Homeschooling’s 

Invisible Children

Son of Akemi Cox and Valerio Garcia

An 8-year-old boy, W. (b. 2013), was starved, physically abused, and medically neglected by his mother, Akemi Cox, and her fiance Valerio Garcia. W. was homeschooled. Cox had a social services history dating back to 2002; five of her children had previously been removed from her care. Garcia had a social services history dating back […]

Omera Anna Akinloba

Omera Anna Akinloba, age 7, was starved to death by her parents, Aremo and Anna Akinloba. Omera was homeschooled. When Omera was around 2 years old, the Akinlobas noted that her behavior changed. They self-diagnosed her with autism, ceased to offer her medical care, and began to limit her to a diet of only french […]

5 Children of Robert and Stephanie Duncan

Five children–Noah* (b. 2005), Elijah*, James* (b. 2009), William*, and Ella* (b. 2014)–were imprisoned and tortured by their adoptive parents, Robert and Stephanie Duncan. The children were homeschooled. The Duncans moved into their home around 2009. They began fostering the children shortly thereafter. Three of the children were half-siblings and the other two were half-siblings. […]

3 Children of Joseph and Jennifer Wolfthal

Three children–Rose* (b.c. 2010), Mason* (b.c. 2012), and Sophie* (b. 2013)–were starved, tortured, and imprisoned by their adoptive parents, Joseph and Jennifer Wolfthal. The children were homeschooled. The Wolfthals adopted the children in 2014. Jennifer Wolfthal had spent eight years as a 4th grade public school teacher before resigning in order to homeschool her adopted […]

Trinity Love Jones

Trinity Love Jones, age 9, was murdered by her mother, Taquesta Graham, and Graham’s boyfriend Emiel Hunt. Trinity was homeschooled. Graham experienced child abuse or neglect and was performing sex work around age 18. Graham “pleaded no contest in 2009 to enticing a girl [under 16] for prostitution in San Bernardino County” and was placed […]

Josie Ann Abney

Josie Ann Abney, age 10, was starved to death by her parents, Randall and Susan Abney. Josie was homeschooled. Josie was born in 2010 and adopted by the Abneys in 2013. She was the first of “12 or 13 children” that the Abneys fostered. According to her obituary, “Josie was a cute little redhead who […]

6 Children of Kelley and Daniel Davis

An 8-year-old boy, H., was imprisoned by his parents, Kelley and Daniel Davis. The boy and his five sisters (ranging in age from 10 to infancy) were homeschooled. Beginning at least in March 2020, H. was kept locked in a dark room with boards over the window and door overnight or, according to his parents, […]

Kaya Centeno, and 4 siblings

Kaya Centeno (b. 2002) disappeared while being homeschooled. Her sister S. (b. 2003) and brother B. (b. 2005) were physically, emotionally, and sexually abused by the children’s adoptive parents, Gina and Jose Centeno. It is unknown if the children’s twin adoptive siblings P. and Q. were also abused. The Centenos adopted Kaya, S., and B., […]

2 Girls by Terry Miles

Two girls—G. (age 14) and B. (age 7)—were abducted by G.’s homeschool teacher, Terry Miles. Miles also sexually assaulted G. Miles met G. and began grooming her while she was visiting her father in Louisiana during the summer of 2017. According to G.’s father, “[Miles] knew [G.] for one day or something like that and […]

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 […]