HALL of SHAME and PAIN These children were murdered by adopters entrusted with their precious lives. For many of these little angels their descent from earth was a reprieve from insufferable abuse and torture. Like survivors of genocide and war, may they never be forgotten. Please consider making a donation to support web hosting fees so this memorial may remain on the Internet indefinitely. See also: Log of Fatal and Severe Abuses to Adoptees Protected to Death by Child Protective Services
		Lisa lived in NYC in what was called a house of horrors. Attorney Joel Steinberg was convicted of manslaughter in her beating death and served 16 years of a maximum 25 year sentence. He was released 8/29/04. Nussbaum, who plea bargained her freedom in exchange for testifying against Steinberg asked to see the boy (Travis) she also abused who has been reunited with his original family.
	Lisa Daughter of Michelle Launders May 14, 1981 – Nov 4, 1987 “Illegally adopted” and beaten to death after a life of abuse by Joel Steinberg and Hedda Nussbaum.
	Ricky Son of Casey Jo Caswell, age 16 when she gave birth in to Ricky in 1997 in California. In 2000, homeless and jobless, Ms. Caswell sought the help of state caseworkers homeless. Ricky was placed in foster care with the Hollands, until she can get on her feet.	Ricky: Beaten to death by Lisa Holland 7/1/05 at age 7. The Hollands adopted him and later his 4 siblings. Lisa Holland convicted of first-degree murder and first-degree child abuse. and is serving a life sentence with no chance of parole. Tim Holland pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 30-60 years in prison. Lisa Holland fought to maintain custody of Ricky’s four surviving siblings. After Ricky’s murder, his four siblings were removed and are living with aunts. Why couldn’t they have ALL been there all along?
	From RUSSIA With Love: The following are 14 children adopted from Russia – murdered by their adopters since 1996:
	David Polreis, Jr., age 2, Greeley, Colorado. Died February 9, 1996; beaten and cut over 90% of his body. Adoptive mother Renee Polreis was convicted of child abuse resulting in death and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Second adoption for Polreis. David was adopted from Tula; in US 6 months. Home Study: unknown. Adoption Agency: Rainbow House International, Belen, New Mexico.	Logan Higginbotham, age 3, Shelburne, Vermont. Died November 25, 1998 of massive head injuries. Adoptive mother Laura Higginbotham. In 2004, Higginbotham pled no contest to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 1 year in prison. Logan was adopted with another little girl at the same time. Logan was adopted from Smolensk; in US 7 months. Home Study: unknown. Adoption Agency: European Adoption Consultants, Strongsville, Ohio.
	Viktor Matthey , born Viktor Sergeivich Tulimov, age 6, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Died October 31, 2000 of cardiac arrest due to hyperthermia and suffered over 40 cuts, scrapes, bruises and untreated fractures. Robert Matthey admitted beating Viktor with an aluminum baseball bat, a belt, 2 whips, and his open hand. Jury deadlocked on manslaughter charges, but convicted them of lesser abuse charges.	The Mattheys were sentenced to 10 years in prison for locking Viktor overnight in a damp unheated pump room overnight, 10 years for inflicting excessive corporal punishment and 7 years for failing to provide medical care. The sentences run concurrently, and they are eligible for parole Dec. 2006. Will be retried on manslaughter charges. The Mattheys have 4 biological sons. Viktor was adopted with his younger twin brothers, now in the process of being adopted by Robert Matthey's mother who testified against the couple at their trial. Viktor was adopted from Amur Region, Siberia; in US 10 months. Home Study and Post-Adoption Follow-up: Hawthorne, New Jersey Bethany Christian Services, social worker: Lori Phelan. Adoption Agency: Adoption Alliance, Denver, Colorado.
	Luke Evans, age 1.5, Lowell, Indiana. Died Nov. 30, 2001 of massive head injuries, shaken baby syndrome, and poor nutrition. Husband not charged. Adoptive mother Natalie Fabian Evans is on trial for murder in October 2005. Luke was adopted with an unrelated boy from his orphanage who was living with a relative of Natalie Evans at time of Luke's death. Luke was Adopted from Inozemtsevo; in US 6 months. Home Study: unknown. Adoption Agency: Small World International/Charity, New York City.	Jacob Lindorff age 5, Gloucester Twp., New Jersey. Died Dec. 14, 2001 of blunt force trauma to head. Also suffered from 2nd degree burns on feet, hemorrhaging in 1 eye; bruises, and seizures. Adoptive mother Heather Lindorff was found guilty of 2nd degree endangering, aggravated assault and sentenced to 6 years. Adoptive father, James, sentenced to 4 years probation and 400 hours of community service for child abuse. Couple also adopted 3 bio-sisters from Russia, Jacob was one of a fraternal twins; placed with the Lindorffs only 18 after the sisters arrived. Jacob was adopted from Pskov Oblast; in US 6 weeks. Home Study: unknown. Adoption Agency: Open Door, Thomasville, Georgia.
	Zachary Higier, born Nikita Khoryakov, age 2, Braintree, Massachusetts. Died Aug. 15, 2002 of severe trauma to head. Adoptive mother, Natalia Higier, pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in jail, with 18 months balance of sentence suspended for 4 years. Husband not charged; couple now divorced. The Higiers had history of domestic violence and restraining orders against each other. Zachary was adopted from Orenburg Region. Time in US: unknown. Home Study: Adoption Resource Associates, Cambridge, Masschusetts; social worker: Laura Nemeyer. Adoption Agency: Frank Adoption Center, Raleigh, North Carolina.	Jessica Albina Hagmann, age 2, Prince William County, Virginia. Died August 11, 2003 of smothering. Adoptive mother Patrice Hagmann, sentenced to probation and 2 suspended 5-year terms. Hagmann said she killed Jessica while trying to calm a tantrum. Jessica was adopted from Moscow. Time in US: unknown. Home Study: unknown. Adoption Agency: unknown.
		Maria Bennett age 2, Lancaster, Ohio. Died October 23, 2002 of shaken baby syndrome. Adoptive mother, Susan Jane Bennett, pled no contest to 1 count of reckless homicide, and was sentenced to 3 years in prison. Bennett, adopted previous child, Sara, a year earlier from same orphanage; now in custody of Bennett's relatives. Maria was adopted from Ussurisk; in US for 9 months. Home Study: unknown. Adoption Agency: Focus on Children, Wellsville, Utah.
	Liam Thompson,born Dmitry Sergeyevich Ishlankulov, age 3, Columbus, Ohio. Died Oct. 16, 2003 of scalding and neglect. Five days earlier, adoptive father, Gary Thompson, put Liam in bathtub of 140 degree water causing 2nd and 3rd degree burns; skin peeled off legs. Instead of seeking treatment Thompson put him on a crib mattress in an unheated basement. Adoptive mother, LPN Amy Thompson, whose diary revealed she didn't like Liam or his adopted sister, failed to notice the seriousness of burns for 2 days. Liam was taken to hospital only when he went into respiratory failure. Amy Thompson pled guilty to child endangering and involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Gary Thompson pled guilty to murder and was sentenced to 15-life.	Liam was adopted from Blagoveshchensk; in US 5 months. Home Study: unknown. Adoption Agency: Tree of Life. Portland, Oregon. Amy Thompson's daughter from her previous marriage now in foster care; the Thompsons' biological son lives with relatives; and their daughter whom they adopted with Liam, has been adopted by a local couple.
		Alex Pavlis, born Alex Geiko, age 6, Schaumburg, Illinois. Died Dec. 19, 2003 of severe beating. Irma Pavlis sentenced to 12 years for involuntary manslaughter. Husband Dino Pavlis not charged. Alex was adopted with his younger sister who is now in foster care. Alex was adopted from Yeysk; in US 6 weeks. Home Study: Mt. Vernon, Illinois Baptist Children's Home and Family Services. Adoption Agency: independent adoption.
	Dennis Merryman, born Dennis Uritsky, age 8, Harford County, Maryland. Died Jan. 22, 2005 of cardiac arrest brought on by starvation; weighed 37 pounds, 2 pounds less than when examined in Oct. 2000. Adoptive parents Samuel and Donna Merryman - born again Christians, Sunday School teachers, and home schoolers - were arrested on Aug. 3, 2005 and charged with manslaughter, 1st degree child abuse resulting in death, and reckless endangerment. The Merrymans have 2 biological children, and Donna Merryman has a daughter from a previous marriage. Dennis was adopted from Perm with 1 older biological brother and 2 older biological sisters, all with medical problems discovered after adoptions; in the US nearly 5 years. Home Study: unknown. Adoption Agency: unknown.
	Christopher Hilt was not charged and plans to divorce his wife and is expected to regain custody of Nataliya, Nina's sister adopted from Ukraine. Nataliya Oksana, was put into protective custody and later placed in the custody of an aunt.	Nina Hilt, born Viktoria Bazhenova, age 2.5, Wake Forest, North Carolina. Died July 2, 2005 from blows to abdominal area. Adoptive mother, Peggy Sue Hilt, Hilt was sentenced May 2006 to 35 years in prison with 10 years suspended; will serve 21-22 years due to time served awaiting trial. Nina was adopted from Siberia; in US 1.5 years (approx) Home Study: unknown. Adoption Agency: Adoptions International, Dallas, Texas.
	BUTTERBOX BABIES The Ideal Maternity Home, an illegally run home for unwed mothers in the rural east Canadian province of Nova Scotia, sold babies on the black market to desperate couples from New York and New Jersey in the 1930s and '40s. Hundreds were left to die, either because the medical care at the home was lacking, or because the children appeared "unmarketable," according to witnesses. Infants who were sick, deformed or disabled, or of mixed race were fed molasses and water until they starved to death. A caretaker years later admitted to Canadian journalist Bette Cahill that he was paid to bury the babies in open graves, or in butter boxes from the local LaHave Dairy.
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