Family adopt a 5-year-old girl but when she learns to speak english they discover this horrifying truth

Ohio Couple Discovers Adopted Daughter Was Victim of Adoption Scam

June 6, 2025 – Ohio

An Ohio couple’s dream of expanding their family through international adoption turned into a heartbreaking discovery after they learned their adopted daughter had been taken from her family under false pretenses.

Adam and Jessica Davis, already parents to four biological children, adopted a five-year-old Ugandan girl named Namata in 2015. Working with European Adoption Consultants (EAC), an agency based in Ohio, the couple was told that Namata was an orphan whose father had died and whose abusive mother had abandoned her. The couple paid $150,000 in fees and brought Namata to the United States.

Namata quickly adapted to life in the U.S., learning English and bonding with her new siblings. But as her English improved, she began sharing memories of a loving family back in Uganda—a mother, siblings, and a home—raising red flags for the Davises.

The couple contacted Karen Riley, a child advocacy activist, who investigated and discovered that Namata’s mother was alive and had never intended to give her up. She had been deceived by EAC, which told her Namata would temporarily study in the U.S., not that she would be adopted permanently.

Faced with the truth, the Davises made the painful decision to reunite Namata with her biological family in Uganda. The reunion was emotional and joyous. The Davises were praised for their integrity in returning the child.

Following an FBI investigation, European Adoption Consultants was shut down for fraudulent and unethical adoption practices. However, activists warn that similar scams persist.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the darker side of international adoption and the need for greater oversight. The Davises now work with advocates to prevent other families from unknowingly participating in child trafficking.