From today’s Tooele Transcript, here’s an update on the recent conviction of Kimberly Emelyantsev for the murder of her adopted son Kolya Emelyantsev. I am adding new details of the case and some comments. Go to my other entries for a complete view.
Sentencing clarification: K. Emelyantsev has been sentenced to 1-15 years less 214 days served while awaiting trial. The previous account reported “up to 15 years.” There is no estimate of how much time she is expected to serve. A couple months ago I felt Emelyantsev would pretty much walk away from this with probation, but I’m no longer convinced that she’ll be out soon. I’d look for 3-5 years. I think she wants punishment and wants to be in jail.
Account of murder: K. Emelyantsev originally told police Kolya had fallen off a chair in the living room after she’d left to change the diaper of another child. During her plea hearing she told the court she dropped Kolya twice, once on a bag of diapers and once on a hard-surface floor. During her pre-sentence mental health evaluation she admitted she kicked Koyla twice, “sliding him across the floor.” Later in the day, “when frustration with the needs of her other children boiled over, Emelyantsev picked up Nikolai and ‘slammed him onto the hard-surface floor twice.”
Parental rights: “[County Attorney Doug] Hogan said Emelyantsev and her husband Fyodor are both relinquishing their parental rights to their four remaining children — a 10-year-old Down syndrome daughter from Kimberly’s previous marriage, their two biological children, ages 5 and 2, and a 4-year-old Down syndrome son they adopted from Russia last Christmas. The children are currently being cared for by family members.”
Call me suspicious,. I believe that Fyodor Emelyantsev is complicit in Kolya’s death and he deserves to go to prison. Why is F. Emelyantsev voluntarily relinquishing parental rights to his surviving biological and adopted children? Were earlier child neglect charges against him involving the couple’s adopted DS son Luka dropped in return for his cooperation in the prosecution of his wife? Is Russian national Emelyantsev returning to Novosibirsk?
The surviving children are currently with local relatives. Will they remain there or be placed elsewhere? If they remain with family members and F. Emelyantsev remains in Tooele, will he have access to them?
There has been no indication in the media (unfortunately, the only way to get information on this case) that the home study and placement agencies involved in the adoption of Koyla and Luka have been investigated. In fact, I’ve heard not critical word of them outside minor blogosphere rumblings. Mrs. Emelyantsev deserves to go prison. So does her husband. But Kolya would be probably be alive today if he had not been placed in an over-stressed, over-burdened home, perhaps even violent home, where, if what the defense claims is true, Fyodor refused to take part in the rearing of the DS children he insisted on adopting over his wife’s objections.
Reece’s Rainbow Downs Syndrome Orphan Ministry, which specializes in placing DS babies, photolisted Kolya. The organization was quite aware that two special needs, institutionalized children from Russia were being placed only two months apart with the Emelyantsevs. Reece’s (and its cooperating agencies) knew that the couple also had a 10-year old DS daughter and two biological toddlers to contend with.
Here is what Reece’s reported on the Emelyantsev’s near the end of 2007:
The Emelyantsev family has just completed their adoption of our little Luka in Russia, so are attempting to do simultaneous international adoptions! We are thrilled that Luka’s adoption is finally complete and that he was saved from life in a mental institution. Now we pray for Kolya to make it home quickly, too!
Dad has a Master’s Degree in Genetics (perfect!) and works as a Registered Nurse. Mom is a paralegal in their church office. Their community and school have rallied around their daughter with DS, and they are excited to provide Kolya with the same kind of love, support, encouragement, and “the sky is the limit” opportunities that he so deserves.
As many of you know, Russian adoptions are some of the most costly. We ask your special consideration in sponsoring this family! Won’t you please help this wonderful family bring Kolya home?*
The only “sky is the limit” Kolya got, if you believe in such things, is a trip to heaven courtesy of his forever family and the international adoption industry.
*document no longer online; hardcopy in my position
This comment has been removed by the author.
I wish Reeces Rainbow would be upfront about their envolvment with this poor decision to allow a woman (Kimberly) who was already overburden with stress and a DS bio child- there is no way Reeces Rainbow should allow concurrent adoptions.
Many of these Reeces Rainbow followers are a bunch of “Born-Again” Christians who in their blogs attest that “God has led them to adopt a DS child” What about all the SN American Kids waiting for homes?
Andrea Roberts who heads up Reeces Rainbow even refers to it as her “mission” or “missionary for SN children”
They charge high fees $26,000+ and many of these parents are coached on how to get the child/baby on Disability benefits once they become American citizens.
The Russians are laughing their asses off at using the USA as a dumping ground for their sick and disabled kids. Not to mention they still get big money for the SN kids.
The other issue that isn’t being discussed is where are the social workers who approved them now that the other children have lost a new brother and both of their parents?
Now on top of an abused, dead infant we have a bunch of children with no parents.
Are the social workers providing grief counseling for these children? Support systems? What about for the children’s current caregivers? Are they going to help the children maintain some sort or contact with Kimberly so that they don’t feel abandoned by her absence?
Kimberly is responsible for the child’s death, but the other players in the picture should be stepping up to the plate here.
I just can find no silver lining to this. None.
Wasn’t adoption supposed to be the BEST option for all parties? AParents, FirstParents, Children, Siblings?
Do you know they only reason we know it was Reece’s Rainbow who placed Kolya was because we found his picture and the blurb when we heard about his death. Afterwards, they kindly yanked it from their website.
At times like these, I detest adoption agencies.
E.Case
E,Case,
Wasn’t adoption supposed to be the BEST option for all parties? AParents, FirstParents, Children, Siblings?
I don’t agree with your statement AT ALL.
Best option not for the mother who may have needed a little support till she was able to get on her feet. The babies that were adopted
in the sealed adoption era didn’t even get considered to stay with their moms. There were too many paps and there was a market.
Adoption as a best option is just another ploy the industry uses to get a baby into the market. If there were no markets there would be no adoption. But the industry exploits young mother situations, and then coerces these mothers especially when they know they have parents that are not supportive. EXPLOITATION is what adoption is ALL about.
I was watching a program on sex for sale rerun of course. But the key element in this is the EXPLOITATION of young women, very young women. The market is driven by perverts having sex with children. And the topper is these perverts almost NEVER get busted. BUT the young girls do? wtf
I knew she wasn’t going to serve the measly fifteen years for the death of a baby! My bet is she will be out in 4 yrs of less since she already has served 214 horrible days for murder.
I think the other person who for some reason insisted that they adopt another downs baby was looking for a free ride. Our country should NOT be supporting kids that are adopted for money and thats what I see this as another money making adoption scheme gone bad with a baby’s death. Both of these murders should be serving life!
The last thing I have to say is how those that live in Utah the fine MORMONS who know of these people and their crimes. How can they support this? And why do they remain silent.
One guess is because adoption is such a beloved act and it involves a LOT of money passing hands. Big business at its best.
ps I have nothing against any religion but when those who defend or remain silent while knowing the horrendous acts are happening or have happened. I question how and why they would do this? Money the root of all evil.
Religions have been the cause of way too many horrendous acts among humans and babies.
oh, one more thing.
Adoption has NEVER been about the babies, the young children or even older children.
Its about those who feel the need to be benevolent. Those who feel better about themselves by saying they adopted. ITS about them don’t you see that?
By this murder I can see that so plainly, she is the victim and the kids involved they are just the victims pawns.
Mental screenings for anyone who adopts ANYONE! And the adopted kids should forever be checked upon by someone other than the placers. Someone besides workers.
These kids need protection from serial adopters. And those who adopt and take on way to many kids should definately be watched.
Red flags everywhere and of course bottom line was selling a baby and American taxpayers picking up the tab for how many kids in this adoption both natural kids and ds kids. Absurd.
Adoption welfare is what this is and this man who had a Masters in Genetics and was a nurse? A few questions remain unanswered there in my humble opinion.
Anonymous:
I agree with your sentiments. My comments were sarcastic in a swipe at the happily ever after adoption myth we have been fed.
In Kolya’s case it was NOT positive for ANYBODY. Only the adoption agencies involved.
E.Case
Anonymous wrote:
“Adoption has NEVER been about the babies, the young children or even older children.
Its about those who feel the need to be benevolent. Those who feel better about themselves by saying they adopted. ITS about them don’t you see that?”
Oh, please. People adopt for a variety of reasons, most of which are ultimately about them, as are most actions of every human being.
J.