days after social workers began investigating reports the children jumped out of high WINDOWS to beg for food from neighbors, and were whipped with belts.
A lesbian couple thought to have deliberately driven off a cliff with their six children in the car fled their home on the day a case worker visited them over abuse claims.
Jennifer and Sarah Hart, both 39, and their six African-American adopted children seemingly committed suicide in Northern California in late March.
Now it has emerged that the authorities were beginning an investigation into the couple over allegations they starved and whipped their children.
Jennifer and Sarah Hart, 39, were not wearing seatbelts when they drove off a cliff. From left to right: Hannah, Abigail, Sierra, Jeremiah, Jennifer, Devonte, Markis and Sarah Hart
An intake report from Washington State's Department of Social and Health Services filed March 23 paints a picture of horrific abuse leading up to the family's annihilation.
Neighbors' reports state the parents starved their children as a punishment and whipped them with belts.
The children asked neighbors for food on numerous occasions and one even reportedly leaped out of a window to try to escape, the documents reveal.
At least four reports of suspected child abuse in the Hart family were made during the past seven years.
The case has raised questions about the ability of authorities to track known offenders as the Harts had moved between three states during that period.
Prior to the deadly crash, they were living in rural Woodland, Washington. Before that they had spent time in West Linn, Oregon, and Douglas County, Minnesota.
Their car found by Investigators believe that Jennifer drove the car off the cliff intentionally as there were no skid marks and evidence shows the speedometer was 'pinned' at 90mph
At least four reports of suspected child abuse in the Hart family were made during the past seven years.
The case has raised questions about the ability of authorities to track known offenders as the Harts had moved between three states during that period.
Prior to the deadly crash, they were living in rural Woodland, Washington. Before that they had spent time in West Linn, Oregon, and Douglas County, Minnesota.
Steve Frkovich, whose daughter Dana DeKalb, 58, lived next door to the family in Washington, reported the Harts on November 18.
A recording of his 911 call was released by Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency in Washington State.
He told the cops 16-year-old Hannah Hart had fled from her home at 2am and begged his daughter to hide her.
His daughter told the girl's parents what had happened and all the Hart children came over and said everything was okay, said Frkovich.
'There are some kids that I feel are being highly abused,' he told the dispatcher.
'They were all standing at attention, like they were all scared to death. I think something very serious is going on.'
On March 23, DeKalb notified the department that she believed the children were being abused, according to media interviews and state records.