Adoptive parents face 11 years for horrific abuse of four children
A Dutch couple, Johnny van den B and Desi W, faces an 11-year prison sentence followed by detention in a psychiatric facility after being charged with abusing their adopted daughter and three other children. The public prosecutor described the case as severe physical abuse and illegal deprivation of liberty.
The case emerged in May 2024 when a 10-year-old girl was taken to the hospital after suffering life-threatening injuries and falling into a coma due to repeated abuse in the couple's home in Vlaardingen. Despite warnings from neighbors, her school, and the girl herself, she was left in their care.
The girl has awakened from the coma since then, but she is unable to sit or walk on her own and cannot speak. Medical experts indicate that she will need intensive medical care for the rest of her life.
The child was placed with the foster family in March 2022 under the supervision of Stichting Enver and social workers from William Schrikker Stichting. However, both organizations failed to exchange information or intervene when the child reported being abused.
Earlier, the couple lost custody of two young Syrian children due to abuse. Now, authorities are facing widespread scrutiny over how the adoption system allowed this abuse to continue unchecked.