3,233 people killed, 222,977 injured and over $272,944,000 in economic damages

What's the harm in being a child?

This is the saddest page on this site. Most of these children were not hurt by their own action, but by those of their parent or guardian. Some of them never had a chance.

Here are 16,891 people who were harmed by someone not thinking critically.

S.M. Abbott Age: 5 Benton County, Minnesota	Abused, tortured August 1994
After her mother was killed in an accident, she behaved abnormally. Her parents used "holding therapy" (aka attachment therapy) to treat her. She was hospitalized for weeks. Custody of the girl was eventually awarded to her maternal grandmother. Read More

Woyah Andressohn Age: 5 months Miami, Florida	Died (malnutrition) May 15, 2003
Her parents follow a strict diet of uncooked organic foods for religious reasons. She weighed a fraction of what she should at her age. Her parents were cleared of manslaughter charges, but were convicted of neglect of their other children. Read More & More

Saundra Arnold Age: 13 Sacramento, California	Died (untreated intenstinal blockage) 1964
Saundra was ill for 18 days with an intestinal blockage before she died. Her mother, a member of the Church of the First Born, was convicted of manslaughter. Read More

Lorie Atikian Age: 17 months Ontario, Canada	Died (malnutrition, pneumonia) September 25, 1987
Lorie's parents, concerned about modern food additives, were advised to give her an organic vegetarian diet. She was also treated with herbal & homeopathic remedies and an energy machine. Her parents were convicted of neglect. Read More

Karen Avery Age: 7 Kirtland, Ohio	Murdered April 17, 1989
The Avery family joined a Mormon splinter group led by a self-declared prophet when they moved to Kirtland in 1987. They were brutally murdered by the leader of this cult. Read More

Rebecca Avery Age: 13 Kirtland, Ohio	Murdered April 17, 1989
The Avery family joined a Mormon splinter group led by a self-declared prophet when they moved to Kirtland in 1987. They were brutally murdered by the leader of this cult. Read More

Trina Avery Age: 15 Kirtland, Ohio	Murdered April 17, 1989
The Avery family joined a Mormon splinter group led by a self-declared prophet when they moved to Kirtland in 1987. They were brutally murdered by the leader of this cult. Read More

Cameron Ayres Age: 6 months Fulham, west London, England	Died May 1999
Cameron was born with a rare but treatable disorder, but his parents distrusted conventional medicine. A nurse/homeopath begged them to take him to a doctor, but they refused. He died. Read More & More

Rachel Barezinsky Age: 17 Worthington, Ohio	Shot, severe brain injury August 22, 2006
Rachel and her friends decided to go ghost hunting near a local haunted house. They didn't realize the owner of the house did not like visitors, and owned a gun. She ended up with a gunshot to the head and a long hospital stay. Read More & More & More

Justin Barnhart Age: 2 Beaver Valley, Pennsylvania	Died (untreated Wilm's tumor) September 1981
Justin's parents belonged to Faith Tabernacle. They withheld medical care for his abdominal tumor until grew larger than a volleyball. Caught early, this type of tumor is curable 90% of the time. They were convicted of manslaughter. Read More

Amanda Bates Age: 13 Grand Junction, Colorado	Died (untreated diabetes) February 5, 2001
Her parents knew she was sick, and prayed for her. What they didn't know was she was diabetic. They never called for medical assistance until she was already dead. They later pled guilty to negligent child abuse. Read More

Neil Beagley Age: 16 Gladstone, Oregon	Died (heart failure) June 17, 2008
He had a congenital condition that could have been easily treated. Unfortunately his family belongs to a church that believes in faith healing rather than medicine. He died. His cousin (Ava Worthington) also died in related circumstances. Read More

Allyson N. Bergmann Age: 9 months South Bend, Indiana	Died (untreated bacterial meningitis) June 7, 1984
Allyson contracted a disease that is medically treatable. Her parents belong to Faith Assembly, which rejects medical care in favor of prayer. Allyson died and her parents were convicted of reckless homicide. Read More & More

Michael David Boehmer Age: 4 days Lake City, Florida	Died March 15, 1990
Michael suffered a hemorrhage, and lost at least a quarter of his blood. His parents put cotton in his nose and prayed for him. The medical examiner later said he had a 90% survival chance if he had just been given a Vitamin K shot. Read More & More

Catherine "Cat" Elizabeth Bresina Age: 17 Wheatridge, Colorado (from Wisconsin)	Cardiac arrest March 25, 2004
Cat's family took her to Colorado for what they thought was an inventive therapy for her disease. An injection she was given during the treatment caused her heart to stop. Charges were later filed against the naturopath. Read More

Nancy Brewster Age: 7 El Paso, Texas	Died (untreated cancer) September 29, 1963
She got a lump on her neck at 5 and soon was too sick to go to school. A Christian Science practitioner prayed for her and said the illness was an illusion. When she died there was no funeral and the family never spoke of her again. Read More

Daniel Brown Age: 4 Parrottsville, Tennessee	Orphaned October 3, 1998
Both parents were killed in snake handling ceremonies, three years apart. Daniel is now orphaned and living with grandparents who still practice snake handling themselves. Read More

Jacob Brown Age: 7 Parrottsville, Tennessee	Orphaned October 3, 1998
Both parents were killed in snake handling ceremonies, three years apart. Jacob is now orphaned and living with grandparents who still practice snake handling themselves. Read More

Jeremiah Brown Age: 7 Parrottsville, Tennessee	Orphaned October 3, 1998
Both parents were killed in snake handling ceremonies, three years apart. Jeremiah is now orphaned and living with grandparents who still practice snake handling themselves. Read More

Jonathan Brown Age: 12 Parrottsville, Tennessee	Orphaned October 3, 1998
Both parents were killed in snake handling ceremonies, three years apart. Jonathan is now orphaned and living with grandparents who still practice snake handling themselves. Read More

Sarah Brown Age: 5 Parrottsville, Tennessee	Orphaned October 3, 1998
Both parents were killed in snake handling ceremonies, three years apart. Sarah is now orphaned and living with grandparents who still practice snake handling themselves. Read More

Ian Burdick Age: 15 Sherman Oaks, California	Died (untreated diabetes) November 10, 1987
A Christian Science nurse practitioner was treating Ian, but but he had juvenile diabetes. He was 5' 8" tall but only 87 pounds when he died. Read More

Amy Burney Age: 5 Staten Island, New York	Murdered April 27, 1997
Like many small children, Amy was prone to tantrums. In an attempted exorcism, her mother and grandmother tied her down and forced her to swallow a toxic potion and taped her mouth shut. They were charged with second degree murder. Read More

Antonio Campos Age: 5 months Los Angeles, California	Died (untreated cancer)
Antonio's mother looked for an alternative to the painful chemotherapy treatments he needed for cancer. She found a clinic using a energy medicine machine. Antonio died anyway. Read More & More

Desiree Camren Age: 3 Cushing, Oklahoma	Died February 1987
The medical examiner said that her life could have been saved with medical help, but her parents claimed their religious beliefs prevented that. They were sentenced for second degree manslaughter. Read More

Kira Canhoto Age: 2 Kitchener, Ontario, Canada	Died January 15, 1995
Her parents and grandmother thought she was possessed by a demon, so they attempted an exorcism. They forced her to drink huge quantities of water. The grandmother, mother and a neighbor were convicted of manslaughter. Read More

Lucas Ciambrone Age: 7 Bradenton, Florida	Murdered May 13, 1995
Prosecutors said that Lucas had been starved, bitten, beaten and forced to sleep in an empty bathroom. This was claimed to be "attachment therapy" for the adopted child. The mother was convicted of murder. Read More

Victoria Climbie Age: 9 Tottenham, London, England	Died February 25, 2000
Victoria's mother asked a relative to take her from Ivory Coast to Britain so she would have a better life. Because she thought Victoria was possessed by witches, the relative mistreated and tortured her. The relative pled guilty to manslaughter. Read More & More

Libby Cooke Age: 4 days Brandon, South Dakota	Died (untreated pneumonia) December 1978
Religion (End Times Ministries) Read More & More

Eric & Laura Cottam Age: 14 & 12 Nuangola, Pennsylvania	Died / malnourished January 4, 1989
Though they had $3,600 available, their parents believed the money "belonged to God" and refused to spend it on food. The entire family was malnourished from a purely vegetarian diet. When Eric died, the parents were charged with homicide. Read More & More

Terrance Cottrell Jr. Age: 8 Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Died August 22, 2003
Diagnosed as autistic at 2, he was a problem child. Church members thought he was possessed by the devil. In an exorcism he was held down for two hours until he suffocated. The pastor was sentenced to prison, but never admitted guilt. Read More & More

Jessica Crank Age: 15 Loudon, Tennessee	Died (untreated cancer) September 15, 2002
A medical clinic told Jessica's mother to take her to an emergency room. Instead, she took her home to pray over her. She died. Charges of abuse were later dismissed. Read More & More

Isabella Denley Age: 13 months Kew, Victoria, Australia	Died (untreated epilepsy) October 19, 2002
Isabella was prescribed medications for her epilepsy. Instead of using them, her parents consulted an iridologist, a kinesiologist, a psychic and an osteopath. She was being treated purely with homeopathic medication when she died. Read More & More

Maya Devi & her baby Age: 28 / newborn Uttar Pradesh, India	Died April 23, 2008
Because she is considered an "untouchable" in her country, she was refused treatment at the local hospital at a medical college. She gave birth outside, and the baby died within minutes. She died the next day. Read More

Brittney Dorcy Age: 2 Vancouver, Washington	Murdered by her mother June 12, 2004
Brittney's mom suffered from severe depression. Her medical treatment for this was very successful and lauded in a local news article. But she decided to discontinue medication and treat herself with St. John's Wort. A tragedy resulted. Read More & More

Jessica Dorcy Age: 4 Vancouver, Washington	Murdered by her mother June 12, 2004
Jessica's mom suffered from severe depression. Her medical treatment for this was very successful and lauded in a local news article. But she decided to discontinue medication and treat herself with St. John's Wort. A tragedy resulted. Read More & More

Travis Drake Age: 14 Grand Junction, Colorado	Died (untreated ruptured appendix) 1982
Religion (Church of the First Born) Read More

Tyrell Dueck Age: 13 Martensville, Saskatchewan, Canada	Died (cancer) June 30, 1999
He got bone cancer in his leg, but rejected amputation and chemotherapy. Instead he sought alternative and herbal therapy in Mexico. The Saskatchewan government sued to force conventional treatment. The cancer spread and he died. Read More & More

Emmanuel Dutoit Age: 3 months Morin Heights, Quebec, Canada	Murdered October 4, 1994
He and his parents were brutally murdered, and then home was burned. They had been members of the Order of the Solar Temple, a fringe religious sect. Read More & More

Micaiah Edwards Age: 15 months Spanaway, Washington	Died July 1991
Religion (Traveling Ministries Everyday Church) Read More

Linda Epping Age: 8 Los Angeles, California	Died December 29, 1961
Linda was scheduled for surgery to remove a tumor, when her parents met a chiropractor who said he could cure her. He had her swallowing up to 124 pills a day for months. He was convicted of second-degree murder in 1967. Read More

Roberta Evers Age: 6 Bayfield, Colorado	Died June 13, 1998
Before being adopted, Roberta had suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome, abuse, depression & insomnia. Her foster parents took to restraining her in her bed at night. She died in that bed, and they were convicted of negligent child abuse. Read More

Dominik Feld Age: 9 Siegen, Germany	Died (untreated cancer) November 2004
His parents chose an alternative treatment for his cancer involving vitamin and mineral doses. The government tried to intervene. The boy eventually died. Read More

Patrick Foster Age: 1 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Nearly died of untreated tumor May 1997
He got sick around Christmas, and his parents prayed. Their church did not permit them to take him to the doctor. Fortunately a neighbor saw the gaunt and listless boy and told the authorities. He was hospitalized and a 6 pound tumor was removed. Read More

Melinda Sue Friedenbeger Age: 18 weeks Altoona, Pennsylvania	Died (starvation & dehydration) April 25, 1991
Religion (Faith Tabernacle) Read More

Michael Tony Futi Age: 14 days Honolulu, Hawaii	Died February 8, 2008
He was being flown from Samoa to Hawaii for emergency heart surgery, but overzealous customs officials detained him and his caretakers for several hours. He died in a customs room at the airport. Samoan officials are calling for an investigation. Read More

Dane Gibson Age: 12 Inglewood, New Zealand	Murdered May 17, 1994
After attending a fundamentalist church, they became convinced they were surrounded by demons. The boy had been held down in the yard as part of an exorcism. They were found not guilty of murder. Read More

Micha Giesbrecht & "Natalie" & 4 others Bad Salzuflen, Germany	Incurable encephalitis (SSPE), measles 1999
The 11 year old son of anti-vaccinationists was brought to the doctor with measles. Several other children in the waiting room were infected with measles via this exposure. Two developed SSPE, a chronic progressive encephalitis that is often fatal. Read More & More

Seth Ian Glaser Age: 17 months Culver City, California	Died (bacterial meningitis) March 28, 1984
Religion (Christian Science) Read More

Carl Glatzel Jr. Age: 11 Brookfield, Connecticut	Exploited by psychic investigators 1981
Exorcism Read More & More

David Glatzel Age: 11 Brookfield, Connecticut	Exploited by psychic investigators 1981
Exorcism Read More & More

Warren Trevette Glory Age: 18 days Grand Junction, Colorado	Died (untreated meningitis & pneumonia) February 1999
He died of meningitis and pneumonia days after birth. His parents were prosecuted for child abuse and sentenced to probation. Read More

Yelena Godlevskaya Age: 17 Riga, Latvia	Died September 6, 1996
She was hit by a car and suffered a fractured pelvis. She refused a blood transfusion because of her Jehovah's Witness faith, so doctors could not operate. Eventually doctors forced her to take one, but she still died. Read More & More

Chad Green Age: 3 Scituate, Massachusetts	Died (cyanide poisoning) October 12, 1979
His leukemia was in remission via chemotherapy, but his parents sought out alternative therapy anyway. When he showed signs of cyanide toxicity (from laetrile) he was made a ward of the state. He later died. Read More & More

2 Hansen adoptees Age: Pre-school Saratoga Springs, Utah	Denied food February 2002
These two adopted Russian children had their food withheld, sometimes for days at a time, as discipline. The parents were charged but avoided jail time. Read More

Judd Eccles Hardy Age: 17 Salt Lake City, Utah	Attempted suicide 1999
The family’s Mormon beliefs did not allow for homosexuality. Judd was enrolled in reparative therapy and stopped attending church with the family. After he attempted suicide, the family broke with their church and supported gay rights publicly. Read More

Roxanne Lee Heiser Age: 7 Liberty Hill, Texas	Denied food, medical care January 5, 2000
She begged for food at school and was found rummaging through garbage for scraps. Her father and stepmother had denied her food and medical care. They were convicted of negligence & served two years. Read More

Amy Hermanson Age: 7 Sarasota, Florida	Died (untreated diabetes) September 30, 1986
Amy was a talented little girl who had diabetes. Her parents are Christian Scientists and were unaware. She eventually died of complications, and her parents were convicted of a crime, which was overturned on appeal. Read More & More

Sonia Hernandez Age: 4 Lake City, Florida	Died (untreated pneumonia) September 27, 1990
Sonia was never a healthy child, she had a brain disorder and numerous health issues. Then her parents joined End Times Ministry and stopped taking her to the doctor. When she died she was 4 but weighed only 14 1/2 pounds. Read More

Joseph Hofbauer Age: 9 New York	Died (untreated Hodgkin's disease) 1980
His parents skipped conventional therapy for Laetrile and metabolic therapy. A court fight ensued which the parents won, but the boy died of his disease only 2 years later. He had a 95% chance of 5-year survival with conventional treatment. Read More

Bethany Hughes Age: 17 Calgary, Alberta, Canada	Died (leukemia) September 5, 2002
Bethany's leukemia required (among other things) blood transfusions for treatment. Her father wanted her to do this, but she and her mother were Jehovah's Witnesses and refused. A divorce and custody case tore the family apart, and Bethany died. Read More

Brittany & Tatianna Jacks, N'Kiah & Aja Fogle Age: 17, 11, 6 & 5 Washington, D.C.	Murdered by their mother December 2007
Police found their bodies in their mother's apartment while serving an eviction notice. When arrested, the mother claimed the girls were possessed by demons. Read More

Christine Jessop Age: 9 Queensville, Ontario, Canada	Investigation of her abduction delayed October 3 - 18, 1984
When she was abducted, psychics and dowsers flooded the police with tips to her location. Meanwhile a credible eyewitness report of a girl struggling in a car went uninvestigated for weeks. An inquiry concluded the investigation was botched. Read More

Kira Jinkinson Age: 11 months Bloomsbury, Central London, England	Misdiagnosed gastroenteritis October 22, 2000
Kira had an upset stomach. Her doctor used dowsing to choose a homeopathic remedy, claiming that geopathic stress patterns beneath her home were to blame. The baby was later found to be suffering from gastroenteritis. The doctor was disciplined. Read More & More

Harrison Johnson Age: 2 Tampa, Florida	Died (untreated wasp stings) 1998
Harrison was stung by wasps while his family was visiting church friends. They prayed over the boy but did not seek medical help because they believe doctors practice witchcraft. When an EMT was called 7 hours later, the boy was beyond help. Read More & More

Makiesse Jonas Age: 10 Uige, Angola	Abused, shunned by his family December 12, 2006
From the age of six, family members accused him of witchcraft. What followed was years of abuse, including being almost burnt alive. An uncle saved him and put him in a church shelter. Read More

Dakota Jubb Age: 20 months East Village, New York City, New York	Fractured ankle January 10, 2007
His father is raising him as a "lifefoodarian". When he fractured his ankle, his father did not take him to the doctor, but fashioned splints from chopsticks. City officials intervened, taking custody of the boy. The father released a press release. Read More

Juliana Keys Age: 6 months Columbia City, Indiana	Died (twisted bowel)
Religious cult (Faith Assembly) Read More

Cassandra Killpack Age: 4 Springville, Utah	Died (water intoxication) June 10, 2002
Cassandra had temper tantrums, and her adoptive parents sought out attachment therapists. During an "intensive" session, she was fed a lethal amount of water, and she died. Read More

Elizabeth Ashley King Age: 12 Phoenix, Arizona	Died (untreated bone cancer) June 5, 1988
Religion (Christian Science) Read More

Oscar Kituyi Age: 15 Bungoma, Kenya	Genitals mutilated March 2005
The AIDS epidemic in Africa has spawned many quack cures. Oscar was attacked in the belief that his genitals could be used to make an HIV/AIDS potion. Read More

Helena Rose "Rosie" Kolitwenzew Age: 8 Columbus, North Carolina	Died (untreated diabetes) October 21, 1999
A naturopath convinced her mother to stop administering insulin to her, in favor of herbal remedies. She began vomiting, and died. It turns out his "degrees" were fake. He was sentenced to prison. Read More & More & More

Debra Ann Kupsch Age: 9 Wisconsin	Died (untreated diptheria) 1982
She contracted diphtheria at a Christian Science camp in Colorado, and died shortly after arriving home. Many children at the camp were unvaccinated. The CDC had to spend thousands to track down the other children from the camp. Read More

Tovia Laufau Age: 13 Mangere, South Auckland, New Zealand	Died September 1999
His parents were told he had a 70% chance of a full recovery from bone cancer. They left the hospital never to return. The cancer spread to his lungs, and the tumor on his leg grew to 30 pounds at his death. His parents got a suspended sentence. Read More

Kris Ann Lewis Age: 13 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Died (untreated bone cancer) June 1981
When her Christian Scientist mother heard the diagnosis of bone cancer at the hospital, she insisted they were wrong. The girl was treated by a church practitioner. The hospital tried to intervene, but Pennsylvania has a religious exemption law. Read More

Dennis Lindberg Age: 14 Mount Vernon, Washington	Died (refused blood transfusion) November 28, 2007
Dennis was a Jehovah's Witness, and refused blood transfusions. Unfortunately they are essential to treating leukemia. His parents fought in court to force the treatment, but Dennis won the case. He died. Read More

Mitchell James Little Age: 18 days Raymond Terrace, NSW, Australia	Died (untreated heart defect) September 25, 1999
A naturopath perscribed herbal remedies & energy machine treatments for a congenital heart defect, and advised against surgery. The baby died, and the naturopath was sentenced to five years in jail. Read More & More

Keenan Littlefield Age: 10 days Cortez, Colorado	Died (untreated bowel obstruction) 1998
Religion (faith healing) Read More

Jason Lockhart Age: 9 Enid, Oklahoma	Died (ruptured appendix) 1982
He died of a ruptured appendix. His parents were charged with manslaughter, but acquitted due to Oklahoma's religious exemption law. The law was later changed as a result of this case. Read More

Lucas Long Age: 0 Cory, Colorado	Died during breech birth 1987
During childbirth, his mother was attended by unlicensed midwives. The baby had breathing problems shortly after birth, and the church elders were called to pray. "We believe in divine healing" said the grandmother. Read More & More

Ian Lundman Age: 11 Minneapolis, Minnesota	Died (untreated diabetes) May 9, 1989
Ian had juvenile diabetes, but his family were Christian Scientists, and prayed over him. He eventually died. His father, who had left the church, sued for wrongful death. This was the first such suit to go to a jury. Read More & More

Areni Manuelyan & her mother Age: 9 months Staines, Surrey, England	Died (malnutrition) / suicide July 5, 2000
She died of a chest infection brought on by malnutrition, due to the fruitarian diet she was fed. Her parents pled guilty to child cruelty. Wracked with depression over the incident, the mother later committed suicide. Read More & More

Logan Lynn Marr Age: 5 Chelsea, Maine	Died January 31, 2001
Logan had behavioral issues, and "attachment therapy" was chosen to treat her. Her caseworker went so far as to duct tape her to a chair. She suffocated, and the woman responsible was convicted of manslaughter. Read More

Viktor Alexander Matthey Age: 7 Union Township, New Jersey	Died October 31, 2000
Viktor was an adopted child who had behavioral issues. His parents duct taped his mouth, locked him in a room and mistreated him in other ways. The "attachment therapy" community supported their actions, but they were convicted of crimes. Read More

Noah Maxin Age: 11 North Canton, Ohio	Died (cancer) May 17, 2007
His parents stopped his chemotherapy three months into a 3 1/2 year plan. A court fight ensued over this decision. They won the right to treat him holistically with diet and vitamins. His cancer returned and he eventually died. Read More & More

Malissa Mayfield Age: 29 Sydney, NSW, Australia	Murdered June 19, 2006
She met a couple who shared her belief in psychic powers and the supernatural. The man told her he could remove her bad demons by sleeping with her (which he did). When she tried to sever contact, he strangled her. She leaves two daughters behind. Read More & More

Katie McCarron Age: 3 Morton, Illinois	Murdered by her mother May 13, 2006
Influenced by those who believe childhood vaccines might cause autism, Katie's mother felt extreme guilt over vaccinating the autistic child. This led to a depression, and the death of the child at her mother's hands. Read More & More

Infant McCourt Age: 0 South Carolina	Died (prolonged delivery) July 1987
According to the coroner, the baby died due to lack of oxygen because of prolonged delivery. The county pathologist said the baby most likely would have lived if the mother had had prenatal care and medical attendance at delivery. Read More

infant McDowell Age: 0 Billings, Montana	Died January 1979
Religion (End Times Ministries) Read More

Will Meyers Age: 16 Lake City, Florida	Gravely ill for 7 months October 22, 1990
Will had a variety of health problems that went untreated, and his weight dropped from 135 to 90 pounds. Finally his parents took him to a hospital and a heart operation saved his life. They were charged with felony child abuse and put on probation. Read More

Danielle Miller Age: 17 Charlottesville, Virginia	$3,600 April 2008
Although she is well aware of online scams, when she received an email titled "Job Offer" it seemed legit. The job was to cash checks. Now she's out $3,600 and embarrassed she fell for it. Read More

Charity Miranda-Martin Age: 17 Riverhead, New York	Murdered January 1998
In attempt to rid her of demons, her mother and sister allegedly suffocated her with a plastic bag. They were charged with murder. Read More

Caleb Moorhead Age: 6 months Auckland, New Zealand	Died (malnutrition) March 2001
Calebs parents, devout Seventh-Day Adventists, tried to feed him using a vegan diet and herbal remedies. He died of a Vitamin B12 deficiency. His parents were sentenced to five years in jail. Read More & More

Janet Moses' cousin (minor) Age: 14 Wainuiomata, New Zealand	Hospitalized, nearly died October 12, 2007
During Janet Moses' exorcism, she suffered corneal damage as relatives scratched at her eyes. Read More & More

Manik Murphy Age: 15 Donabate, County Dublin, Ireland	Suicide September 12, 2007
This good student had read Nostradamus and believed the world would end in 2007. The family talked with her about it, but weren't concerned. When she received some disappointing grades at school, she committed suicide by jumping in front of a train. Read More

Abubakar Tariq Nadama Age: 5 Portersville, Pennsylvania	Died August 23, 2005
In a attempt to "cure" his autism, Tariq was given chelation therapy. His heart stopped. The practitioner was brought up on charges, which were later dropped. Read More & More & More

Madeline Kara Neumann Age: 11 Weston, Wisconsin	Died (untreated diabetes) March 23, 2008
She suffered from a treatable form of diabetes. Her parents chose to pray over her instead of taking her to the doctor. They are now charged with second-degree negligent homicide in her death. Read More & More & More

Candace Newmaker Age: 10 Lincolnton, North Carolina	Died April 18, 2000
Candace was removed from her birth home for neglect and adopted by a couple in Colorado. The sought out Attachment Therapy for her behavior issues, and she was suffocated during a session intended to simulate childbirth. Read More & More

Clayton Nixon Age: 9 Altoona, Pennsylvania	Died January 6, 1991
He got an ear and sinus infection that caused severe vomiting. His family belongs to a church that believes the Bible opposes all medical and surgical practice. He died weighing only 32 pounds. His parents were charged. Read More

Aaron Norman Age: 10 Spokane, Washington	Died (untreated diabetes) December 1987
He died of untreated diabetes. His family belongs to a church that believes "sickness is a result of sin and a wicked lifestyle." His father was convicted of manslaughter. Read More

Carla Northrup Age: baby Wilmot, Indiana	Died (untreated pneumonia) 1983
Her family belonged to Faith Assembly, a church whose death rates among infants was 270 percent higher than the statewide average. Read More

Jordan Northrup Age: 4 months Redding, California	Died (meningitis, pneumonia) January 1991
Religion (Church of the First Born) Read More

Sylvester Orieso Age: 5 New Cross, Greater London, England	Murdered November 1997
His mother strangled her five year old son in an attempt to drive out demons. She kept his body in her home for days believing he would be healed. She was committed to a psychiatric unit. Read More

Michaela, Caleb, Zion & Lily Parker Age: 11, 9 and 3 Scottsdale, Arizona	Malnourished for years, family broken up April 23, 2005
Their parents fed them a vegan diet and subjected them to enemas, under the direction of a naturopath who had never seen the children. The mother was sentenced to 30 years, the father awaits sentencing. Read More & More

Wesley Parker Age: 11 Barston, California	Died (untreated diabetes) 1971
An itinerant preacher had declared the boy healed. He later died of untreated diabetes. Read More

Aqsa Parvez Age: 16 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada	Murdered by her father December 10, 2007
Aqsa grew up in a Muslim family in Toronto. She disagreed with her father over whether she should wear a traditional head scarf in Canada. He murdered her in a rage. Read More

Domingos Pedro Age: 12 Uige, Angola	Beaten, abandoned by his family, now homeless 2004
Accused of witchcraft Read More

Bo Phillips Age: 11 Oregon City, Oregon	Died (untreated diabetes) February 23, 1998
He had a diabetic crisis, but he was treated with liquids, prayer and anointings. When a detective asked his father why he was allowed to die, the father answered, "It was my choice." Read More

Andrew Pinkham Age: 3 Orinda, California	Died (untreated pneumonia)
Andrew got pneumonia, but his parents refused to take him to a doctor. They and a Christian Science practitioner prayed at his side. He died. Read More

Jack Piper Age: 5 North London, England	Bowel perforated in 12 places 1998
Jack was subjected to a needless colonoscopy that perforated his bowel and left him gravely ill. This was alleged to be a treatment for his autism. The hospital publicly apologized and the doctors involved were investigated. Read More

Ryan Pitzer Age: 2 months	Died 1978
Ryan was given potassium chloride for colic, based on the advice in a book. After the boy died, his parents sued the publisher and the book was taken off the market. Read More

David Alexander Polreis Age: 2 Greeley, Colorado	Died February 11, 1996
The adopted boy from Russia had temper tantrums and other behavioral problems. His parents adopted "attachment therapy" to deal with him. They boy ended up dead. The mother was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Read More

Rosanna Porras Age: 15 Fillmore, California	Died April 9, 1998
Rosanna dropped dead at soccer practice after taking an herbal product containing ephedra. Her parents received a $25,000 settlement. Years later, the substance was banned. Read More

Monika Rani & Rajesh Kumar & son Age: 22, 36 & 3 Markham, Illinois	Murdered (arson) December 29, 2007
Her father was upset that she had married someone of a lower caste, and her husband had not asked permission. He set fire to the apartment complex, killing three and leaving dozens of others homeless. It was said to be an "honor killing". Read More & More

Billy Ray Reed Age: 3 days Grand Junction, Colorado	Died (untreated congenital heart defect) July 2000
He died soon after birth of a common congenital heart defect. His parents belong to a church that believes in prayer rather than medicine. Read More

Trevor Rhiner Age: 17 Des Moines, Iowa	A year of unnecessary treatments 2003
Trevor saw a chiropractor for back pain and numbness in his legs. He was diagnosed with a series of problems and told to take a year of treatments, paid up front. A second opinion from a doctor said there was nothing wrong with him. The family sued. Read More

John David Ricks Age: 9 months Kimmel, Indiana	Died (untreated bacterial meningitis) April 7, 1990
His parents were members of Faith Assembly. When he got a treatable infection, they never sought medical care. He died within days. Read More & More

Natalie Rippberger Age: 8 months Santa Rosa, California	Died (meningitis) December 9, 1984
She contracted meningitis, which can be treated with a 92% success rate. But her parents hired a Christian Science practitioner. She suffered for two weeks and died. Both parents were convicted of felony child endangerment. Read More

Samuel Robidoux Age: 11 months Attleboro, Massachusetts	Starved to death April 26, 1999
His father was the leader of a sect that rejects modern medicine. Samuel was fed only with breast milk, but since his mother got pregnant again there wasn't enough to nourish him. He starved to death. His father was sentenced to life in prison. Read More & More

Joel Romine Age: 20 months Wilmot, Indiana	Died (emphysema) March 1989
His parents "do not believe in seeking medical treatment and instead prayed at home for the child's recovery." He died of emphysema. Read More

Ronald Rowan Age: 11 Tallmadge, Ohio	Died 1979
The medical examiner concluded he had been ill for at least a week. He was too weak to expel vomitus from his mouth and asphyxiated. His parents were Christian Scientists. Read More

infant Ruzicka Age: 0 Brandon, South Dakota	Died February 1981
The mother was in labor for four days and had convulsions. The baby was stillborn. Read More

Amina & Sarah Said Age: 17 & 18 Lewisville, Texas	Murdered by their father January 1, 2008
Their father was Egyptian, and critical of American lifestyles. He became upset with their dating and murdered them in an "honor killing". Read More & More

Kimberly Sartore Age: 1 Alaska	Died (untreated meningitis) 1969
She died of medically untreated meningitis. Her father was convicted of manslaughter, but his conviction was overturned and expunged from his record when Alaska pased a religious exemption law. Read More

Michael Schram Age: 12 Mercer Island, Washington	Died (ruptured appendix) 1979
He died from a ruptured appendix after several days of prayer and "spiritual healing." His mother is a Christian Scientist. Read More

Eliza Jane Scovill Age: 3 Los Angeles, California	Died May 15, 2005
Her HIV-positive mother refused to take HIV medications while pregnant and did not have the girl tested. She told Air America the girl was very healthy. Seven weeks later she was dead of AIDS-related pneumonia. Read More

Carie & Joshua Sealy Age: 12 days, 15 months Lansing, Michigan	Died (untreated pneumonia) March 11 & 20, 1982
She was born at home and was jaundiced and having seizures, but her parents did not seek medical help. He was sent in for court-ordered surgery to remove a large tumor in his abdomen when the court intervened after her death. The father was convicted Read More

Budour Ahmad Shaker Age: 12 Minya, Egypt	Died June 2007
She died of an overdose of anaesthetic while undergoing a female circumcision (female genital mutilation). Her death led Egypt to ban this practice entirely. Read More

Crown Shakur Age: 6 weeks Atlanta, Georgia	Died (starvation) April 25, 2004
His parents were vegans and tried to feed him a diet of mostly soy milk and apple juice. He weighed only 3 1/2 pounds when he died. They were sentenced to life in prison. Read More & More

Lisa Sheridan Age: 5 Cape Cod, Massachusetts	Died (untreated meningitis) 1967
Religion (Christian Science) Read More

Malka Sitner Age: 1 Ashdod, Israel	Died May 28, 2006
Police believe her parents disregarded a doctor's prescription of antibiotics and took her to a homeopath instead. She died. Because autopsies are forbidden amongst her family's ultra-Orthodox sect, an angry mob stole her body and secretly buried it Read More

Breeann Spickard Age: 5 Baldwin Park, Los Angeles, California	Murdered July 5, 1996
She was beaten to death during an exorcism performed by her mother and two other women. All three women were convicted of murder. Read More

baby boy & baby girl Still Age: 0 Germantown, Pennsylvania	Died February 1989
Deborah Still gave birth to twins without aid of a doctor or midwife. They were six weeks premature, but this is 95% survivable in a hospital. The girl died within 8 hours and the boy died the next day. Read More

Matthew Swan Age: 16 months Detroit, Michigan	Died (spinal meningitis) 1977
Christian Science practitioners repeatedly told Matthew's parents he was being healed, while his spinal meningitis raged on. When he was finally hospitalized, it was too late. His parents went on to create CHILD, Inc. to educate the public. Read More

Angela Sweet Age: 7 Olathe, Colorado	Died (untreated appendicitis) June 1990
Religion (Church of the First Born) Read More & More

Andrea Swenson Age: 13 Tulsa, Oklahoma	Suicide November 9, 1990
Attachment therapy Read More & More

Iice Swinton Age: 16 months Queens, New York City, New York	Malnourished November 2001
Her parents fed her a strict vegetarian diet and the results were disastrous. When she was taken into custody she had rickets, couldn't move, and was too weak to cry. Her parents were sentenced to 5 and 6 years in prison. Read More & More

A'maya Tamerry Age: 10 months Somerset, Bermuda	Died March 1, 2001
Her parents relied on Irish Sea Moss because of their vegetarian lifestyle. She lost weight dramatically and died of malnutrition. A court found them guilty of manslaughter, but appeals are continuing. Read More

Gloria Thomas Age: 9 months Sydney, NSW, Australia	Died (untreated infection) May 2002
Gloria was diagnosed with eczema at four months. Her father, who taught and practiced homeopathy, treated her using that instead. She died of sepsis caused by broken skin due to her eczema. Read More

Javon Thompson Age: 18 months Baltimore, Maryland	Died 2006
When he wouldn't say "amen" at mealtime, members of the One Mind Ministries where he lived concluded he was a "demon" and allegedly starved him to death. His body was found 2 years later in a suitcase in Philadelphia. Read More

Krystal Ann Tibbets Age: 3 Midvale, Utah	Died July 8, 1995
Attachment therapy Read More

Jaspar Tomlinson Age: 0 London, England	Brain injury during childbirth December 2004
Jaspar's father is one of England's leading naturopaths. He was warned by a GP that his wife's pregnancy could end in stillbirth. At home, the "homeopathy assisted" birth went horribly wrong. He suffered brain damage and now has cerebral palsy. Read More & More

Caleb Tribble Age: 1 Northland valley, New Zealand	Died (untreated kidney infection) December 5, 2004
When Caleb was sick, his parents chose to pray rather than take him to the doctor. His infection went undiagnosed and he died. His parents were charged with a crime. Read More

Eben Tryon Age: 7 Norwood, Massachusetts	Died (untreated diabetes) November 9, 2003
His Christian Scientist parents thought his stomach pains were the flu. Actually he had diabetes. When he died, the prosecutor declined to file charges. Read More

What's the harm in being a child?

S.M. Abbott

Woyah Andressohn

Saundra Arnold

Lorie Atikian

Karen Avery

Rebecca Avery

Trina Avery

Cameron Ayres

Rachel Barezinsky

Justin Barnhart

Amanda Bates

Neil Beagley

Allyson N. Bergmann

Michael David Boehmer

Catherine "Cat" Elizabeth Bresina

Nancy Brewster

Daniel Brown

Jacob Brown

Jeremiah Brown

Jonathan Brown

Sarah Brown

Ian Burdick

Amy Burney

Antonio Campos

Desiree Camren

Kira Canhoto

Lucas Ciambrone

Victoria Climbie

Libby Cooke

Eric & Laura Cottam

Terrance Cottrell Jr.

Jessica Crank

Isabella Denley

Maya Devi & her baby

Brittney Dorcy

Jessica Dorcy

Travis Drake

Tyrell Dueck

Emmanuel Dutoit

Micaiah Edwards

Linda Epping

Roberta Evers

Dominik Feld

Patrick Foster

Melinda Sue Friedenbeger

Michael Tony Futi

Dane Gibson

Micha Giesbrecht & "Natalie" & 4 others

Seth Ian Glaser

Carl Glatzel Jr.

David Glatzel

Warren Trevette Glory

Yelena Godlevskaya

Chad Green

2 Hansen adoptees

Judd Eccles Hardy

Roxanne Lee Heiser

Amy Hermanson

Sonia Hernandez

Joseph Hofbauer

Bethany Hughes

Brittany & Tatianna Jacks, N'Kiah & Aja Fogle

Christine Jessop

Kira Jinkinson

Harrison Johnson

Makiesse Jonas

Dakota Jubb

Juliana Keys

Cassandra Killpack

Elizabeth Ashley King

Oscar Kituyi

Helena Rose "Rosie" Kolitwenzew

Debra Ann Kupsch

Tovia Laufau

Kris Ann Lewis

Dennis Lindberg

Mitchell James Little

Keenan Littlefield

Jason Lockhart