The story of Jennifer and Sarah Hart and their six adopted children is a chilling tale of a family that projected an image of love and harmony to the world, while secretly harboring a reality of abuse and ultimately, a devastating act of murder-suicide. On March 26, 2018, the idyllic façade crumbled when Jennifer Hart deliberately drove their SUV off a cliff in Mendocino County, California, killing herself, her wife Sarah, and all six of their children: Markis, 19, Hannah, 16, Devonte, 15, Abigail, 14, Jeremiah, 14, and Sierra, 12. What initially appeared to be a horrific accident soon unraveled into a premeditated crime, exposing a history of abuse and neglect hidden behind carefully curated social media posts and public appearances. This is the tragic story of the Hart Family Murders.
The Viral Image and the Perfect Family Illusion
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In 2014, the Hart family briefly captured the world’s attention when a photograph of their son Devonte hugging a police officer went viral. The poignant image, taken at a Black Lives Matter protest in Portland, Oregon, showed a tearful Devonte embracing a white officer amidst demonstrations against police brutality following the death of Michael Brown. This photo solidified the Hart family in the public eye as symbols of compassion and unity. They were seen as an interracial family promoting love and understanding, a narrative Jennifer and Sarah actively cultivated on social media. However, behind the heartwarming image, a darker reality was beginning to emerge.
Early Abuse Allegations and Red Flags
Before their move to Oregon and later Washington, the Harts resided in Minnesota, where the first documented allegations of abuse surfaced. In 2008, Hannah, then only six years old, arrived at school with bruises on her arm. When questioned by a teacher, Hannah disclosed that the bruises were inflicted by a belt. While Sarah and Jennifer denied knowledge of the cause, suggesting a fall down the stairs, no charges were filed at the time. However, the incident prompted them to withdraw their children from school and begin homeschooling, a decision that would further isolate the children from outside scrutiny.
The abuse escalated in 2011 when Abigail, also six years old, told a teacher about “owies” on her back and stomach caused by being hit by her mother. This time, Sarah Hart admitted to police that she had resorted to spanking Abigail as a disciplinary measure. Sarah was charged with domestic assault and malicious punishment, receiving a sentence of 90 days in jail (stayed), community service, and probation. Significantly, days before Sarah’s conviction, the Harts permanently removed their children from school again, reinforcing their isolation and control.
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Isolation and Control in Oregon and Washington
After relocating to Oregon, the Hart family continued to raise concerns. In 2013, reports were made to authorities alleging the children were fearful of Jennifer and exhibited robotic behavior, eating freely only when she was absent. A former friend described Jennifer’s parenting style as “a regimented boot camp,” punishing the children even for laughing too loudly. A CPS report from Oregon noted that the children were small for their age but lacked sufficient evidence to intervene decisively, closing the case despite “indications of child abuse or neglect.”
In 2017, the family moved to Washington, where the abuse allegations intensified and ultimately preceded the tragic end. Neighbors Dana and Bruce DeKalb witnessed firsthand the children’s fear and desperation. Hannah fled to their home in the middle of the night, pleading for help and disclosing horrific abuse, including beatings with a belt and racist remarks. Sarah and Jennifer retrieved Hannah, making her apologize for the disturbance and for “lying.”
The DeKalbs observed further disturbing signs. Devonte would secretly ask them for food, explaining that Jennifer and Sarah withheld meals for days. Dana noted Devonte’s disproportionately large head on an emaciated body, further indicating severe neglect. Despite Devonte’s pleas not to involve authorities out of fear of separation, Dana DeKalb eventually contacted CPS on March 23, 2018, just days before the murders. A CPS agent visited the Hart residence but received no response. Subsequent attempts to contact the family on March 26 and 27 were also unsuccessful.
The Calculated Murder-Suicide
On March 26, 2018, Jennifer Hart drove the family’s SUV over a 100-foot cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway in Mendocino County. Toxicology reports revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.102 in Jennifer’s system, exceeding the legal limit. Furthermore, Sarah and at least two of the children had high levels of diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, in their systems, suggesting they were sedated.
Sarah’s internet search history further painted a grim picture of premeditation. She had researched methods of suicide, including drowning, overdosing on over-the-counter drugs, and the time it would take to die from hypothermia while drowning in a car. She meticulously deleted her search history after each query.
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Investigators concluded that Jennifer Hart intentionally drove the vehicle off the cliff in a calculated act of murder-suicide. Jennifer was the only one wearing a seatbelt. The impact was so severe that Jennifer and Sarah’s bodies were unrecognizable. While the bodies of Sarah and three of the children were recovered, Sierra’s body was too decomposed to determine the cause of death, and Devonte’s body was never found but he was declared legally dead.
Conflicting Emotions and Lingering Questions
The Hart family tragedy evoked a range of emotions, from disbelief and shock to grief and anger. Friends struggled to reconcile the loving image the Harts projected with the horrific reality of abuse and murder. Some close to the family initially questioned whether the crash was truly intentional, finding it difficult to believe that Jennifer and Sarah could commit such an act. However, the overwhelming evidence pointed to a deliberate and calculated plan.
The Hart family murders serve as a stark reminder of the hidden darkness that can exist behind seemingly perfect facades. It underscores the importance of vigilance, reporting suspected child abuse, and looking beyond curated online personas to recognize the signs of suffering. This tragedy prompts critical questions about the effectiveness of child protection systems and the need for greater awareness of the subtle and often concealed signs of child abuse and neglect.
If you suspect child abuse, please call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org.
