When you think of adoptive parents, you probably picture heroes who open their hearts and homes to children in need. Unfortunately, the reality isn’t always so rosy. In this top 10 terrible list we dive into the darkest corners of adoption, exposing shocking neglect, abuse, and even murder committed by those who were supposed to protect and nurture. These chilling tales remind us that not every adoptive family lives up to the ideal.
10 Myka Staufer
“Re‑homing” is the euphemistic term for adoptive parents who suddenly decide to give away the child they once embraced. While this practice is disturbingly common, the Huxley Staufer saga has become the most publicized example. Huxley, a young boy from China, was taken in by the Staufer family in 2017 and quickly became a focal point of Myka’s rise as a mommy‑blogger and influencer, especially because of his autism and the family’s apparent devotion.
Behind the glossy social‑media feed, however, the truth was far darker. The Staufers claimed Huxley had become “too difficult” and placed him in a care home, citing his benefit and that of their other children. The decision sparked an immediate and fierce backlash, with the couple facing worldwide condemnation. Ohio law‑enforcement has recently opened an investigation into the re‑homing, focusing on Huxley’s safety and the legality of the Staufers’ actions.
9 Tony Spilotro
The infamous Las Vegas mobster Tony Spilotro was a terror both on the streets and at home. Known for crushing a man’s head in a vice, running the “Hole in the Wall” gang, and acting as chief enforcer for mob‑owned casinos, his criminal résumé reads like a Hollywood script. In fact, his life inspired the character Nicky Santoro in the movie Casino.
Spilotro didn’t keep his violence confined to the underworld; it seeped into his family life, affecting his wife Nancy and their adopted son Vincent. Vincent recalled watching his father beat a man unconscious over a gambling debt and being present when drunken Las Vegas police stormed the Spilotro residence. After Tony was killed in 1986, Vincent escaped the shadow of his father’s legacy, growing up to live a law‑abiding life, free from the mob’s influence.
8 Mr and Mrs Hammersley
In 1952, Mr. and Mrs. Hammersley welcomed a young boy named William into their home, promising a forever family. The reality, however, was anything but. Throughout his childhood, William endured repeated whippings from his adoptive father and sexual abuse by an Anglican minister—a horrific scheme the parents used to curry favor with the church in hopes of adopting a daughter.
These traumas drove William to drop out of school and flee his abusive home, spiraling into drug and alcohol addiction, as well as deep‑seated depression. Though he eventually managed to rebuild his life and become a productive member of society, the scars of his past never fully healed. In 2019, William achieved a legal victory: an Adoption Discharge nullified his original adoption, restoring his birth parents’ legal status. Tragically, just weeks later, he succumbed to cancer, passing away on September 3, 2019.
7 Jeane Newmaker
In 1996, pediatric nurse Jeane Newmaker adopted seven‑year‑old Candace Newmaker, a child who had bounced between foster homes for most of her early life. Candace struggled to bond with her new mother and often acted out, prompting Newmaker to seek various therapists in hopes of fostering a connection.
In 2000, Newmaker turned to a psychotherapist named Connell Watkins, who championed the discredited “re‑birthing” therapy—a method that involves wrapping a patient in pillows and blankets to simulate birth. Newmaker believed this would help Candace feel as though she had been born to her. The reality was far more tragic. On April 18, 2000, five adults forcefully swaddled Candace, weighing roughly 600 pounds of adults against her 70‑pound frame. Over a harrowing 40‑minute session, Candace repeatedly begged for air, claiming she was going to die. No one intervened, assuming the pressure was normal. When Jeane finally asked if Candace wanted to be born, the child whispered “no”—her final words before slipping into a coma and dying the next day. All involved were later convicted of child abuse and served prison time.
6 Woody Allen
Although Woody Allen never formally adopted Mia Farrow’s adopted daughter Soon‑Yi Previn, he played a pivotal role in her upbringing, effectively acting as a father figure. Their relationship sparked intense controversy, especially given that Allen began dating Soon‑Yi when she was 20, despite having met her in 1979 when she was first adopted by Farrow. Rumors circulated about nude photos allegedly taken of Soon‑Yi when she was allegedly underage, further inflaming public scrutiny.
Allen’s history with adopted children does not end there. In 1992, his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow accused him of sexual abuse beginning when she was seven. Allen has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that he does not heed public condemnation regarding his relationship with the women he helped raise. Despite the ongoing controversy, Allen and Soon‑Yi remain married with children, and Allen has never faced legal action for his conduct.
5 Lauri and Britta Wuornos
Lauri and Britta Wuornos were the grandparents of Diane Wuornos and, by extension, the adoptive parents of Diane’s children, Keith and Aileen Pittman, who were placed with them in 1960. After a legal adoption, the children’s surname changed to Wuornos. Aileen later recounted harrowing abuse: both grandparents were alcoholic, and her adoptive father forced her to strip naked before violently beating her. He also subjected her to sexual abuse and allowed friends to do the same.
At fourteen, Aileen gave birth to a son fathered by one of Lauri’s friends, a child she was forced to surrender for adoption. The abuse persisted until Britta died of liver failure, after which Lauri expelled Aileen from the home. Left alone and desperate, Aileen turned to prostitution for survival. The trauma she endured fueled a descent into crime, eventually leading her to become America’s first female serial killer, murdering at least seven men after posing as a prostitute to gain access to their vehicles. Despite her defense citing childhood abuse as a mitigating factor, she was sentenced to death and executed in 2002.
4 Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz
Unlike Aileen Wuornos, who was adopted within her family, David Berkowitz was taken in by two complete strangers who were wholly unprepared for the responsibility. Nathan later admitted that the adoption was a mistake. The couple failed to manage their son’s escalating violent tendencies, which only intensified after his adoptive mother Pearl died when he was fourteen.
Following Pearl’s death, Nathan remarried and relocated the family to Florida, a move that further destabilized David. Seeking an escape, David enlisted in the army, where he honed his firearms skills and became an accomplished marksman. After leaving the service, he drifted back to New York City, taking on odd jobs while his inner rage festered. On Christmas Eve 1975, David launched his killing spree, stabbing two women—only one of whom was identified. He terrorized the city, shooting random couples with a .44 revolver and even contacting police with a letter proclaiming himself “The Son of Sam.” A parking ticket ultimately led to his capture. He pled guilty in 1978 and was sentenced to life imprisonment, where he remains.
3 Mathew Scully Hicks
In what British authorities later recognized as a wrongful adoption, Mathew Scully‑Hicks and his husband Craig adopted baby Shayla O’Brien, renaming her Elsie Scully‑Hicks on May 12, 2016 after several months of pre‑adoption care. Within weeks, Mathew subjected the child to horrific abuse, culminating in her death on May 25, 2016.
Police and social‑service reports detail a brutal pattern: Mathew threw the toddler down stairs, violently shook her, screamed at her, and broke her legs, among other atrocities. He denied any wrongdoing, claiming the child fell from a changing table. Despite his defense, the court convicted him, noting his cold, emotionless demeanor throughout trial and sentencing. He received a life sentence with no parole for 18 years, reflecting the severity of his crimes.
2 Lori Vallow
Lori Vallow once appeared to be a typical mother, caring for her biological daughter Tylee Ryan and her adopted son JJ Vallow. That façade shattered when both children vanished in September 2019, later discovered to have been murdered and buried on property owned by Vallow’s husband, Chad Daybell.
Following a welfare check prompted by concerned family members, authorities found the children missing, leading the couple to flee Hawaii. They were arrested on February 20, 2020, in connection with the disappearance, though they have yet to face murder charges. Further investigation revealed the pair’s deep involvement in doomsday conspiracy theories, believing the world was on the brink of apocalypse. Both Vallow and Daybell remain prime suspects in the children’s deaths, as well as the suspicious deaths of their previous spouses, now under renewed scrutiny.
1 Jennifer and Sarah Hart
Jennifer and Sarah Hart, a lesbian couple, adopted six African‑American children from foster care at various ages. One of their children gained national attention when a photo showed them hugging a police officer during a protest, symbolizing unity between divided communities.
Tragically, the family’s façade collapsed on March 26, 2018. Under pressure from a Child Protective Services investigation alleging neglect, the Harts allegedly drugged each child with a massive dose of Benadryl, rendering them unconscious, and then drove the family car off a cliff into the Pacific Ocean. Neighbors reported that the children had been starved as punishment for minor infractions, suggesting a pattern of abuse. The horrific act ended the lives of all six children, leaving a scarred legacy of failed adoption.
Why These Are Among the Top 10 Terrible Adoptive Parent Stories
Each of these cases reveals a betrayal of the fundamental promise that adoption carries: to provide safety, love, and a stable future for vulnerable children. From re‑homing scandals to fatal abuse, these stories serve as a stark reminder that vigilance, proper screening, and ongoing support are essential to protect those who need it most.