Authorities fear a boy known for hugging a police officer in a viral photo related to the Ferguson, Mo. riots, was killed in a fatal car accident.
Fifteen-year-old Devonte Hart and two of his sisters were missing after a Monday wreck in which their family’s vehicle drove off a Northern California cliff, killing their adoptive parents and three of their siblings, ABC News reports.
Devonte Hart, boy in viral photo, among six children feared dead in California cliff crash https://t.co/EHdUsEd0n0 pic.twitter.com/QTQSvY5LY6
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) March 29, 2018
Devonte, known for offering “free hugs” at the political events his parents took him to, was captured on camera embracing a Portland policeman at a protest of the shooting of Ferguson’s Michael Brown.
Devonte Hart, 13, of Portland waits in line for the #BernieSanders rally in #SalemOR #sjnow pic.twitter.com/qt7Khu1ile
— Danielle Peterson (@DPetersonSJ) May 10, 2016
Devonte and his sisters, Hannah and Sierra, were being searched for by California Highway Patrol and Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office after a family vehicle was found having fallen 75 feet into the Pacific Ocean.
The scene was called “confusing,” in part due to the lack of break or skid marks. Authorities said they had “no reason to believe” the act was intentional.
According to KATU, Child Protective Services visited the Hart’s Washington home three times before the accident. Jennifer and Sarah Hart were a lesbian couple who adopted all of their children from troubled homes.
Court records showed that Sarah Hart pleaded guilty to a domestic assault charge in 2011. The guilty plea prompted the dismissal of a charge of malicious punishment of a child.
CPS identified the Hart children as “potential victims of alleged abuse or neglect.”
Records & neighbors confirm this home in Woodland, WA is where Sarah & Jennifer Hart lived w/ their 6 adopted kids. Neighbors say Devonte was one of them.
3 kids died in Monday’s crash. 3 missing. No names confirmed yet.
No one home. pic.twitter.com/mR3kC5DBEh
— Maggie Vespa (@Maggie_Vespa) March 28, 2018
Neighbors Bruce and Dana DeKalb told KATU that one of the children was regularly at their home begging for food.
KGW reporter John Tierney confirmed that the child asking for food was Devonte. Tierney also provided further details of the alleged abuse.
New details on Sarah Hart, mother involved in Calif. crash: she pleaded guilty in 2011 in Minnesota to domestic assault. Court docs show a teacher called police after seeing bruises on the stomach and back of Hart’s adopted daughter. 1/
— John Tierney (@jtierney6) March 28, 2018
According to criminal complaint filed in Minnesota, Hart admitted to detective she “let her anger get out of control” while spanking daughter. Said she bent girl over bathtub, which caused bruising. 2/
— John Tierney (@jtierney6) March 28, 2018
We’re reporting on this past conviction because sheriff’s office and neighbors say CPS was also called to Hart house on Friday before they left for Calif. Neighbor says Devonte begged them for food. 4/
— John Tierney (@jtierney6) March 28, 2018
The DeKalbs told KTVU that one of the Hart girls rang their doorbell around 1:30 am last May.
“(She) was at our door in a blanket saying we needed to protect her. She said that they were abusing her. It haunted my wife since that day,” Mr. DeKalb said.
Friends of the family offered a different depiction of the family.
Ian Sperling wrote about the couple on Facebook:
“Jen and Sarah Hart were raising the most remarkable six children that I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. These six children came from the most outrageously messed up families that you can imagine. These amazing women came and rescued all six of them. Showered them with love and all six kids were turning into the best humans you can ever imagine.”
Police say it’s likely Devonte and his two sisters were killed, but that they hold out hope the teenagers survived the crash.
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