenceville, Georgia to […]

Boy by Joel Love

A boy was beaten by his relative, Joel Ronald Lawrence Love (pictured). The boy was homeschooled. The boy was contacting his friends on social media. When Love discovered this, he “grabbed [the boy] by the throat, choked him, repeatedly hit his head against the floor, pushed him up against a fridge and hit him in […]

4 Children of Patrick and Angel Henderson

Two children, a 14-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl, were imprisoned, starved, and beaten by their adoptive parents, Patrick and Angel Henderson (pictured). The children were homeschooled. Their siblings, a 13-year-old and a 6-year-old, were not reported to be similarly abused. From 2007 to 2019, the Hendersons “have been investigated for child abuse or neglect […]