Murder of Dennis Jurgens - Dennis Arrives at The Jurgens Home

Dennis Arrives At The Jurgens Home

Just past one year of age, Dennis was placed in the Jurgens home in anticipation of an adoption after spending much of his first year in foster care where he was well-loved and cared for by an elderly woman. Almost immediately, Lois took a severe, obsessive dislike to the child, who was a normal, rambunctious, and spirited toddler- unlike Robert, who in Lois's eyes was the "good son." Harold Jurgens suggested that perhaps they should not go forward with the adoption of Dennis, but Lois refused out of concern that it would discourage the authorities from allowing them to adopt further children. Within months of Dennis' arrival, he was rushed to the hospital with first and second-degree burns on his genitalia, which were reported and accepted as accidental. The process of adopting of Dennis was completed.