Homeschooling’s 

Invisible Children

3 children of Kate Parker

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.

kate parker
Katherine G. “Kate” Parker had 7 biological children (Megan, 21; Adam, 20; Emily, 14; Sarah and David, 11; Isaac, 9; and Joshua, 7) and 2 adopted children (Bethany, 5; and Hannah, 4; adopted from the Ukraine in 2010). Parker is accused of medically abusing Joshua, Bethany, and Hannah by lying to doctors and inventing or causing illness or injury. The other children also underwent numerous procedures for medical conditions which were not independently diagnosed. The children were homeschooled.

Joshua (who had spina bifida) and Bethany and Hannah (who both had Down syndrome) all underwent surgeries officials believe were unnecessary beginning in 2007. In late 2012, Hannah was “re-homed,” a legally sketchy practice that involves passing around adopted children, often to people known only through online websites and forums. Meanwhile, Parker used her children’s alleged illnesses to solicit charitable donations online. When Joshua was hospitalized in September 2013, doctors grew suspicious of Parker’s negative response to news that Joshua’s condition was improving. After Parker’s friend notified social services, Parker coached her other children in how to respond to social workers’ questions. Parker’s minor children were removed from her home.

Parker was arrested on April 1, 2014 for “24 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, four counts of first-degree assault, one count of child abandonment, four counts of computer crime, four counts of identity theft, five counts of witness tampering and one count of recklessly endangering another.”

Date: September 2013
Location:
Grants Pass, Oregon

Documents: Date:
Mother of 8 arrested in ‘medical child abuse’ case 04-01-2014
Friend of Parker: Reporting her to police ‘tough’ 04-03-2014
Mom of 8 pleads not guilty in medical child abuse 04-04-2014
The Truth About KP MOM OF 7,8,9 04-18-2014
Medical child abuse case may have political impact 05-07-2014
Further reading on Kate Parker case, Monica Wehby tie-in 05-08-2014
Bail lowered for medical child abuse mom 05-14-2014
A Mother’s Care 12-15-2015