A Virginia Beach jury has convicted a former foster father on multiple counts of sexually abusing his adopted children over several years. The verdict was reached following a four-day trial in Virginia Beach Circuit Court, where the victims, now adults, recounted abuse that began when they were as young as four years old.
Doyal Richard George, 67, was found guilty of 12 charges, including rape and aggravated sexual battery involving victims under and over the age of 13, forcible sodomy, and custodial indecent liberties. The prosecution presented testimony from the three women, who are among the over 40 children the Georges fostered since 1989 at their home near Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek Fort-Story. George, a retired service member and property owner, and his wife, Cecilia George, who was a homemaker, ran a family farm where many foster children helped with daily chores.
Several children had disclosed the abuse to Cecilia George over the years, but court testimony revealed that she frequently defended her husband and accused the girls of fabricating their stories. According to the victims, their mother also attempted to restrict unsupervised visits with their father as they grew older. The Georges allegedly pressured their children to maintain silence, instilling fear and emphasizing that family matters should not be revealed to outsiders. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan Lang described the children's reluctance to speak out as motivated by a desire to preserve the only family they knew.
George denied all allegations. His attorney, Cole Roberts, presented photographs of family celebrations and argued that the victims’ testimonies contained inconsistencies and conflicted with statements from other family members. The defense maintained that the abuse never occurred.
The abuse allegations were first reported to authorities in 2017, with additional reports made in 2020 and 2022. However, the victims initially downplayed their experiences, struggling to share the full extent due to fears of separation and placement into group homes. In 2022, George faced charges in Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court related to the abuse, but the case was dropped because the victims were not prepared to testify.
By 2026, several of the women were able to confront their father and cooperate with prosecutors. Lang noted that fear had kept the abuse secret for years, but eventually the victims chose to break their silence, allowing the case to move forward and leading to George’s conviction. Sentencing is expected to be scheduled in the coming months.