Michigan couple convicted of abusing 16 adopted and foster children
Jurors found Tamal and Jerry Flore guilty of multiple abuse counts after years of allegations from children in their Lansing home.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
Tamal Flore and Jerry Flore will face sentencing next year after jurors in Michigan found the couple guilty of physically mistreating children in their care. The verdict concludes a trial that examined how the couple managed 16 adopted and foster children in their home since 2007.
The jury returned six guilty verdicts against 59-year-old Tamal Flore. These include six counts of first-degree child abuse, two counts of second-degree child abuse, and three counts of third-degree child abuse. Her husband, 61-year-old Jerry Flore, received a guilty verdict on one count of second-degree child abuse. Jurors acquitted Jerry on nine other charges brought against him.
The Michigan Attorney General’s office argued the couple used physical discipline to control the children for financial benefit. Children in the case described being struck with belts, metal spoons, and wooden spoons. They reported being locked in rooms or the garage for days at a time.
Additional testimony revealed the children were forced to sleep in a specific kitchen area known as “the square” for weeks. They performed difficult exercise routines as punishment and had food withheld if daily housework was not completed. The couple was accused of abusing seven of the 16 children placed in their home.
The court has set a sentencing date of Jan. 11 for both defendants. Jerry Flore faces up to 10 years in prison for his single conviction. The trial marked the final legal step in a case that began with state officials investigating the home’s practices over nearly two decades.
