Gravelle foster child abuse cases

Sharon Gravelle is known for having adopted, along with her husband Michael Gravelle, 11 special needs children in Norwalk, Ohio and having been indicted for child abuse for keeping the children in cage-like enclosures. [1]

Her trial has already motivated legislators in Ohio to pass laws to prevent people from adopting so many children without a great deal of oversight by the state. She used parenting methods similar to those used in attachment therapy which involves very strict control of children using isolation, food deprivation and other disciplinary measures which many consider excessive. Her trial has gained international attention and has brought many inadequacies of the adoption services systems in Ohio.