Peter McDonald

When I talked with Talia Getting, one of the lawyers, I asked her about this call with Julie. Talia said Julie yelled at them and accused them of fraud. But Talia swore she had no idea who Julie Falkenberry was. Talia told me it was only when Julie said her adoption with Tara Lee had failed that she knew why she'd never heard of her.

Tara Lee would send out all-inclusive adoption contracts with Talia and Tanya's names and fees on them without ever telling them. If an adoption failed, they often never knew. Tara Lee usually only called them when one succeeded, usually at the 11th hour. Talia told me she hated that Tara Lee did this and reprimanded her, but it did no good. When I shared all this with Rob Kirsch, he was appalled.

Tara Lee would send out all-inclusive adoption contracts with Talia and Tanya's names and fees on them without ever telling them. If an adoption failed, they often never knew. Tara Lee usually only called them when one succeeded, usually at the 11th hour. Talia told me she hated that Tara Lee did this and reprimanded her, but it did no good. When I shared all this with Rob Kirsch, he was appalled.

Tara Lee would send out all-inclusive adoption contracts with Talia and Tanya's names and fees on them without ever telling them. If an adoption failed, they often never knew. Tara Lee usually only called them when one succeeded, usually at the 11th hour. Talia told me she hated that Tara Lee did this and reprimanded her, but it did no good. When I shared all this with Rob Kirsch, he was appalled.

He's an attorney who knows how adoptions are supposed to work.

He's an attorney who knows how adoptions are supposed to work.

He's an attorney who knows how adoptions are supposed to work.

Her scheme worked in part because no one was looking for criminals, con artists, and fraudsters in the adoption industry. Because not only was preying on people involved in adoptions unconscionable, it was unimaginable. Even the feds, at first, needed a minute to wrap their heads around what she'd done. Adoptions, by the way, are regulated at the state level.

Her scheme worked in part because no one was looking for criminals, con artists, and fraudsters in the adoption industry. Because not only was preying on people involved in adoptions unconscionable, it was unimaginable. Even the feds, at first, needed a minute to wrap their heads around what she'd done. Adoptions, by the way, are regulated at the state level.

Her scheme worked in part because no one was looking for criminals, con artists, and fraudsters in the adoption industry. Because not only was preying on people involved in adoptions unconscionable, it was unimaginable. Even the feds, at first, needed a minute to wrap their heads around what she'd done. Adoptions, by the way, are regulated at the state level.

So while there is oversight and there are rules, they differ. In Michigan, Tara Lee knew what the rules were, and she flagrantly violated them. The state had even told her to stop doing adoptions, but she didn't. On the phone, Julie Falconberry told Talia about the baby boy she was adopting through Always Hope. It was a closed adoption, meaning Julie had no contact with the birth mother.

So while there is oversight and there are rules, they differ. In Michigan, Tara Lee knew what the rules were, and she flagrantly violated them. The state had even told her to stop doing adoptions, but she didn't. On the phone, Julie Falconberry told Talia about the baby boy she was adopting through Always Hope. It was a closed adoption, meaning Julie had no contact with the birth mother.

So while there is oversight and there are rules, they differ. In Michigan, Tara Lee knew what the rules were, and she flagrantly violated them. The state had even told her to stop doing adoptions, but she didn't. On the phone, Julie Falconberry told Talia about the baby boy she was adopting through Always Hope. It was a closed adoption, meaning Julie had no contact with the birth mother.

Tara Lee told her that the birth mother went into labor unexpectedly, and the baby had died minutes after birth. Julie deeply mourned the loss. She now suspected, though, it was all a lie, that Tara Lee had made up the baby and the birth mother, that it was all for money.

Tara Lee told her that the birth mother went into labor unexpectedly, and the baby had died minutes after birth. Julie deeply mourned the loss. She now suspected, though, it was all a lie, that Tara Lee had made up the baby and the birth mother, that it was all for money.

Tara Lee told her that the birth mother went into labor unexpectedly, and the baby had died minutes after birth. Julie deeply mourned the loss. She now suspected, though, it was all a lie, that Tara Lee had made up the baby and the birth mother, that it was all for money.

While Courtney listened in, Julie told Talia and Tanya about their Facebook group of Tara Lee's former clients and all their failed adoptions, a graveyard of failures. When they hung up, it was early evening in Detroit. Talia and Tanya had a million questions. This was serious. This was potentially criminal. It was also, Talia told me, personal.

While Courtney listened in, Julie told Talia and Tanya about their Facebook group of Tara Lee's former clients and all their failed adoptions, a graveyard of failures. When they hung up, it was early evening in Detroit. Talia and Tanya had a million questions. This was serious. This was potentially criminal. It was also, Talia told me, personal.

While Courtney listened in, Julie told Talia and Tanya about their Facebook group of Tara Lee's former clients and all their failed adoptions, a graveyard of failures. When they hung up, it was early evening in Detroit. Talia and Tanya had a million questions. This was serious. This was potentially criminal. It was also, Talia told me, personal.

Talia had been adopted, and she had an adopted daughter. She said Julie's accusations not only scared her, they upset her. That night, Talia remembered that Tara Lee had given her access to Always Hope's email account. She wasn't sure if the login would still work, but it did. Talia and Tanya began reading over 4,000 emails Tara Lee had sent and received from her clients.