Viktor Matthey was only 6 years old when he died of cardiac arrest due to hypothermia after adoptive parents Robert and Brenda Matthey locked him overnight in a damp unheated pump room. Viktor was also severely beaten by his adoptive father. The Matthey’s attended a Pentacostal church and homeschooled their four biological children; beginning in September 2000 they send their four biological children to a church school so that they could focus on their three adopted children. The Mattheys adopted Victor and his twin brothers, aged 4, because they believed that God had called them to do so in an effort to alleviate an international orphan crisis. Both Robert and Brenda were sentenced to 10 years for confining Viktor to a pump room, 10 years for excessive corporal punishment and 7 years for failing to provide medical care. The sentences run concurrently. Viktor, along with twin bio brothers, was adopted from Blagoschevensk, Amur, Russia, only 10 months before his death. The twins are now adopted by Robert’s mother who has disavowed her son. Both Mattheys were released from jail in Fall 2008.
Date: October 31, 2000
Location: Union Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
