Too often children are taken, trafficked, and killed in foster care and "loving forever homes." Child abusers are committing unthinkable acts of cruelty and torture against children they promised to keep safe and give a better life. Too often they are allowed to take plea deals for lesser charges and avoid full legal consequences for their crimes. Then they walk free while the child's family continues to fight for justice while still grieving.

Infants and young children suffer extraordinary violence before their deaths. One heartbreaking case involved 3-year-old Hyunsu O'Callaghan, who had just arrived from South Korea months earlier. The medical examiner's report stated Hyunsu suffered multiple injuries including fractured skull, internal bleeding on the brain, hemorrhaging in his eyes, and impact trauma to his body. His death was ruled a homicide. However, Brian O'Callaghan, his adoptive father, was able to plead down to just child abuse, not murder. He only received 20 years imprisonment with 12 years suspended and additional credit for time served. He is free today, after buying Hyunsu and killing him.

Another more recent case is that of 6 year old Natalie Garcia, aka Kennedy Schroer whose remains were found buried in the backyard of the home she was placed in. The couple, Joseph and Crystina Schroer, pleaded no contest in connection to Natalie's death. Instead they have been fined $27,000 and may serve between 5-17 months in prison for Medicaid fraud. Pleading no contest means they neither admit nor deny murdering Natalie and therefore avoid the due process of a trial that would possibly end in a guilty conviction. The medical examiner was unable to determine the cause death due to the decompensation of her body. However, a statement given by another child in the home revealed that that they was regularly punished by having to stay inside a box for extended periods of time. It's likely Natalie died from suffocation. The couple has been able to avoid a trial and legal consequences for the abuse Natalie suffered before she died.

There are countless more cases of children being taken, trafficked, and killed. Their abusers and murderers are able to take plea deals that rob these children and their biological families of the justice they deserve. These people avoid accountability after promising these children they would keep them safe and give them a "loving forever home."

We need stronger laws to protect children, not their murderers. No more plea deals in crimes against children. No more murderers walking free with reduced sentences and no contest to child abuse and murder charges. Every case should carry the full extent of the law, due process, and sentences that fit these crimes.

Sign and share this petition if you agree that these criminals should receive the full weight of the justice system. If you believe that children should not be taken, trafficked, and killed, let's send a clear message that no one will get away with murder.