Analyzing Carri Williams

Many have wondered why Carri Williams adopted Hana only to abuse her to death.  Someone with a little inside knowledge has speculated on the reasons and has graciously given me permission to share with my readers.

Here’s my take on why the Williams family chose to adopt–first of all, I think Carri’s main role in life was being a mother. From everything I’ve heard, her biological children are extremely well-behaved and obedient. Perhaps they were this way because the parents were implementing the Pearl method, and they knew they had to be “good”. . . or else the plumbing line was going to come out for a visit. I think Carri convinced herself that her kids were wonderful because she was such a great mother. I think their religious beliefs combined with the belief that they were exemplary parents caused the two of them to “save” some children from a 3rd world country. Initially, I think their intentions for adopting were “good” (although  I am uncomfortable with the idea of adopting children solely because you are religiously motivated to “rescue” them). I don’t think they adopted Hana and her brother so that they could have some children to torture and abuse. However,I believe they made a huge assumption that these kids would respond to their methods just like their own biological children did. They expected Hana and her little brother to assimilate into their family, and most likely ignored their culture, how they had grown up (customs, beliefs, etc), and most importantly, the trauma that Hana and her brother had gone through in their childhoods. These kids just weren’t acting like their biological children. Instead of taking a step back and getting professional help, they decided that they would continue to follow the Pearl method, but continued to up the ante, because these kids were NOT succumbing to being “broken”. And this is where I think the Pearl method can be so dangerous–the Williams probably felt that they could NOT surrender and admit that they could no longer handle the situation on their own, so instead, they just became more and more extreme. Spankings led to abuse. . . but Hana still wouldn’t break. I think this is the point where Carri begins to resent/hate Hana because her entire ego is centered around having “perfect” children, and Hana is not only making her feel like a failure, she’s making Carri look “bad” to all the people in her community. And I believe that Carri (very much) CARES about people not perceiving her as “perfect” or “out of control”. So now, Carri is angry, and she has stepped out of the realm of even what the Pearls would advocate. Abuse turns to torture. Hana is treated like a prisoner of war. . . . her “parents” doing things to her in an attempt to humiliate her, hurt her, and strip her of her dignity. As far as Larry goes, I believe he either “bought in” to his wife’s approach whole heartedly, or he may have completely deferred the child rearing choices to his wife. But he is just as guilty, because there is no way that he couldn’t see what was happening to Hana. He HAD to have known. Yet, he did nothing. A little girl is dead because of these two. : (

This analysis fits exactly with what I have suspected even before much information was released.

Many have also wondered why nobody outside the family did anything to save Hana. Here are some thoughts on that from the same person.

From talking to people who live nearby and who knew the family, I did get the distinct impression that there may have been a reluctance to challenge Carri for her methods of parenting, as it seems she could become extremely combative when “her wisdom” was questioned. It was mentioned on the AC 360 program that neighbors were “scared” of Larry currently living at the family’s home in Sedro-Woolley, and I don’t think it would be a stretch to say that people who may have felt there were some problems with the treatment of the children were afraid to cross the couple. I think it is possible that they feared what sort of outcome would result from it. When I first perceived that people were possibly afraid of diminutive Carr, I thought that perhaps they were just being paranoid or over-reacting. However, now that we’ve all heard the horror of what Hana and her little brother went through at the hands of Larry and Carri, I can understand why some people might be intimidated by this couple (especially Carri) and not want to put themselves in situations that would provoke their anger. As much as I wish people who may have known things would have come forward before Hana died, I do understand at some level why they may have chosen to live in a bit of denial about it. I don’t think any one could have imagined just how horrific it was for Hana. The truth is so tragic and shockingly sadistic.

8 Comments

  1. Nancy on November 1, 2011 at 6:18 pm

    I wondered if she had been eating mud because she was hungry, as many adults and children from impoverished countries have done to survive. If anyone cares to find out about how to cope with an older adopted child, there are many wonderful resources out there — especially Karyn Purvis. I am sure that pride and stubborn adherence to the Pearls’ methods kept the Williams parents from seeking help with things that are VERY COMMON for older adopted children. These kids have been through so much trauma and often have many behaviors that can be misunderstood out of ignorance on the parents’ part, if the parents haven’t taken classes or done the proper research. My heart aches for those poor kids, all of them — biological and adopted.

    • Hermana Linda on November 2, 2011 at 11:15 am

      That is a possibility, but it seems more likely that she collapsed in the mud and aspirated it. 🙁

    • Chuck Travels on November 3, 2011 at 8:33 am

      There is no evidence that Hana Williams suffered from what is known as Pica. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002505/

      Hana was found face-down in the mud in her parents backyard, after she was made to stay outside on a 40 degree rainy day. Hana had mud in her mouth, nose and lungs. She aspirated. In the 911 call the “mother” then blames this 13 year old for “killing herself” because Hana was “rebellious.”

      No, Hana’s mother […] deserves to be in jail the rest of her life.

  2. Chuck Travels on October 30, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    A few days I listened to the recording of the 911 call:

    911 Operator: ” What’s your emergency?”
    CARRIE WILLIAMS: “Yes, um, I think my daughter just killed herself.”
    911 Operator: “Why do you say that?”
    CARRIE WILLIAMS: “Um, she’s really rebellious. And she’s been outside refusing to come in, and she’s been throwing herself all around, and then she collapsed.”

    Call me jaded if you want, but a good mother? Carrie Williams is psychopath that would make a child stay outside until she was incoherent from hypothermia and hunger! A mother who would then blame her daughter for killing herself! Hana was found face down with mud in her mouth. She probably aspirated on mud! Nope not a good mother.

    Read the transcript from the detective. She had brainwashed brood and she abused them too.

    I watched Cari Williams as she was walking out of the courtroom. A reporter asked her about killing Hana, she smirked, like she thought the question was funny.
    Personally, I want to knock the smirk out of her.

  3. mtwildflower on October 29, 2011 at 8:00 am

    It’s too bad about Carri Williams feeling as though everything had to be perfect. It’s such an easy trap to fall into. How terrible for her and those around her to never realize grace because of stubborn pride.

    Pride is all Mike and Debi Pearl offer and encourage. No grace, no compromise, no flexibility.

    What a dreadful burden to carry.

    • Zooey on October 30, 2011 at 5:52 am

      When you said that “Pride is all Mike & Debi Pearl offer & encourage”, I immediately recognized this is not only true, but that it is precisely that which makes them so much more dangerous. Pride is, after all, what got Lucifer expelled from Heaven–pride & inflexible pride at that.
      Thank you for this insight. It is a good reminder.

  4. Herbwifemama on October 28, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    Hermana Linda, I don’t know if you remember me from GCM, but I remember you. And I can’t believe I haven’t already bookmarked your blog, it’s so wonderful! Thank you for all the links to other GBP blogs as I continue my quest to break down the punitive mindset I’ve grown up with and show God’s character and grace to my children! 🙂

    • Hermana Linda on October 28, 2011 at 9:24 pm

      I remember you! it’s great to “see” you again. <3 I’m so glad you like my blog. All the glory to God. <3 Thank you so much for commenting. 🙂

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