In Memoriam
The Homeschooling’s Invisible Children team has been tracking publicly documented cases of abuse and neglect in homeschool settings since 2013. Thus far, we have tragically located 219 fatalities of homeschooled children caused by abuse in the public record. This figure is likely an underestimate, since reporting on child fatalities does not always contain information on school status.
2024
Gavin Peterson was 12 years old when he died from the effects of chronic and systematic abuse allegedly at the hands of his father, stepmother, and brother. At a celebration of life ceremony for Gavin, community members remarked on his infectious smile and love for Pokemon. Despite multiple reports of abuse to social services from school employees, Gavin was withdrawn from school to be homeschooled in August 2023.
Age: 12
Year: July 9, 2024
State: Utah
Kyneddi Miller was 14 years old when she died from the effects of chronic and systematic abuse allegedly at the hands of her mother and grandparents. Loved ones describe Kynnedi as a vibrant child who was passionate about music. Kynnedi was frequently absent at school before she was withdrawn from school to be homeschooled in 2019 or 2020, and her caregivers never submitted the required assessments to the school district during the years she was homeschooled.
Age: 14
Year: April 17, 2024
State: West Virginia
Braxtyn Smith was 10 years old when died from effects of chronic and systematic abuse allegedly at the hands of his mother, father, and grandmother. In a vigil honoring his life, community members conveyed that Braxtyn was “so very loved.” Braxtyn was homeschooled his entire life and had little contact with adults or peers outside his immediate family.
Age: 10
Date: February 18, 2024
State: Maine
Sayra Barros was 8 years old when died from effects of severe abuse allegedly at the hands of her stepmother and father. Sayra’s former teachers and classmates remember her as a natural leader who was gifted, loving, and affectionate. When school officials noticed and reported injuries from abuse in late 2023, Sayra’s caregivers withdrew her from school to be homeschooled.
Age: 8
Date: January 30, 2024
State: Georgia
Geanna Bradley was 10 years old when she died from the effectsof of chronic and systematic abuse allegedly at the hands of her legal guardians. Her biological father remembers her as a happy, loving child who enjoyed activities like going to the park and the mall. In the fall of 2022, Geanna was withdrawn from school to be homeschooled against the advice of her teacher and counselor, who expressed concerns about her wellbeing.
Age: 10
Date: January 18, 2024
State: Hawaii
2023
Sullivan Watford
Age: 6
Year: 2023
State: Alabama
Jacarie Robinson
Age: 12
Year: 2023
State: Wisconsin
Sakenlo Steele Jr.
Age: 14
Year: 2023
State: North Carolina
Sakenya Steele
Age: 12
Year: 2023
State: North Carolina
Sakendra Steele
Age: 9
Year: 2023
State: North Carolina
Calissa Asker
Age: 10
Year: 2023
State: Washington
Isabelle Asker
Age: 8
Year: 2023
State: Washington
2022
Chaska Davis Smith
Age: 11
Year: 2022
State: Arizona
Teresa Milligan
Age: 13
Year: 2022
State: Arizona
Nora Milligan
Age: 11
Year: 2022
State: Arizona
Finn Milligan
Age: 8
Year: 2022
State: Arizona
Brian Nelson
Age: 13
Year: 2022
State: Oklahoma
Brantley Nelson
Age: 9
Year: 2022
State: Oklahoma
Vegeta Nelson
Age: 7
Year: 2022
State: Oklahoma
Ragnar Nelson
Age: 9
Year: 2022
State: Oklahoma
Morgan Moore
Age: 17
Year: 2022
State: Maryland
Timothy Ferguson
Age: 15
Year: 2022
State: Michigan
Brogan Duhon
Age: 12
Year: 2022
State: Louisiana
Zoe McCue
Age: 10
Year: 2022
State: Georgia
Mattie Kay Prescott
Age: 15
Year: 2022
State: Texas
2021 & earlier
Please note: this section is under construction.
| Name | Age | Year | State |
| Olivia Huggler | 18 | 2021 | Indiana |
| Isabella Kalua | 6 | 2021 | Hawaii |
| Lance Dotson | 13 | 2021 | New York |
| Arabella McCormack | 11 | 2021 | California |
| Brandon Gray | 14 | 2020 | Tennessee |
| Roman Lopez | 11 | 2020 | Michigan |
| James Alex Hurley | 12 | 2020 | Montana |
| Josie Ann Abney | 10 | 2020 | Missouri |
| Kendrick Lee | 8 | 2020 | Texas |
| Damon Decree Jr. | 13 | 2019 | Pennsylvania |
| Trinity Love Jones | 9 | 2019 | California |
| Sarah Dubois-Gilbeau | 5 | 2019 | New Mexico |
| Eduardo Posso | 12 | 2019 | Florida |
| Skylea Carmack | 10 | 2019 | Indiana |
| Tylee Ryan | 17 | 2019 | Idaho |
| Joshua Vallow | 7 | 2019 | Idaho |
| Antonio Juan Gonzalez Jr. | 14 | 2019 | Pennsylvania |
| Alek Todt | 13 | 2019 | Florida |
| Tyler Todt | 11 | 2019 | Florida |
| Takoda Collins | 10 | 2019 | Ohio |
| Hannah Hart | 16 | 2018 | Washington |
| Devonte Hart | 15 | 2018 | Washington |
| Jeremy Hart | 14 | 2018 | Washington |
| Abigail Hart | 14 | 2018 | Washington |
| Ciera Hart | 12 | 2018 | Washington |
| Sophia Brito | 6 | 2018 | Massachusetts |
| Omera Anna Akinloba | 7 | 2018 | Florida |
| Vincent Nicolai | 7 | 2018 | New York |
| Caden McWilliams | 7 | 2018 | Colorado |
| Mason Jordan | 7 | 2018 | Oregon |
| Kaileigh Lin Collier | 17 | 2018 | Tennessee |
| Lia Lin Collier | 15 | 2018 | Tennessee |
| Meigan Lin Collier | 14 | 2018 | Tennessee |
| Bo Li Collier | 14 | 2018 | Tennessee |
| Mary Crocker | 14 | 2018 | Georgia |
| Raylee Browning | 8 | 2018 | West Virginia |
| Joseph Bishop | 18 | 2017 | Kentucky |
| Sanaa Cunningham | 7 | 2017 | Arizona |
| Matthew Tirado | 17 | 2017 | Connecticut |
| Jeffrey Franklin | 16 | 2017 | New York |
| Sabrina Ray | 16 | 2017 | Iowa |
| Savannah Leckie | 16 | 2017 | Missouri |
| Liam Roberts | 6 | 2017 | Illinois |
| Amina Krouser | 14 | 2017 | Wisconsin |
| Sophie Gray | 11 | 2017 | Tennessee |
| Ana Loera | 11 | 2017 | Arizona |
| Shaelynn Lehano-Stone | 9 | 2016 | Hawaii |
| Kyle Gerhart | 17 | 2016 | Arizona |
| Emily Gerhart | 12 | 2016 | Arizona |
| Natalie Finn | 16 | 2016 | Iowa |
| Elwyn Crocker | 14 | 2016 | Georgia |
| Jonathan Gray | 8 | 2016 | Tennessee |
| Nicole Snyder | 6 | 2016 | Pennsylvania |
| Janiya Thomas | 10 | 2015 | Florida |
| Isaiah Torres | 6 | 2015 | Arkansas |
| Seth Johnson | 7 | 2015 | Minnesota |
| Jack Garcia | 9 | 2015 | Maryland |
| Daniel Bever | 12 | 2015 | Oklahoma |
| Christopher Bever | 7 | 2015 | Oklahoma |
| Victoria Bever | 5 | 2015 | Oklahoma |
| Jacob Davidoff | 17 | 2015 | Oregon |
| Adrian Jones | 7 | 2015 | Kansas |
| Simonne Say | 17 | 2015 | Florida |
| Shaun Tara | 6 | 2015 | California |
| Alysha Quate | 6 | 2014 | Illinois |
| Aidan Edward Bossingham | 13 | 2014 | North Dakota |
| Tyler Raines | 11 | 2014 | Mississippi |
| Raashanai Coley | 11 | 2014 | Illinois |
| Thomas Elberling | 11 | 2014 | New Jersey |
| David Martinez | 8 | 2014 | Massachusetts |
| Benson Strack | 14 | 2014 | Utah |
| Emery Strack | 12 | 2014 | Utah |
| Zion Strack | 11 | 2014 | Utah |
| Brandon Clutter | 10 | 2013 | Indiana |
| Justin Carlos | 14 | 2013 | Connecticut |
| Shelby Miller | 8 | 2013 | California |
| Jaelen Edge | 13 | 2013 | Georgia |
| Emani Moss | 10 | 2013 | Georgia |
| Stoni Blair | 13 | 2013 | Michigan |
| Teddy Foltz-Tedesco | 14 | 2013 | Ohio |
| Donovan McKee | 11 | 2012 | Pennsylvania |
| Khalil Wimes | 6 | 2012 | Pennsylvania |
| Markea Berry | 16 | 2012 | Georgia |
| Mallory Anne Evans | 15 | 2012 | Texas |
| Miranda Crockett | 10 | 2012 | Oregon |
| Dashawn Harris | 5 | 2012 | Pennsylvania |
| Stephen Berry | 12 | 2012 | Michigan |
| Nubia Barahona | 10 | 2011 | Florida |
| Makayla Norman | 14 | 2011 | Ohio |
| Marcus Holloway | 10 | 2011 | Oklahoma |
| Hana Grace-Rose Williams | 13 | 2011 | Washington |
| Christina Glenn | 8 | 2011 | New Jersey |
| Ame Deal | 10 | 2011 | Arizona |
| Matthew Degner | 14 | 2011 | Illinois |
| Ramie Grimmer | 12 | 2011 | Texas |
| Timothy Grimmer | 10 | 2011 | Texas |
| Erica Lynn Parsons | 13 | 2011 | North Carolina |
| Kaya Centeno | 9 | 2011 | California |
| Lydia Schatz | 7 | 2010 | California |
| Zahra Baker | 10 | 2010 | North Carolina |
| Alexander Perkins | 5 | 2010 | Colorado |
| Kylie Lavelle | 5 | 2010 | South Carolina |
| Christian Choate | 13 | 2009 | Indiana |
| Nathaniel Michael Craver | 7 | 2009 | Pennsylvania |
| Jeanette Marie Maples | 16 | 2009 | Oregon |
| Colin David Jones | 6 | 2009 | Georgia |
| Brittany Jacks | 16 | 2008 | District of Columbia |
| Tatianna Jacks | 11 | 2008 | District of Columbia |
| N’Kiah Fogle | 6 | 2008 | District of Columbia |
| Aja Fogle | 5 | 2008 | District of Columbia |
| Calista Springer | 16 | 2008 | Michigan |
| Willie Robinson | 8 | 2008 | Ohio |
| Madeline Kara Neumann | 11 | 2008 | Wisconsin |
| Cheyenne Noell Wolf | 12 | 2008 | Oklahoma |
| Tyler Gene McMillan | 13 | 2008 | North Carolina |
| Neil Beagley | 16 | 2008 | Oregon |
| Samuel Hudson | 13 | 2008 | Texas |
| Genesis Sims | 7 | 2008 | Colorado |
| Jaquan Porter | 10 | 2008 | New York |
| M. L. Lloyd III | 8 | 2008 | Louisiana |
| Chandler Grafner | 7 | 2007 | Colorado |
| Chrystal Ramirez | 8 | 2007 | Texas |
| Trenay Cheire Duchane | 12 | 2007 | Arizona |
| LoReyna Barea | 7 | 2007 | Colorado |
| Michaela Watkins | 10 | 2007 | Kentucky |
| Colt Clark | 9 | 2006 | Oklahoma |
| Raijon Daniels | 8 | 2006 | California |
| Minnet Bowman | 9 | 2006 | Maryland |
| Jasmine Bowman | 7 | 2006 | Maryland |
| Milton Baker III | 7 | 2006 | Ohio |
| Dennis Gene Merryman | 8 | 2005 | Maryland |
| Ricky Holland | 7 | 2005 | Michigan |
| Conrad Morales | 13 | 2005 | California |
| Ricky Morales | 11 | 2005 | California |
| Hannah Davenport | 6 | 2005 | Missouri |
| Aviv Wesson | 17 | 2004 | California |
| Elizabeth Wesson | 8 | 2004 | California |
| Illabelle Wesson | 7 | 2004 | California |
| Johnathon Wesson | 7 | 2004 | California |
| Joshua Laney | 8 | 2003 | Texas |
| Luke Laney | 6 | 2003 | Texas |
| Luis Frank Moreno | 5 | 2003 | Texas |
| Josef Smith | 8 | 2003 | Georgia |
| Molly Holt | 10 | 2003 | Arkansas |
| Alex Pavlis | 6 | 2003 | Illinois |
| Bryant Morris | 10 | 2003 | Oregon |
| Alexis Morris | 8 | 2003 | Oregon |
| Anna Farmer | 12 | 2003 | Texas |
| Austin Bryant | 7 | 2003 | Colorado |
| Edward Bryant | 11 | 2003 | Colorado |
| Valerie Charlene Lucie | 11 | 2003 | New York |
| Swen Swanson | 14 | 2002 | Montana |
| Louisa Swanson | 10 | 2002 | Montana |
| Jessica Crank | 15 | 2002 | Tennessee |
| Christopher Forder | 8 | 2002 | Washington |
| Brian Edgar | 9 | 2002 | Kansas |
| Timothy Boss | 10 | 2001 | Iowa |
| Korresha Crawford | 11 | 2001 | South Carolina |
| Amanda Bates | 13 | 2001 | Colorado |
| Noah Yates | 7 | 2001 | Texas |
| Holly Snyder | 12 | 2001 | New Mexico |
| Kyla Snyder | 10 | 2001 | New Mexico |
| Corrie Snyder | 8 | 2001 | New Mexico |
| Bradley Warren | 13 | 2001 | North Carolina |
| Raysate Knight | 6 | 2001 | Texas |
| Laree Slack | 12 | 2001 | Illinois |
| Jared Wood | 10 | 2000 | Missouri |
| Joshua Wood | 8 | 2000 | Missouri |
| Emily Wood | 7 | 2000 | Missouri |
| Hannah Wood | 5 | 2000 | Missouri |
| Viktor Alexander Matthey | 6 | 2000 | New Jersey |
| Shane Graham | 11 | 2000 | Florida |
| Joseph Beebe | 8 | 2000 | Texas |
| Jesse Briggs | 10 | 1999 | Washington |
| Deonna Briggs | 7 | 1999 | Washington |
| Adam Herrman | 11 | 1998 | Kansas |
| Budde Lee Clark | 6 | 1997 | North Carolina |
| Peter Kema Jr. | 6 | 1997 | Hawaii |
| Christina Corrigan | 13 | 1996 | California |
| Valerie Smelser | 12 | 1995 | Virginia |
| Lucas Ciambrone | 7 | 1995 | Florida |
| Shane Alan Coffman | 8 | 1995 | Oklahoma |
| Lance Planck | 6 | 1995 | Indiana |
| Adam Franklin | 7 | 1992 | Wyoming |
| Josiah Carroll | 12 | 1992 | Ohio |
| Hannah Carroll | 6 | 1992 | Ohio |
| Stephen Hill | 13 | 1991 | Texas |
| Rainbow Lord | 6 | 1991 | California |
| Samuel Weaver | 14 | 1991 | Idaho |
| Eric Cottam | 14 | 1989 | Pennsylvania |
| Dayna Broussard | 8 | 1988 | Oregon |
| Aaron Norman | 10 | 1987 | Washington |
| Dominick Diehl | 13 | 1986 | Virginia |
