8 Shocking Truths About The Hart Family Murder-Suicide: Inside The Systemic Failure That Killed Six Children

The Hart family tragedy remains one of the most disturbing and complex cases in modern true crime history. While the initial headlines in March 2018 focused on a horrific car crash—a family of eight plunging to their deaths off a California cliff—the subsequent investigations and recent media coverage, including the book and documentary We Were Once a Family, have revealed a far more sinister and heartbreaking story of long-term child abuse and catastrophic systemic failure. As of late 2025, the conversation has shifted from the "why" of the crash to the "how" the system failed to protect six vulnerable children of color.

The intentional murder-suicide orchestrated by mothers Jennifer and Sarah Hart was not a sudden, isolated event. Instead, it was the final, devastating chapter in a years-long pattern of abuse, neglect, and manipulation that was repeatedly reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) across multiple states. The true tragedy lies in the missed opportunities to save the lives of Markis, Hannah, Devonte, Abigail, Jeremiah, and Sierra Hart, whose stories are finally being told beyond their abusers’ carefully crafted public image.

The Hart Family: A Complete Biography of the Eight Victims

The Hart family consisted of two mothers and six adopted children, two sets of three siblings adopted from Texas. The mothers meticulously curated a public image of a loving, progressive, multiracial family, often portraying their children as survivors of a difficult past. The family members who perished on March 26, 2018, were:

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• Jennifer Hart (38): The driver of the SUV and one of the two mothers responsible for the murder-suicide. Her body was recovered in the immediate aftermath of the crash.
• Sarah Hart (38): The second mother, whose body was also recovered at the scene. Toxicology reports later revealed she had a high concentration of Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) in her system.
• Markis Hart (19): The oldest adopted child. His body was found near the crash site.
• Hannah Hart (16): Her remains were identified shortly after the crash.
• Devonte Hart (15): Famous for a viral 2014 photo where he was seen tearfully hugging a police officer during a protest in Portland, Oregon. His body was never recovered, but he was declared deceased.
• Abigail Hart (14): Her remains were recovered and identified.
• Jeremiah Hart (14): His body was recovered near the crash site.
• Sierra Hart (12): The youngest child. Her remains were found on a nearby beach months after the initial incident.

The Carefully Constructed Lie: A Timeline of Abuse and Red Flags

For years, Jennifer and Sarah Hart maintained a facade of a perfect, free-spirited, homeschooling family that traveled the country attending social justice rallies. This public narrative, often shared on social media, masked a brutal reality of emotional and physical abuse behind closed doors.

The Early Years and First Reports

The first public signs of trouble emerged in 2011 when the family lived in Alexandria, Minnesota. Sarah Hart pleaded guilty to a domestic assault charge after admitting to hitting one of her daughters, Abigail, and leaving bruises. Despite this conviction, the family was able to move and continue their adoption and fostering efforts, a critical early failure of the child welfare system.

Escalating Neglect and Starvation

As the family moved to Oregon and eventually to Woodland, Washington, the abuse escalated. Neighbors and concerned parties reported severe neglect, including allegations of starvation. The children were reportedly deprived of food and isolated from the outside world, a form of control that was central to the mothers' abuse.

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The Neighbors Who Tried to Save Them

The most critical warning came just days before the crash from the family's neighbors in Woodland, Washington, Bruce and Dana DeKalb. They noticed that Devonte Hart was coming to their house, begging for food, and detailing the abuse, including being forced to hold their hands above their heads while standing in bed as punishment. The DeKalbs filed a formal complaint with the Washington State Child Protective Services (CPS) on March 23, 2018, just three days before the fatal crash.

The Systemic Failure: How CPS Reports Were Missed or Ignored

The core of the Hart family tragedy, as highlighted by recent investigations, is the catastrophic failure of the child welfare system across multiple states. This failure allowed the Harts to evade scrutiny by simply moving jurisdictions whenever an investigation became too close.

The Inter-State Loophole

The family's mobility—living in Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington—exposed a major flaw in the national child protective services network. When the Harts were reported, they would often pack up and leave, effectively resetting the investigation clock and exploiting the lack of seamless communication between state agencies.

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The We Were Once a Family Revelation

Journalist Roxanna Asgarian's book and subsequent documentary, We Were Once a Family, provided the most comprehensive and fresh look at the case, focusing not on the Harts, but on the birth families of the six adopted children. The investigation revealed that the system prioritized the narrative of "saving" children through adoption—especially for a well-off, seemingly progressive family—over the rigorous monitoring and protection of the children themselves. The book serves as a powerful indictment of a system that often fails children of color in foster care.

The Trigger for the Murder-Suicide

The final, desperate act by Jennifer and Sarah Hart was directly linked to the most recent CPS report. When the DeKalbs filed their complaint on March 23, 2018, a social worker attempted to visit the Hart home in Woodland, Washington, but found no one there. Investigators believe that the Harts, knowing they were finally cornered, chose to flee and commit the murder-suicide rather than face the consequences of their abuse and lose their children.

The Final, Tragic Drive: The Mendocino Cliff Crash

The family began their journey south, driving their 2003 GMC Yukon XL. The final moments of the Hart family unfolded on the rugged coastline of Mendocino County, California.

The Crash Details

In the early morning hours of March 26, 2018, Jennifer Hart intentionally drove the SUV off a 100-foot cliff near Westport, California, on the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1). The vehicle landed upside down on the rocks below. The bodies of Jennifer, Sarah, and three of the children were found in or near the wreckage.

Toxicology and the Coroner's Ruling

The forensic investigation revealed chilling details. Jennifer Hart's blood alcohol content was 0.102, over the legal driving limit. More disturbingly, Sarah Hart and the children had high levels of Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) in their systems, indicating they had been sedated before the crash. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and a subsequent coroner’s jury officially ruled the incident a murder-suicide, concluding that Jennifer and Sarah Hart had intentionally killed themselves and their six adopted children.

The Lasting Legacy: A Call for Child Welfare Reform

The Hart family murders have become a landmark case in the discussion of child protection and foster care reform in the United States. The shocking details—the long-term abuse, the viral photo of Devonte Hart, the cross-state evasion, and the final, intentional plunge—serve as a grim reminder of how a broken system can be manipulated by abusers.

The focus has shifted from the sensationalism of the crash to the systemic issues: the need for better communication between state Child Protective Services agencies, more rigorous post-adoption monitoring, and a deeper understanding of the manipulative tactics used by abusers. The tragic lives of Markis, Hannah, Devonte, Abigail, Jeremiah, and Sierra Hart now serve as a powerful, devastating argument for urgent and comprehensive reform of the child welfare system.