Devonte Hart, who was seen with a “Free Hugs” sign at a 2014 protest, is killed along with the rest of his family in California
A family who made headlines when a photo of one of their adopted African-American children hugging a white police officer went viral have died after their SUV plunged 100ft off a highway.
Married couple Jennifer and Sarah Hart and their six adopted children travelled the US offering free hugs and promoting unity at festivals and events.
Last year the “Hart Tribe”, as they were known, fulfilled a dream of moving onto a rural piece of land in rural southwest Washington State.
The family raised animals, grew vegetables and embarked on spontaneous road trips or hikes.
Friends believe they may have been on such an adventure when their SUV was found on Monday after plunging off a scenic highway in California.
Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman said a specialist team of investigators is trying to figure out how the vehicle went off an ocean overlook on a rugged part of coastline.
He said the scene was confusing because there were “no skid marks, there were no brake marks” and “no evidence and no reason to believe that this was an intentional act”.
Sheriff Allmann has appealed for help in retracing the family’s movements before their vehicle was found, adding: “We have every indication to believe that all six children were in there.”
The 100ft (31 metre) drop killed the parents, both 39, and their children Markis Hart, 19, Jeremiah Hart, 14 and Abigail Hart, 14. The three other siblings, Hannah Hart, 16, Devonte Hart, 15, and Sierra Hart, 12, have not been found.
The family gained attention after Devonte Hart was photographed during a 2014 protest in Portland, Oregon, following a grand jury’s decision not to indict a police officer in the shooting of a black man in Ferguson, Missouri.
Devonte, holding a “Free Hugs” sign, stood crying.
A Portland officer saw his sign and asked if he could have a hug, and the emotional teenager embraced him in a picture that was widely shared.
Friends described the parents as loving, inspiring people who promoted social justice and exposed their “remarkable children” to art, music and nature.
But neighbours have said they saw signs that caused them to worry about how the home-schooled children were being cared for.
The Clark County Sheriff Office’s Sergeant Brent Waddell has said the family had a recent visit from state child protective services.
Next-door neighbours Bruce and Dana DeKalb said they called child services on Friday because they were concerned about Devonte Hart, who they said had been coming over to their house in the past week asking for food.
The DeKalbs also recounted that three months after the family moved into the home on two acres with a fenced pasture in May 2017, one of the girls rang their doorbell at 1:30 a.m.
Bruce DeKalb said: “[She] was at our door in a blanket saying we need to protect her. She said that they were abusing her.”
Washington State child protective services opened an investigation and had tried to make contact with the family three times since Friday.
According to online court records, Sarah Hart pleaded guilty to a domestic assault charge in Minnesota in 2011. Her plea led to the dismissal of a charge of malicious punishment of a child.
Max Ribner, who had known the family since 2012, said allegations from neighbours didn’t square with what he knew about them.
He continued: “They are beautiful examples of opening arms to strangers, helping youth, supporting racial equality
Source:news.sky.com
