HARRISON VERDICT: A GROWING "INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT"

NOTE: Go to Nikto Ne Zabyt for a dedicated page of all my entries on Russian adoption. This collection includes posts on all known Russian adoptees who have been killed by their US “forever families” as well as the case of Masha Allen. For those interested strictly on Dmitry Yakolev/Chase Harrison go to Nikto Ne Zabyt’s, “labels” in the right sidebar and click on “Dmitry Yakolev” or “Chase Harrison.” The same articles are archived under both names Also, for international readers, at the top of that page has a link to the Reverso translator. Over the last couple days some commenters have observed that the Yakolev/Harrison case is not so much about adoption, but a sad commentary on American life: that a child, adopted or not, can be forgotten in a hot car and die, while parents go about their hectic lives forgetting what they did with him or her. In a general sense, I don’t disagree with this. The dead baby in the hot/cold car is largely an American phenomenon. In fact, I wrote in my previous blog:Yet Dima, who died in part, because of the wacky American consumer lifestyle, deserves justice, which has not been served him. Privileged Continue Reading →

RUSSIAN OFFICIALS WANT TO TOUGHEN ADOPTION RULES FOR US AFTER MILES HARRISON ACQUITTED IN DEATH OF DMITRY YAKOLEV

NOTE: Go to Nikto Ne Zabyt for a dedicated page of all my entries on Russian adoption. This collection includes posts on all known Russian adoptees who have been killed by their US “forever famlies” as well as the case of Masha Allen. For those interested strictly on Dmitry Yakolev/Chase Harrison go to Nikto Ne Zabyt’s, “labels” in the right sidebar and click on “Dmitry Yakolev” or “Chase Harrison.” The same articles are archived under both names Also, for international readers, at the top of that page has a link to the Reverso translator. I have seen no direct online confirmation from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, but according to reports from the English language editions of RIA Novistii and Interfax, the Russian government may toughen its adoption rules for the US in the wake of the acquittal of Miles Harrison. Harrison was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter yesterday in the death of Dmitry Yakolev, whom Harrison and his wife Carol were adopting. Last July, Dima died of heat-related injuries after being left strapped in his car seat for 9 hours in Harrison’s SUV while Harrison worked. Harrison claimed he “forgot”to drop the boy Continue Reading →

MILES HARRISON ACQUITTED!

NOTE: Go to Nikto Ne Zabyt for a dedicated page of all my entries on Russian adoption. This collection includes posts on all known Russian adoptees who have been killed by their US “forever famlies” as well as the case of Masha Allen. For those interested strictly on Dmitry Yakolev/Chase Harrison go to Nikto Ne Zabyt’s, “labels” in the right sidebar and click on “Dmitry Yakolev” or “Chase Harrison.” The same articles are archived under both names Also, for international readers, at the top of that page has a link to the Reverso This just in. This morning Miles Harrison was acquitted on charges of involuntary manslaughter in the death of his adopted 21 month old son Dmitry Yakolev/Chase Harrison. The baby died July 8 when he was left strapped in a car seat for 9 hours in 90+ degree heat while Harrison worked in his office just yards away. From the Washington Post: Miles Harrison, 49, collapsed to his knees moments after Fairfax Circuit Court Judge R. Terrence Ney declared that Harrison’s conduct did not meet the legal standard for manslaughter. Ney noted that Harrison was, prior to July 8, an unquestionably devoted father to Chase Harrison, the 21-month-old Continue Reading →

ANOTHER DMITRY YAKOLEV/CHASE HARRISON UPDATE: JUDGE REFUSES TO DISMISS CHARGES

NOTE: Go to Nikto Ne Zabyt for a dedicated page of all my entries on Russian adoption. This collection includes posts on all known Russian adoptees who have been killed by their US “forever famlies” as well as the case of Masha Allen. For those interested strictly on Dmitry Yakolev/Chase Harrison go to Nikto Ne Zabyt’s, “labels” in the right sidebar and click on “Dmitry Yakolev” or “Chase Harrison.” The same articles are archived under both names Also, for international readers, at the top of that page has a link to the Reverso Miles Harrison’s motion to dismiss the charges against him was denied this morning. From today’s Washington Post: But Fairfax Circuit Court Judge R. Terrence Ney noted this morning that Harrison had placed Chase in the vehicle and stopped at a dry cleaners on the way to work, and ruled that “the Commonwealth has met her burden of showing a prima facie case for involuntary manslaughter. Baby Love Child has blogged on this aspect of the trial and commented on the WaPo article which expands the coverage from the initial article I posted last night. It also describes the defense’s “strategy” to get Harrison off. Incredibly, Harrison has Continue Reading →

CHASE HARRISON/DMITRY YAKOLEV UPDATE: MILES HARRISON STANDS TRIAL TODAY

NOTE: Go to Nikto Ne Zabyt for a dedicated page of all my entries on Russian adoption. This collection includes posts on all known Russian adoptees who have been killed by their US “forever famlies” as well as the case of Masha Allen. For those interested strictly on Dmitry Yakolev/Chase Harrison go to Nikto Ne Zabyt’s, “labels” in the right sidebar and click on “Dmitry Yakolev” or “Chase Harrison.” The same articles are archived under both names Also, for international readers, at the top of that page has a link to the Reverso BREAKING NEWS! The trial of Miles Harrison, charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of his adopted Russian son, Dmitry Yakolev/Chase Harrison, 21 months, started today in Faixfax, Virginia. Harrison, in what I believe was a smart move for him, waived his right to a jury trial. His case is being heard from the bench. On July 8, Harrison, left the recently placed Dmitry, strapped in a car seat in his parked SUV at work for approximately 9 hours. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the 91 degree temperature outside means that the inside of the Yukon could have reached 180 degrees. The defense scheduled 37 Continue Reading →

NINA HILT: 20/20 FEATURE

The November 28 edition of 20/20 will feature “The Toughest Call: What Happens When a Foreign Adoption Ends in Regret” Not much about the final cut is known. You can see the trailer here. (click on title). The focus seems to be on Ranch for Kids,”a Christian home for ‘at risk’ Russian and other adoptees who may be experiencing difficulties in their new families in the U.S”–but there will be some kind of coverage of Nina Hilt, beaten to death by her adoptive mother Peggy Sue Hilt. Nina’s dad, Chris Hilt, informs me that his former wife now doing 25 years in Nina’s death, was interviewed for the show. You can read more about Nina throughout Nikto Ne Zabut. Please visit Nina’s memorial page, Remembering Nina, and light a candle for her. Addenda: This additinal information was posted after I put this up.

KIMBERLY EMELYANTSEV SENTENCED: HUSBAND PRESSURED HER TO ADOPT

Yesterday, Kimberly Emelyantsev, 34, was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for the March 2008 beating death of her adopted son Kolya. In August she was convicted of second degree child abuse homicide. At the request of the prosecutor, Emelyantsev was ordered to undergo a pre-sentencing psychiatric evaluation. Kolya was a “special needs” adoptee, with Down Syndrome and had lived with Emelyantsev and her husband Fyodor, a Russian national, for less than a month. The couple was also rearing K. Emelyantsev’s 10-year old DS daughter and two biological daughters without disabilities. Two months before Kolya’s placement they adopted a DS Russian baby, Luka. That such a situation might prove “stressful” to the Emelyantsevs, especially stay-at-home Kimberly, was apparently overlooked or dismissed by their adoption agency About A Child, Reece’s Rainbow who listed him, and the home study hack, probably out of LDS Social Services, who passed the couple for adoption. (The Es are LDS). After all, Fyodor had a MA in genetics, was trained in handling disabled children, and worked as an RN. The couple took out a second mortgage to pay for Kolya. Who could say no to that package? In August, the prosector promised that more Continue Reading →

RADIO BASTARDETTE: "SPEAKING OF ADOPTION," OCTOBER 14, 2008

E Case and I will appear on Speaking of Adoption on Tuesday October 14. Here’s the official announcement: On “Speaking of Adoption”Listen on the internet at www.onworldwide.com October 14th: Marley Greiner of Bastard Nation,andactivist Elizabeth Case. The topic:Why Are So Many Russian adoptees dying? To listen live: Go to www.onworldwide.com and click on ON AT WORK.To listen to the archived programs: go to www.onworldwide.com and click onON DEMAND, then on the show name.

ISAAC JONATHAN DYKSTRA: ANOTHER DEAD RUSSIAN ADOPTEE

On August 7, 2008 Brian Dale Dykstra, 31,was charged with 2nd degree murder in the 2005 death of his adopted Russian son Isaac Jonathan Dykstra, 21 months old. Dykstra surrendered to Johnson County, Iowa authorities on August 8 and was released on $15,000 bond. He submitted a written plea of Not Guilty on October 2 in Johnson County District Court. Dykstra currently lives in South Carolina where his wife, Dr. Lisa Dykstra, is an Assistant Professor of Spanish at Clemson University. She was not at home at the time of the alleged beating and has not been charged. I have been unable to find the employment status of Brian Dykstra (but he is not the actor/comedian/playright of the same name). Isaac was born November 18, 2003 in Krasnoyarsk and adopted from an orphanage there. An Iowa City Police Department press release says that on August 13, 2005 officers were sent to Dykstra’s home after receiving an abandoned 911 call from that address. On callback, Dykstra told the dispatcher that Isaac was having a ‘little seizure” and difficulty breathing from what “might be related to a head injury.” Responding units from the Iowa City Police, Iowa City Fire Department, and Johnson Continue Reading →

REMEMBERING THE OHIO DEAD: MARIA BENNETT AND LIAM THOMPSON

Recently I visited the graves of my local Forever Dead adoptees: Liam Thompson and Maria Bennett. Below are some pictures. For Details on their cases go to Forever Family – Forever Dead. MARIA ANASTASIA BENNETTBIRTH NAME UNKNOWNNovember 22, 1999-October 23, 2002 Adopted from: Ussurisk. Died: Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. Official cause of death: non-accidental head injury. In Forever Family: 9 months. Maria is buried in a family plot at St.Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Lancaster, Ohio. Her grave is kept up and flowers planted on it. LIAM DMITRY THOMPSONDMITRY SERGEYVICH ISLANKULOVOctober 16, 2000-October 16, 2003(died on 3rd birthday)Adopted from: Blagoveshensk, Died: Doctors Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. Official cause of death: thermal injuries. In Forever Family: 5 months. Liam/Dmitry is buried in Sunset Cemetery in Galloway, Ohio, just west of Columbus. I was glad to see that his grave is marked and kept up, especially since, according to his death certificate there was “no embalmer requested,” suggesting to me that he was the ultimate throwaway adoptee. Both “parents” are in prison. The objects left at the grave are a weather-worn yellow bird and a little lamp driving a blue truck.