US-run orphanages in Mexico closed after child sex abuse investigation
Editor’s Note: This story contains discussions of rape or sexual assault that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can find help and discreet resources on the National Sexual Assault Hotline website or by calling 1-800-656-4673.
(NewsNation) — A Christian non-profit in Missouri that has run orphanages in Mexico for fifty years was shut down after an investigation found evidence of decades of sexual abuse of children in those facilities.
The 256-page report conducted by GRACE, known as the Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment, a Virginia-based non-profit, into Ninos de Mexico (Children of Mexico), published November 12, includes claims against 20 employees citing years of sexual misconduct of minors in their care.
GRACE states it helps Christian groups confront sexual abuses. The organization says it started working on the report shortly after the St. Louis Post-Dispatch detailed alleged years-long abuse at the organization.
Background on Ninos de Mexico
Ninos de Mexico was founded in 1967 in Union, Missouri, by Merlyn and Wanda Beeman. They initially housed orphans in their home in Mexico until they found a larger facility. The charity grew over the years, with contributions coming from churches and groups across the U.S. According to the report, “Niños de México operates eight children’s homes located in the Mexico City area and in Cholula, Puebla.” The Beemans were accused of sexually abusing children under their care, going back to the creation of the organization, according to the investigation’s findings.
Claims of child sex abuse at orphanage
A survivor, only identified as “RV2,” gave an account of the claims of Wanda Beeman’s abuse.
“RV2 described a specific incident of sexual abuse by Wanda Beeman when he was around 16 or 17 years old. He found Wanda Beeman crying in the kitchen after an argument with her husband, who she claimed was going to ‘sleep with another man,’” the report says. “Wanda Beeman then hugged and kissed RV2, leading to a sexual encounter. RV2 stated this was the first of multiple such incidents, occurring more than 10 times, causing him to feel sad and depressed. He reported that he felt obligated to her because she provided for him, including school expenses, money, and special treatment such as extra food and use of the car. He felt he needed to ‘pay back’ what she had given him.”
Another survivor, identified as “W31,” said in the report that Beeman’s sexual abuse of a minor was “a secret in a loud voice.”
He told investigators there was a contrast between the biblical teachings of the orphanage and the alleged sexual misconduct of the children in the orphanage.
“This seemingly devout environment was juxtaposed with the alleged misconduct of the Beemans. W31 stated that the children were aware of the alleged sexual misconduct involving the Beemans. This created a dissonance for W31, as the religious instruction emphasized purity and good behavior, while the adults in charge were suspected of engaging in activities that directly contradicted these teachings. He described this situation as ‘a secret in a loud voice,’ suggesting that the inappropriate behavior was widely known but not openly addressed.”
The Beemans reportedly fled after Mexican authorities were alerted to claims of sex abuse against children in 1978, and no longer served as executive directors of the charity. However, the report stated the couple took between 12-13 children from Mexico back with them.
“The Beemans’ decision to take these children suggests a possible attempt to maintain control or conceal information about the situation in Mexico,” the report says.
Wanda Beeman is deceased. Merlyn refused to speak to the GRACE investigators.
After the Beemans’ departure, the abuse did not stop at the Mexico facilities. The report states that in the 1980s, a “house parent,” Fidel Nunez, sexually assaulted multiple underage females.
A male witness alerted the then-executive director, Keith Bader, about the alleged sexual misconduct against a minor female. An internal investigation by the charity was conducted, which concluded that the underage female victim was making false allegations.
“According to the witness, Fidel Nunez would give the girls small gifts and favors. The witness recalled that there were approximately 20 girls in the home. According to the witness, it was later discovered that Fidel Nunez ‘was abusing a few of the girls, the younger girls, young girls,’” the report said.
In 2023, a “house parent,” Javier Colosia, was found guilty in Mexico for the aggravated rape of two minor girls. He is serving two years in prison.
Steve Ross acted as the executive director as of 2025. Ross was accused of covering up the allegations, but was not accused of participating in the abuse.
Orphanage shuts down after ‘horrific’ investigation findings
The abuse described in the GRACE investigation concluded, “The investigation found that leadership, including multiple executive directors, consistently failed to protect children, actively concealed abuse, retaliated against whistleblowers, and in some cases, were accused of personally abusing children. This requires a complete removal of compromised leadership, a professionalization of all management roles, and the establishment of new accountability standards.”
Shortly after the investigation’s report was published, the Ninos de Mexico Board of Directors posted a message on their official website: “After reviewing the findings of this report, it is with heavy hearts that the board of Ninos de México has decided to end our ongoing ministry effective immediately.”
Read the full report here:
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