A group of child abuse victims in Lauderdale County are now suing their ex-foster parents and the state’s DHR system for $25 million.
Four former foster, and adoptive, children of Jenise and Daniel Spurgeon are speaking out.
The Spurgeons were charged with multiple counts of child abuse, sexual abuse, rape, human trafficking, sexual torture and other crimes.
Daniel Spurgeon has pled guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison without parole. Jenise Spurgeon is awaiting trial.
The victims are suing Alabama’s Department of Human Resources. The lawsuits claim DHR and its employees received complaints of abuse and neglect– but didn’t act.
The victims’ attorney says this is all to make sure this never happens to anyone else.
We sat down with Tommy James, the victims’ attorney. James tells us he hopes some accountability will be taken for the crimes his clients endured. He adds, “You just– you can’t even imagine what these kids went through. The sexual torture, with the corporal punishment. Just beating the hell out of them. I mean, the things they were doing… I mean, they weren’t feeding them.”
Attorney, Tommy James says the victims want to call attention to violent and abusive situations like these. He says they hope this lawsuit will get Governor Kay Ivey’s attention and lead to an investigation of Alabama’s Department of Human Resources and state foster care system.
