Homeschooling’s 

Invisible Children

Bradley Warren and 2 siblings

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.

Bradley Warren, age 13, was shot to death by his 14-year-old brother, Brandon Keith Warren. Brandon also shot and killed their 19-year-old stepsister Marnie Rose Warren and then shot himself. Both Bradley and Brandon were homeschooled, and Marnie and their older brother Ellis (age 21) had also been homeschooled. The mobile home where they lived was filled with garbage and animal droppings. Bradley and Brandon had been sleeping at a neighbor’s house for about two months as their parents, Nissa Mae Warren and Boyd Kent Warren, tried to clean up the house to prevent removal of the children by social services.

The Warrens had been convicted in 1991 of felony child abuse in Mesa, Arizona, where they lived until 1996. Nissa Mae believed strongly in corporal punishment and neighbors noticed bruises on Marnie’s legs. The Warrens were placed on probation and the children were not removed. The family subsequently moved to North Carolina. After their children’s murder-sucicide, the Warrens were arrested and charged with misdemeanor child abuse and improper storage of a gun.

Date: July 26, 2001
Location: Kenly, North Carolina

Documents: Date:
Memorial Services Scheduled for Teens Found Shot in Mobile Home 2001-07-31
No Suspects in Killing of 3 Teens 2001-07-27
Parents Charged in Kids’ Murder-Suicide 2001-08-08
Social Services Report Describes Contacts With Murder-Suicide Victims 2001-08-14
(NC) Johnson Co. parents arrested after teens’ murder-suicide 2001
Home-schooling seen as possible cover for abuse 2002-04-18
A Dark Side To Home Schooling 2003-10-13