Priscilla Dipola, 38, who now lives in Tennessee said she never knew what happened to her three children when she gave up custody over to the state a decade ago because of a drinking problem. She said James was supposed to take care of the children, give them a good home, and it breaks her heart to hear about the alleged abuse. 

 

The three children, now adults, were placed together in James’ home back in 1999 along with three other adopted children. Dipola said she regrets ever giving her children away, and said she would have fought for them if she’d known how they were going to be treated. 

 

Charging documents allege that James severely malnourished her six adopted children, and forced them to live in five-feet-by-six-feet size rooms in the basement of the house. Police also allege the children were severely malnourished and had minimal contact with the outside world. 

 

Neighbors, including Shayna Mcginty, said she heard stories from one of the oldest children who spoke out about the abuse to the Office of Children’s Services, which her mother confirmed. 

 

“A lot of crazy stories that [the oldest child] had said was going on there and she thought this was normal...some pretty heartbreaking stuff,” said Mcginty. 

 

She said the fenced home was always quiet, and it never seemed like children lived inside. 

 

In the charging documents, Anchorage police were called on two separate occasions to the home, and neighbors say they’ve complained several times to OCS, but OCS officials say they didn’t have enough evidence to take the children from the home. Police were not available for comment. 

 

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