Friday, February 10, 2006
and another...
ED: I am saddned to report yet another child adopted from Russia who has been abused by his adoptors.
Interfax: Russian prosecutors investigating adoption by WNY couple
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February 10, 2006, 8:08 AM EST
MOSCOW (AP)_ Russian prosecutors are investigating the legality of the adoption of a disabled Russian boy by a western New York couple who have been accused of abuse, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.
The 4-year old was repeatedly beaten by his adoptive mother, who cut his ear with scissors and threatened to cut out his tongue for not reading his prayers correctly in English, according to prosecutors in Allegany County.
Prosecutors from the boy's native region of Rostov will check the legality of adoption and might open a criminal case, Interfax quoted Deputy Prosecutor-General Sergei Fridinsky as saying.
"We've had precedents when an investigation into activities of mediators and civil servants in various regions of Russia resulted in criminal cases being opened," he told Interfax.
The boy, who was born with one arm, was placed in protective custody Thursday after his mother, Jane Cochran, 43, of Alfred, was charged with second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Cochran's husband Timothy, an associate professor of electrical engineering technology at Alfred State College, also was charged with endangering the boy.
The couple's three other children also were taken from them after an emergency Family Court hearing on Tuesday. The mother was released on $10,000 bail and the father on $5,000 bail.
In recent years, Russian officials have reacting increasingly negatively to foreigners' adopting Russian children, with some nationalist lawmakers asserting children are being "bought" by foreigners. Cases of abuse by foreign adoptive parents are widely reported in the Russian media.
Advocates for children, however, have disputed the assertions and say restricting foreign adoptions would harm thousands of Russian children waiting to be adopted.
The number of Russian adoptions has dropped from 14,000 to about 7,000 annually since the early 1990s, while the number of foreign adoptions rose from 1,400 to 9,000. U.S. families account for half of those.
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- In 2000, Denise Thomas of Littleton, Colo., was put on probation for a year after being accused of trying to sell her 8-year-old Russian-born daughter on the Internet. Thomas contended she was trying to find a new home for the girl after making the decision to disrupt and wanted to recoup some of the costs of the girl's adoption and medical care.
- February 9, 1996 - David Polreis, Jr: age 2, of Greeley, Colorado was beaten to death. Over 90% of David's body was covered in cuts, which his adoptive mother, Renee Polreis, claimed was due to the boys severe RAD. Renee stated that David would hit himself with a wooden spoon. Husband, David Polreis, Sr. was out of town at time of attack and was not implicated. Rene Polreis was convicted of child abuse resulting in death and sentenced to 18 years in prison. David was adopted 6 months before his death.
- November 25, 1998 - Logan Higginbotham: age 3, of Shelburne, Vermont died of massive head injuries. Adoptive mother Laura Higginbotham, stated that Logan fell and hit her head on the floor of an upstairs bedroom. It took 3 years for the medical examiner to determine whether the case was accidental or homicide. In 2004, Laura Higginbotham pled no contest to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 1 year in prison. Logan was in US 7 months before her death.
- October 31, 2000 - Viktor Matthey: age 6, of Hunterdon County, New Jersey died of cardiac arrest due to hyperthermia after adoptive parents Robert and Brenda Matthey locked him overnight in a damp unheated pump room. Viktor was also severely beaten by his adoptive father. Both parents are sentenced to 10 years for confining Viktor to a pump room, 10 years for excessive corporal punishment and 7 years for failing to provide medical care. The sentences run concurrently. Viktor was in the US 10 months before his death.
ED: I actullay knew the a-grandmother!
- November 30, 2001 - Luke Evans: age 1.5 of Lowell, Indiana died of massive head injuries, shaken baby syndrome, and poor nutrition. Adoptive mother, Natalie Fabian Evans, stated that she couldn't wake Luke one morning and so placed him in a tub of water to "stimulate him" where she says he may have bumped his head on the tub. The authorities took a year to investigate the case. Evans is scheduled to stand trial for murder in October 2005. Luke was in the US 6 months before his death.
- December 14, 2001 - Jacob Lindorff: age 5, of Gloucester Twp, New Jersey died 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. Adoptive mother claimed that the injuries were accidents. Jacob was in the US 6 weeks before his death.
- August 15, 2002 - Zachary Higier: age 2, of Braintree, Massachusetts, died of severe head trauma. Adoptive mother Natalia Higier, stated that he had fallen out of his crib or hit his head on the floor. She later admitted to tossing him into the air and he hit his head on the coffee table. Zachary sustained a bilateral skull fracture, strokes, brain swelling, and detached retinas. Natalia 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.
- October 23, 2002 - Maria Bennett: age 2, of Lancaster, Ohio, died from shaken baby syndrome. Adoptive mother Susan Jane Bennett, said that she had tripped while carrying Maria and had dropped her. Medical evidence proved otherwise. Susan Bennett pled no contest to 1 count of reckless homicide and was sentenced to 3 years in prison. Maria was adopted 9 months before her death.
- August 11, 2003 - Jessica Albina Hagmann: age 2, died from smothering. Adoptive mother, Patrice Hagmann claimed that she accidently killed Jessica while trying to stop her from having a tantrum. Patrice was sentenced to probation and to 2 suspended 5-year terms.
- October 16, 2003 - Liam Thompson: age 3, of Columbus, Ohio, died from scalding and neglect. His adoptive father, Gary, placed him in a tub of 140-degree water. He received 2nd and 3rd degree burns. His LPN adoptive mother, Amy, neglected treatment for 2 days, then treated him with Tylenol and Vaseline. She took Liam to the hospital only after he went into respiratory failure. Amy was sentence to 15 years for child endangering and involuntary manslaughter. Gary received 15-life for murder. Liam was adopted 5 months prior.
- December 18, 2003 - Alex Pavlis: age 6, of Illinois, was beaten to death by his U.S. adopted mother, Irma, 6 weeks after his adoption from Russia. He was found to have 32 bruises, scars, and cuts. Irma had a difficult time with Alex. He banged his head on the walls, floors, and defecated and urinated on himself. Reports indicate that his injuries could have been self-inflicted. Irma was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
- January 22, 2005 - Dennis Merryman: age 8, born Dennis Uritsky, of Harford County, Maryland died after suffering cardiac arrest brought on by starvation. He weighed 37 pounds. Both parents, Samuel and Donna Merryman, were arrested and charged with manslaughter and first-degree child abuse resulting in death and reckless endangerment. He was adopted almost 5 years ago.
- July 2, 2005 - Nina Hilt: age 2, of Wake Forest, North Carolina died after suffering several blows to her abdomen. Her adoptive mother, Peggy Hilt, has been charged with second-degree murder. Nina was adopted in 2003.
Interfax: Russian prosecutors investigating adoption by WNY couple
Email this story
Printer friendly format
February 10, 2006, 8:08 AM EST
MOSCOW (AP)_ Russian prosecutors are investigating the legality of the adoption of a disabled Russian boy by a western New York couple who have been accused of abuse, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.
The 4-year old was repeatedly beaten by his adoptive mother, who cut his ear with scissors and threatened to cut out his tongue for not reading his prayers correctly in English, according to prosecutors in Allegany County.
Prosecutors from the boy's native region of Rostov will check the legality of adoption and might open a criminal case, Interfax quoted Deputy Prosecutor-General Sergei Fridinsky as saying.
"We've had precedents when an investigation into activities of mediators and civil servants in various regions of Russia resulted in criminal cases being opened," he told Interfax.
The boy, who was born with one arm, was placed in protective custody Thursday after his mother, Jane Cochran, 43, of Alfred, was charged with second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Cochran's husband Timothy, an associate professor of electrical engineering technology at Alfred State College, also was charged with endangering the boy.
The couple's three other children also were taken from them after an emergency Family Court hearing on Tuesday. The mother was released on $10,000 bail and the father on $5,000 bail.
In recent years, Russian officials have reacting increasingly negatively to foreigners' adopting Russian children, with some nationalist lawmakers asserting children are being "bought" by foreigners. Cases of abuse by foreign adoptive parents are widely reported in the Russian media.
Advocates for children, however, have disputed the assertions and say restricting foreign adoptions would harm thousands of Russian children waiting to be adopted.
The number of Russian adoptions has dropped from 14,000 to about 7,000 annually since the early 1990s, while the number of foreign adoptions rose from 1,400 to 9,000. U.S. families account for half of those.
------------------------
- In 2000, Denise Thomas of Littleton, Colo., was put on probation for a year after being accused of trying to sell her 8-year-old Russian-born daughter on the Internet. Thomas contended she was trying to find a new home for the girl after making the decision to disrupt and wanted to recoup some of the costs of the girl's adoption and medical care.
- February 9, 1996 - David Polreis, Jr: age 2, of Greeley, Colorado was beaten to death. Over 90% of David's body was covered in cuts, which his adoptive mother, Renee Polreis, claimed was due to the boys severe RAD. Renee stated that David would hit himself with a wooden spoon. Husband, David Polreis, Sr. was out of town at time of attack and was not implicated. Rene Polreis was convicted of child abuse resulting in death and sentenced to 18 years in prison. David was adopted 6 months before his death.
- November 25, 1998 - Logan Higginbotham: age 3, of Shelburne, Vermont died of massive head injuries. Adoptive mother Laura Higginbotham, stated that Logan fell and hit her head on the floor of an upstairs bedroom. It took 3 years for the medical examiner to determine whether the case was accidental or homicide. In 2004, Laura Higginbotham pled no contest to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 1 year in prison. Logan was in US 7 months before her death.
- October 31, 2000 - Viktor Matthey: age 6, of Hunterdon County, New Jersey died of cardiac arrest due to hyperthermia after adoptive parents Robert and Brenda Matthey locked him overnight in a damp unheated pump room. Viktor was also severely beaten by his adoptive father. Both parents are sentenced to 10 years for confining Viktor to a pump room, 10 years for excessive corporal punishment and 7 years for failing to provide medical care. The sentences run concurrently. Viktor was in the US 10 months before his death.
ED: I actullay knew the a-grandmother!
- November 30, 2001 - Luke Evans: age 1.5 of Lowell, Indiana died of massive head injuries, shaken baby syndrome, and poor nutrition. Adoptive mother, Natalie Fabian Evans, stated that she couldn't wake Luke one morning and so placed him in a tub of water to "stimulate him" where she says he may have bumped his head on the tub. The authorities took a year to investigate the case. Evans is scheduled to stand trial for murder in October 2005. Luke was in the US 6 months before his death.
- December 14, 2001 - Jacob Lindorff: age 5, of Gloucester Twp, New Jersey died 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. Adoptive mother claimed that the injuries were accidents. Jacob was in the US 6 weeks before his death.
- August 15, 2002 - Zachary Higier: age 2, of Braintree, Massachusetts, died of severe head trauma. Adoptive mother Natalia Higier, stated that he had fallen out of his crib or hit his head on the floor. She later admitted to tossing him into the air and he hit his head on the coffee table. Zachary sustained a bilateral skull fracture, strokes, brain swelling, and detached retinas. Natalia 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.
- October 23, 2002 - Maria Bennett: age 2, of Lancaster, Ohio, died from shaken baby syndrome. Adoptive mother Susan Jane Bennett, said that she had tripped while carrying Maria and had dropped her. Medical evidence proved otherwise. Susan Bennett pled no contest to 1 count of reckless homicide and was sentenced to 3 years in prison. Maria was adopted 9 months before her death.
- August 11, 2003 - Jessica Albina Hagmann: age 2, died from smothering. Adoptive mother, Patrice Hagmann claimed that she accidently killed Jessica while trying to stop her from having a tantrum. Patrice was sentenced to probation and to 2 suspended 5-year terms.
- October 16, 2003 - Liam Thompson: age 3, of Columbus, Ohio, died from scalding and neglect. His adoptive father, Gary, placed him in a tub of 140-degree water. He received 2nd and 3rd degree burns. His LPN adoptive mother, Amy, neglected treatment for 2 days, then treated him with Tylenol and Vaseline. She took Liam to the hospital only after he went into respiratory failure. Amy was sentence to 15 years for child endangering and involuntary manslaughter. Gary received 15-life for murder. Liam was adopted 5 months prior.
- December 18, 2003 - Alex Pavlis: age 6, of Illinois, was beaten to death by his U.S. adopted mother, Irma, 6 weeks after his adoption from Russia. He was found to have 32 bruises, scars, and cuts. Irma had a difficult time with Alex. He banged his head on the walls, floors, and defecated and urinated on himself. Reports indicate that his injuries could have been self-inflicted. Irma was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
- January 22, 2005 - Dennis Merryman: age 8, born Dennis Uritsky, of Harford County, Maryland died after suffering cardiac arrest brought on by starvation. He weighed 37 pounds. Both parents, Samuel and Donna Merryman, were arrested and charged with manslaughter and first-degree child abuse resulting in death and reckless endangerment. He was adopted almost 5 years ago.
- July 2, 2005 - Nina Hilt: age 2, of Wake Forest, North Carolina died after suffering several blows to her abdomen. Her adoptive mother, Peggy Hilt, has been charged with second-degree murder. Nina was adopted in 2003.
# posted by Senior Mom @ 1:25 PM 
