A federal lawsuit claims New York City failed to properly screen a woman who used fictitious identities to adopt 10 disabled children and later repeatedly abused, starved and imprisoned them in a "house of horrors." The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court on behalf of the children whom Judith Leekin, 64, adopted over an eight-year period ending in ...

A Florida woman accused of abusing 11 disabled children she adopted — while pocketing more than $1 million in subsidies — has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Circuit Judge Robert Belanger on Wednesday called Judith Leekin's actions "reprehensible" and handed down the maximum punishment ...

A woman who lied to adopt 11 disabled children whom authorities say she abused while she raked in more than $1 million in subsidies was sentenced Tuesday to nearly 11 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman said ...