Homeschooling’s 

Invisible Children

5 children of Sinhue Johnson and Louann Bowers

Content note: Case narratives include descriptions of severe violence inflicted on children, including abuse and neglect, sexual violence, torture, and murder, as well as mentions of suicide and domestic violence. They also include photos of victims and perpetrators of violence.

sinhue johnson and louann bowers
In 1993, 16-year-old Louann Bowers ran away from home, allegedly to be with her uncle, Sinhue Johnson. Together they had five children who were hidden from the world and raised in squalid conditions without electricity or running water. The children, who included Sinhue Johnson Jr., 13, and Quatonnia “Nae” Johnson, 11, did not have birth certificates and never received medical care. Though Johnson and Bowers claimed the children were homeschooled, they never filed any of the required paperwork and the children said their mother’s teaching was “irregular”. The children were discovered after numerous tips to Children’s Services.

Johnson and Bowers were each convicted on five counts of child endangerment.

Date: August 28, 2009
Location:
York, Pennsylvania

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Documents: Date:
Mom of hidden kids was also a missing person 11-26-2010
5 kids found amid squalor, want 11-29-2010
Officials Struggle to Unravel Tale of 5 Children Being Raised in Secrecy 12-06-2010
Bowers released from prison 07-01-2011
Hidden kids case: York father says children were loved, well-cared for 02-26-2013
Two of Sinhue Johnson Sr.’s children testify at his child endangerment trial in York County 03-05-2013
Hidden children trial: Sinhue Johnson guilty 03-10-2013