James Alex Hurley
James Alex Hurley, age 12, who went by Alex, was tortured and murdered by his grandparents, James Sasser, Jr. and Patricia Batts, and their 14-year-old son, J.S. A family friend, Gage Roush, was also charged in connection with Alex’s death. Alex also lived with his 18-year-old aunt M.S. and his 6-year-old uncle H.S. Alex was […]
Emily Fritts
Mary Fritts kidnapped her 7-year-old daughter, Emily Fritts, from Staunton, Virginia, in August 1994 to avoid allowing her ex-husband visitation rights. The mother and daughter assumed new identities and moved frequently, living in Tennessee, Oregon, Kansas, Alaska, and Montana. Mary also homeschooled Emily. Emily’s father, Rodney Fritts, hired a private investigator and spent nearly half […]
4 Children of Alisa S.
Alisa and Andrew, residents of Utah and the parents of four children (known in court documents as A.S., C.S., L.S., and J.S.) divorced in 2008. Alisa was granted sole custody. After a substantiated child welfare referral regarding child neglect in February 2009, a voluntary services case was opened, but Alisa was uncooperative and moved to […]
Louisa and Swen Swanson
Jeannette Swanson, a homeschooling mother, shot and killed her children Louisa, 10, and Swen, 14, in their sleep a week after she was briefly hospitalized for depression and chronic tiredness. Her remaining two sons, aged 20 and 16, were unharmed. She was sentenced to life commitment in Montana State Hospital. Date: August 26, 2002 Location: […]
