Casa By the Sea

casa by the sea, wwasp, troubled teen program, abuse

Casa By the Sea

Casa By the Sea in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico was opened in 1998 by Dace Goulding (formerly of Paradise Cove).
Many allegations of physical abuse, maltreatment, sexual abuse and human rights violations have been reported by former students of Casa By the Sea.
CBS had significant ties to High Impact, in Tecate Mexico, routinely sending casa kids to High Impact and employing several former High Impact staff (including it’s owners) after it was raided and closed by Mexican authorities in 2002.
Casa By The Sea was raided and closed on September 10, 2004, in a joint action of Mexican Federale Police and the American FBI. At the time of closure there were 538 students enrolled. The official reason for closure was reported to be the illegal use of an illegitimate pharmacy and use of expired medications. After the closing, U.S. Congressional Rep. George Miller claimed the closure was the ninth-such closure of WWASP programs.
Never charged with any criminal action, later in 2004 Dace Goulding would move back to the U.S. and help open a facility in Georgia called Darrington Academy (now closed). Jason Finlinson, former director, moved to New York to open Academy at Ivy Ridge (now closed). Jade Robinson former administrator, moved to California to try to open a program named Bell Academy. Due to strict regulations in California, Bell Academy was denied licensing which forced Robinson to move the program to Amargosa Valley Nevada where he opened Horizon Academy. After an investigation by Nye County (Nevada) CPS in 2011, Horizon Academy was suddenly re-located to Utah and up until 2012 shared the same buildings as Cross Creek Manor/ Center. In 2012 Cross Creek and Horizon merged to create Youth Foundation Success Academy, which voluntarily closed in 2013.
The Casa By the Sea facility is currently for sale

Staff

Dace Goulding
Owner of Casa By The Sea and co-owner of High Impact. First worked for Paradise Cove in Samoa. After CBS was closed in 2004 Goulding along with an old High School buddy Rich Darrington, opened another program called Darrington Academy in Blue Ridge Georgia. Darrington Academy was closed and criminal charges were pressed against Rich Darrington, for assault and battery of a minor. At some point he was working in a public school, but currently Goulding reports to be coaching Little League ”Back in St. George”, which is only about 20 miles away from the Cross Creek Property in La Verkin.
 
Jason Finlinson
Jason Finlinson first became involved with WWASP when he served as Director of Casa By The Sea. During his tenures at both Casa and Ivy Ridge, Jason was known for his harsh, strict, disciplinarian style. As Administrator of the boys side of CBS, Finlinson was responsible for running a brutal program that systematically abused, deprived and tormented children. He has been accused of rape of a teenage girl and countless incidents of assault and battery. In 2001, he left CBS in order to move to New York and open the Academy at Ivy Ridge. Ivy Ridge was closed in 2009.
 
 
Jade Robinson
Jade Robinson started his career in behavior modification as a staff member of WWASP’s Cross Creek Manor in Utah and later  Spring Creek Lodge in Montana, until he left to help start Casa By the Sea in Ensenada, Mexico. As Administrator of both the girls and boys side of  Casa By the Sea, Robinson was in charge during the time period of several reported cases of  abuse and maltreatment of the students of CBS including violent restraints, rape and other forms of sexual abuse, refusing proper medical care and denying access to school by forcing kids to endure 8 hour stretches of detention for days, weeks, and even months in a row.  Jade was part of a staff team directly responsible for transferring kids from CBS to High Impact, a brutal boot camp co-owned by Dace Goulding. Around 2003 he attempted to open a program called Bell Academy in California which was swiftly shut down due to licensing issues. Casa by the Sea was shut down in 2004 citing issues with operating an illegitimate pharmacy. Robinson is the current owner and director of Horizon Academy, which was originally opened in the Amargosa Valley Nevada however is now re-opened on the Cross Creek Manor/ Cross Creek Center property, in La Verkin Utah (Owned by WWASP head, Robert Lichfield). In 2012 Horizon and Cross Creek merged and was renamed Youth Foundation Success Academy. Jade Robinson resigned from Youth Foundation shortly before it was closed in October of 2013.
 
Luke Hallows
As Administrator at Casa by the Sea, Hallows participated in, ordered, endorsed, excused and covered up multiple incidents of abuse. Usually pitting upper levels against lower levels, he not only encouraged the violent ways of the program but he was also responsible for the abuse placed upon the whole facility in enacting “code red”, forcing all students to sit in stress positions, walk in circles and remain on complete code silence for weeks at a time. He is also responsible for upholding a facility in violation of many health codes and maintaining a lack of ethical standards of care for the students of CBS. He currently lives in Sahaurita, Arizona and works at a Arivaca Boys Ranch , an equine program for teen boys.
 
Miguel Rodriguez
Co-Owner and Director of High Impact. Originally worked at Casa by The Sea with his wife, Allie Hernandez. This man is a pedophile and a very violent individual, He is also the mastermind behind the infamous dog cages and the man who would sit on top of kids as they were being restrained in painful arm/ leg locks and stress positions. He has been accused of several major crimes against children at High Impact including assault, rape and attempted murder. Conditions at High Impact were said to be “deplorable” by the Mexican and American authorities that raided and shut down the compound in 2002. Survivors describe High Impact as a boot camp incorporating a  multitude of unreasonable restrictions, excessive exercise and a constant barrage of verbal, and physical attacks. After the closing both Miguel and his wife Ali Hernandez were invited to come back to work for Casa By the Sea, where Miguel was responsible for more assaults on students and Ali assisted in the admissions department. Miguel Rodriguez and Ali Hernandez currently live in Ensenada Mexico.

Survivor Testimony

The Real Casa Blog Spot
Captivity By The Sea – Chelsea F.
Ashley’s story, 2004
Christina’s story, 2004
Philipe’s story, 2004
“Poems about WWASPS” – Anon, 2004
Ben’s story, 2003
Alix’s story, 2003
“American Child, Mexican Prisoner – Casa by the Sea”, Carly, 2002
Sarah’s story, 2001
Jennifer’s story, 2001
“The worse experience of my life” – Melanie, 1999
Ramey’s story, 1999
“The lessons I learned at CBS” – Sarah, 1999
“WWASPS Experiences” – Anon, undated
Eric’s story, undated
Myles’s story, undated
Allison’s story, undated
Troy’s story, undated
Jennifer’s story, undated

Gallery

[nggallery id=5]

178 Comments

  1. Drew

    Chelsea i love this site. I hope you are well!

    Reply
    • Daniel

      I was there 01/99-01/01. Justice family. Ran into someone years back that said there was a class action suit against casa. But never heard more. In answer to high impact. It was affiliated. It was run by efrin. Who was Miguel before Miguel. He also aided in some of the transportation to facility in my case

      Reply
      • David

        My name is David Bush, I was there most of 99, I can’t remember what family I was in but I remember having to stand nut to butt, flying death, despair, r&r, sleeping in the hallway and Jason roughing me up one time. I remember the seminars where we had one chance to convince them that we were changed and ready to go to next level. They made me and other male kids shave our legs and wear dresses one time too and it was fucking weird but he had to act all happy and like we were “accepting the program”.

        Reply
        • Anthony Laccetti

          I had a good friend named david there, any chance it was you? I think my father was miguel, not sure what the family name was either.

          Reply
            • Dennis Murray

              Anthony Lacetti , you’re from New York right ? You were my upper level who showed me the “ropes” so to speak . Miguel absolutely was the “father” then Nestor if I recall correctly . My names Dennis Murray , I was from and still reside in
              Northern ny.

              Reply
            • Angela webb

              I was at casa 2000 through 2002 also at high impact for 6 weeks where I almost died. To this day I can’t look at a dog cage without flashbacks of the 20lb bag of sand I had to eat sleep and run with 24/7 and the cage I was forced into. It gives me some relief knowing this place was shut down but I wish more was done for us victims.

              Reply
              • Brenda Lara

                I was at casa in 2003 for 7 months

                Reply
            • Ian ueda

              My names Ian ueda I was at casa 01 to 03 I’m sorry I blocked out what fam I was from any body that remembers me please reach out would love to find old friends that where made at that horror house you few that I made there was the only reason it was bearable hope everybody has found a way to succeed from this trauma we dealt with

              Reply
        • Nate

          This is absolutely wild…I graduated and was picked up by my parents in February 2004! Casa by the sea was worse than any prison or jail I’ve been in since.

          Reply
        • Ian ueda

          My names Ian ueda I was at casa 01 to 03 I’m sorry I blocked out what fam I was from any body that remembers me please reach out would love to find old friends that where made at that horror house you few that I made there was the only reason it was bearable hope everybody has found a way to succeed from this trauma we dealt with

          Reply
      • Dustin Jorgenson

        I was at casa by the Sea I was the first group of kids there as it was supposed to be all levels only but soon after Jade came to the property, things changed, and a handful of us rebuild against him that cost us to be sent home and removed from the program.

        Reply
    • Nate

      This is absolutely wild…I graduated and was picked up by my parents in February 2004! Casa by the sea was worse than any prison or jail I’ve been in since.

      Reply
      • Anonymous

        Was Don Lewis working here?

        Reply
    • Barseg Joseph

      I was there in 98-99. I was in freedom family . Two names that I remember that were in my family are Chris Evan’s and Nick Fredricksom , they were both in trouble all the time . My buddy when I first got there was Blake . Arturo was my families “father”.

      Reply
  2. dan

    You forgot mike chism

    Reply
    • robert stanislowski

      was there from march 10 2002 till may 8th 2003 never forget the hell i went through there i was in the boys group loyalty

      Reply
      • Yong

        I wanna sue Dace and jason. For the torture I went through and brain washing that still haunts me today. Can anyone give me any information on how I can at least financially punish these guys for the abuse I went through?

        Reply
  3. Kayla

    Wow…does this bring me back memories of CASA. was there 98-99 hated the place. For years after being out of the programs I would have dreams of being there left by my family, dreams of never being able to leave….I hated those dreams.

    Reply
    • Rob

      I had the same kinds of dreams for years and years… Where you wake up heart pounding and realize you’re not there. I had dreams I was back, all kinds of nightmares after I got out.

      Reply
      • Lawless1

        I had a friend that was there for 18 months… the stories are absolutely terrifying and proof of a bigger problem especially seeing how none are in jail and after talking to a private investigator they are all either Zionist Jews or mormon mafia types they have multiple businesses and shadyness a plenty. Anyone know if they are still investigating these accusations or is it just in limbo for litigation or some type of court order?

        Reply
      • Anthony oleas

        I was also here in 2002 and i still have the worst memories. I have been to prison twice. But it left me lost in life.

        Reply
      • John Doe July/30/2000 -oct/21/2001

        I can give witness testimony against slamming 12 year old boy, breaking his arm, LGBTQ abuse & rape, intentionaI food poisoning, ….they are mormon MANIACS!!!!! WE have contact with,72 others, is someone going to form a class action because

        Reply
    • Melissa

      Kayla, weren’t you pulled out by your parents? If so, we were really good friends there. I think about you sometimes and wonder how you are doing.

      Reply
      • Courtney ligman

        Does anybody remember right before casa closed when we got a new administrator and his wife did the girls side work outs? They had came from bell academy his name was Ryan her name escapes me.

        For some reason when they came from Bell after it closed down, and they had no affiliation prior to coming there with the gouldings or Darrington, I have always believed they were undercover had played a part it closing both bell and casa but can’t find any record of them anywhere.

        Casa 2002-2004 closing

        Reply
        • Parx

          Dace Goulding works at my school in souther utah at crimson cliff middle school he seems nice I had no idea he did this

          Reply
        • M Nguyen

          I vaguely remember this as I was in Casa by the Sea in 2004 and was there when the Mexican Feds and the FBI raided this place and closed it down.

          The female I think youre talking about was helping us with our “work out” time outside.

          I vaguely remember a family coming with their really young kids.

          What family were you in?

          Reply
    • Michael McKinley

      My close friend was in that fucked up program. I can not believe that none of staff members are not in jail. I can’t believe that are system are government has let them even be working at any facility that works with children or troubled teens. After being accused of child abuse , neglect, and rap. WTF they should be hung or shot , even torcherd something should be done about this, this is bullshit. If I ever see any one of those people I’m going to kiddnape them and dose them than put them in a wooden casket and burry them alive so when they wake up they will realize where there at 6’ft under ground then I will taunt them I’d have a funnel going right to there mouth so 8 could hear them cry for help and something to drink as I piss down the funnel. Anyways yep

      Reply
      • Ninth Grader at CCMS

        Dace Goulding is currently teaching in Saint George, Ut. He is a Geography teacher for the ninth grade. Several of my peers have told me about uncomfortable encounters with him; but, there is not enough “evidence for any sort of enforcement from the Washington County School District. From what I have read in this article, I cannot imagine how terrible the experiences the people who attended there experienced. I hope true justice is served soon, as he does not deserve another breath on this planet.

        Reply
        • Bill Boyles

          We did contact the school district several years ago with our stories and evidence, but got nowhere.

          Reply
        • Anonymous

          Really? He shouldnt be allowed the step within so many yards of a school…but hes teaching in one?!

          Reply
    • Melissa A Baker

      You were one of my closest friends while I was there! I hope you see this. Would love to catch up.

      Reply
    • Melody

      Can we sue our parents for sending us there for trauma and therapy expenses?

      Reply
    • Crystal

      The man I am currently dating was held here for 2 years after he spent months in a Utah boy’s camp. He denies ever having been abused or molested in any way but the look on his face and the sorrow in his voice when he speaks about it suggest otherwise. It took me over a year just to get him to tell me about some of his experience.

      Reply
      • Rachel G.

        Please reach out to me! My husband was there in 2001ish. He has the same thing going on.
        Rgalabiz86@gmail.com

        Reply
        • Rj

          It’s there any way to get my files from Casa by the Sea? I was there in 2001 ish. I was 16 turned 17 in that hell

          Reply
      • Shelby

        Does anyone know a guy who went to casa by the sea named Aaron Gilliam?

        Reply
  4. Freya

    99-01…..frak my life the memories from this hell hole….I have nightmares of my torturous experiences there to this very day…

    Reply
  5. wesley lay

    I was threatned by Luke Hallows to be sent to High Impact. They say they had no relation to HI but I know first hand kids were sent from casa to HI. I was also threatned by him the first day I got there. He said something I cant remember but it was phsyical

    Reply
  6. Alexis

    I.hated.that place

    Reply
    • Erik

      I remember you.

      Reply
  7. Anon

    Who remembers the R & R room with the white tile floors. Hog tied the very first day in that room. Cried like a baby. Will never forget.

    Reply
    • Moni

      Sue them all. I saw a documentar on Netflix. It’s very sad. In 99 I was student in the high school in front of casa by the sea. I remembered that I saw some grup. I hope You guys csm find peace

      Reply
  8. Lacy Ballard

    These photos make my stomach turn… so many unspeakable things happened behind those gates… I cired until I threw up so many times. I hope Integrity house woman are still strong… My parayers are with anyone who was ever behind those gates.

    Reply
    • Heather

      Hi Lacey, I just found this site today. I was in Integrity house with you. My name is Heather. I was there from 2001-2002.

      Reply
    • Courtney

      Lac you were one of my closest casa friends, I think of you a lot. Find me on FB or email me Courtneyannligman@gmail.com

      Reply
    • Caiti Kingsbury

      Lacey! I’m pretty sure I was there with you too. I just found this out today. Any survivors please find me on Facebook. My name is Caiti Kingsbury-Frew. There they annoyingly called me Katie-Elizabeth. I was in your house. There from 2000 to 2001. I remember you. They gave you a hard time about having tattooed eyeliner because they were too dumb to realize it wasn’t makeup.

      Reply
  9. Erica Dollins

    I will write a book one day about the things that happened here. They are burned so vividly in my mind and will forever stay there. I was there when it got shut down, it was so amazing just to be able to talk with everyone that went threw it with me even though there was so much going on around us, all we felt was overwhelming joy just to know that it was over <3 The only good thing about this place was that moment where I got to talk to all of the souls without a third or a level attached to us.

    Reply
    • Taylor Niskala

      Erica, I was there too the night it got shut down, I was just talking to my dad and stepmom about it and what it was like that night. I too remembering being able to talk to whoever, it becoming a complete shit show and people slowly leaving as their parents got them. I was only there for 5 months and was in the Odysey.

      Reply
      • Maxine

        I think I was in Odyssey as well. I forgot the counselors name but I remember people saying we had the best counselor who didnt talk to us like “devil” children.

        Reply
  10. Eric

    I was there from 2000 to 2002. I try to find old friends from time to time, but I cannot seem to find anyone. It’s scary to think about what that place did to us, what ways our personalities were altered. I’m sorry we had to go through it, feel free to contact me if you want to talk to someone who was there, just reply to this comment.

    Reply
    • Judd Marmor

      Justice then honor family here. Email anybody if you like. Jaymarmor@aol.com

      Reply
    • Rob

      2000-2002 Bold Family then Honor for upper

      Reply
      • Mike

        I remember you!! I think you were my big brother when I showed up there for the first couple days. I was in bold family 00-01… B#3

        Reply
    • Kevin Bauersfeld

      Don’t know if you will ever see this. I was there 99-00. Freedom family.

      Reply
  11. miki

    was there for its closing….. ill never forget…. i still dream about it…..

    Reply
    • John Cooley

      Was in honor family worst unit there but I low key had some fun other than poncho breaking my nose and scaring my body from slamming me on the assfault Jeff raney should be on here he was in honor with me and he is the one that got cps called down there he had a black eye for a month and was raped up in intervention I’ve never forgot the closing of casa and I will never forgot my brothers in honor family especially u Jeff raney I know ur moms sent u to a diff facilicity but u saved us bro I owe u so much my boy and got mad love and respect for u always and I got love for anyone that was there during the closing and before we all went thru hell and survived it God is good and we are survivors never forget that we are a part of history all of us

      Reply
  12. Jerry kankelborg

    Did over two years in that pit uh hell. Got out and got into drugs. The program made me into a self imploding ball of rage. It seems like my life has spiraled out of control since that fateful day in late October, 1998. If I could say one thing to parents considering the program it is this – run away.

    Reply
    • Tiffany

      I miss you and if you’ll let me I will be there for better or worse

      Reply
  13. Judd Marmor

    I was there. That place was terrible and so was every person who’s picture is on this article. True scumbags in every sense of the word.

    Reply
  14. Will green

    I was in prestige family. Did 16 months. Was a happy man when I left. Spent all 16 months level 2 couldent brain wash enogh I guess. Towards the end of my stay there I was placed in RnR for weeks for wishing to leave on my 18th birthday. Ruff times. Like prisoner of war stuff. I testified in court about what casa by the sea was up to in there. I like to think I helped close the place down. Every horror story I had was told in the court room.

    Reply
    • dustin newman

      i was there for quite awhile myself. i will never forget anything that happened there and having to lie about myself just to try and get through the levels. I mostly remained between 1 and 2 the entire time. It was definitely a giant nightmare, and I cannot honestly say it has ended.

      Reply
      • tony pickrell

        I believe I remember you Dustin. I was in bold family 98-00. It would be great to hear from you and your experience. I was there a yr b4 being transferred to tranquility bay. I was able to keep those memories tucked away for a long time, but recently I’ve been haunted by nightmares of the time I was there. Reliving the past in my dreams has conjured up alot of anger and difficulty coping. I’m pretty sure its PTSD. Nonetheless feel free to contact me. Tpick131@gmail.com

        Reply
  15. Whitney Saunders

    I was there from 2001-2003 (20 months) they couldn’t brainwash me apparently. Most horrible time in my life. I still have nightmares and I just wish there was some way to stop these places. I am in the RCIA program to join the Catholic Church and there is a lady in it with me who just told me that she sent her daughter away in May to a boarding school (run by Mormons) in either CO or AZ – I don’t remember which – but it sounded exactly like a WWASP school. I told her to please pull her daughter now and she said “but she’s doing so good there” . It’s like parents just can’t believe that horrible places for kids exist!!! I just can’t keep seeing this woman every Sunday knowing that her poor daughter is suffering the way we all had. Any advice? I don’t want the woman to hate me for speaking up but I can’t just not do anything! whitsaunders@live.com is my email for anyone who needs to talk

    Reply
    • Val Page

      My son was in this program and at Casa for a year, 2003-2004. I asked him many times if he ever thought he was abused at this school and he never once said he was. He is doing so well today and has a son of his own. Everything I read in this forum talks bad about the staff and hasn’t got one positive thing to say. I believe this program saved my son’s life and he thanked me many times for placing him in this program. Nothing is perfect. If he kept on the path he was living at 17, and didn’t attend CASA and Spring Creek he may not be alive today. I am grateful that my son turned his life around with CASA as a stepping stone in the right direction.

      Reply
      • Bill Boyles

        So, you figure that you know all the facts and ALL the other people on here are lying? Typical program parent. There’s a seminar phrase that applies here (ironically): “Lying to yourself and believing it.”

        Reply
        • TJ

          Thank you Bill. The only two kinds of people of that came from these places are people who were physically tortured and the people who witnessed physical torture. Period.

          Reply
    • Ryan Lovell

      Are you please contact me I got a question to ask you I was there from August 98 to August 99

      Reply
  16. Joseph

    I have nightmare about this place all the time myself. I was there 13 years ago for 14 months.
    This place is what you call hell on earth. Being there is worse than being a POW. They deprive you of all human rights, and strip all of your identity. A brainwashing facility that benefit no childhood growth. In fact it ruins them for life.
    This place surely traumatized me for life.

    Reply
    • Mike nelson

      Seriki?

      Reply
    • Matty

      Hey Joe, looking to reconnect with you.
      -Matty

      Reply
  17. cedric

    i have mixed feelings on the place. i mean i hated the place itself but at the same time i think it helped me figure out the kind of person i wanted to be.

    Reply
    • Mike nelson

      Anyone remember
      honor family 99

      Reply
  18. James Z

    I was once assaultes by Miguel Rodriguez when I was 15. After refusing to sit indian style in a corner in a corner any longer, (I had been in that position for three days at that point, stopping only to sleep) Miguel rushed me with the aid of three other apoyos, slammed my head into the ground repeatedly, and dislocated both of my shoulders. I remember moving my fingers and thinking I was touching his beard, before realizing my knuckles were actually touching the hair on back of my head. When I finally rejoined the main group four days later, I was still visibly beaten up. It may seem kind of silly, but before the four men completely overwhelmed me I did manage to actually land a single blow on Miguel. To this day one of my proudest memories is the fact that I actually punched Miguel Rodriguez in the face.

    Reply
  19. Pooya john Moridi

    I was level 5 and on the student council when this place shut down. I had a California warrant for my arrest and was arrested by the Mexican police the day it shut down. Lots of crazy bad memories I’ll never forget. Moridi.John@yahoo.com if you wanna email me! Good Luck to everyone.

    Reply
  20. Jessica McCauley

    I am looking for any kind of information and help I can find in regards to Casa by the Sea. My boyfriend spent time there and in High Impact over 10 years ago and is still experiencing flashbacks among many other issues due to his treatment there. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply
    • Bill Boyles

      I’d be happy to help in any way I can. If you’d like to know more about what casa was like on a day-to-day basis for those of us who lived through it, I would suggest reading through the links under the article to the submitted stories/testimonies of those who attended. You’ll find the links in orange. That may help you understand what your boyfriend went through. I’d also be willing to talk to either you or he about it. I went to casa from August 1999 to April 2000.

      Reply
  21. Anon

    I was a member of the original 10 kids to ever set foot in Casa By The Sea as a program. I had just endured 2 years in friggen hell from Paradise Cove in Samoa. I’m sure you all heard stories of what happened there. Only the boys from 95-99 will know what I mean. Imagine HIgh Impact for EVERYBODY. lol Every level one had to go to Latiara into the level one families. Brutal.
    Anyway, the first group of 10 at Casa was all upper levels from Samoa and Jamaica in transition. Dace was actually cool to us at Casa, probably because we were only there to help him do some bullshit to set shit up as part of “transition”. Basically another bullshit reason to extort more money from the parents. He was a dick in Samoa though. The whole place wasn’t even built yet so I have no clue what you guys had to go through once everything was set up. All we did was swim and workout and hang out with the girls all day. We didn’t do shit in transition except help Dace with random moving of boxes and other dumb stuff. Then we bounced before the lower levels got there.
    The pictures I see look completely different from when I got there in 98. Wow.

    Reply
    • Rachelle Rosenthal

      Hi. I would like to help. When I first visited this page I was hesitant to even write about my experience. The mere verbalization of it is extremely difficult. When we as human beings experience trama such as this, remembering it leaves us almost paralyzed in our own mind and to nervous to find the words to express the rapid imagry in our minds. To us this experience is reality, to others it may seem like a movie we once saw therefore leaving us doubted once again by those we love the most, displacing our sense of assurance. I guess the behavior modification worked. In conclusion, this was a shitty expirience, the nightmares pass. Just let him know you don’t doubt him and remind him that he is an individual and not to doubt himself.

      Reply
    • David

      If anyone knows how to get a copy of the HS diploma email me d_dawg09@yahoo.com

      Reply
  22. Emily

    My husband endured 3 years at high impact in tecate.
    He was forced to work out till he threw up then had to eat his throw up.
    Got stabbed in the jaw with a fork by a staff member.
    My husband suffers from ptsd due to the child abuse.
    He was sent at age 15.
    I would love to sue these people if they haven’t been murdered yet…

    Reply
  23. Heather Fisher

    @ CBS from April 1999 to August 2000…..I was an upper level when we were on lock down, and Courage became the “no-name” family. I am not going to respond to a lot of what I am reading here, but I would like to reconnect with some of the close friends that i did make.
    Life sure has taken us all in very different directions.

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Heather, we were in there together. My name is Melissa Baker. I graduated I think it was in May at PC18.

      Reply
      • Erik

        I remember you from a seminar.

        Reply
        • Alexis

          Alexis Seath and I remember courage not having a name, brittney Hensley was in your family. We were friends from home both sent there, I came like a month after her.

          Reply
          • Krissy O’Neill

            Heather I believe we were there at the same time. My parents took me out in May 2000.

            Reply
    • Melissa

      Heather, we were in there together. My name is Melissa Baker. I graduated I think it was in May 2000 at PC18. Lower level esteem family and made it to level 6 right before graduation.

      Reply
  24. Devin Miller

    lol Casa by the Sea, I guess it basically goes like: this was not some random philosophical boarding school, i guess Ill lever know what it was all about?? Mexico is like a kingdom if you speak Spanish and you like it hot. Wow that was like 15 years ago I was there that’s so long. Yea well, I only wish the whole western world could understand the philosophy taught in there. Justice fam!!

    Reply
    • aznbkoi

      Casa sucked I was there Nov 1998 to April 2000..started diligent family then freedom.family was made…to be honest the food was good…homemade tamales…soapes…homemade spaghetti with garlic bread….apple fritter doughnuts…fish tacos…there wasn’t a lot of food but it was good…I went in there a gang member…n left a angry gang member for years I blamed all my actions on casa n my parents for sending me there….now I’m 31 years old n gave been to prison for 12 years off and on…shot people…murder investigations…major drug traffucking…etc..at some point of my life I was considered a high violent dangerous career criminal…now I live legit n a good life…all in all when I was there no rapes or torches occurred..yes staff did r n r I got roughed up a couple times badly..had to shit n pee myself in r n r position but grow up that stuff happens in juvenile detention too …n adult prison way way worse I’ve seen men get raped n murdered in prison by prison guards!!! Point being is yea case sucked yea our parents should have never sent us there but man up get over it!! Everyone makes there own choices ..if u live a horrible life n Blane it on the past then ur letting the past control you…if u are an alcoholic n say it’s from casa..then ur in essence letting casa control you n win…beat casa n dace n Jason by succeeding don’t let them or the past control you…the past is nothing the past has no color size or shape or substabce..the past is only a big deal.if u make it a big deal..n still even if u make UT a big deal it isn’t it’s just a figment of ur imagination ….get over it …no one or nothing controls ur actions except urself…..like I said fir years I hated my family n casa n wanted to hurt them n believe me wuth the connections I gave it was one phone call away …but I’ve made peace with it…n them…my family loves me n it’s not their fault they fell victim.to manipulation tactics so don’t be mad at ur parents…they were scared n felt that was the best option to send us there…most of u sound like spoiled brats whining n complaining over exaggerating casa…maybe I realized this cus I’ve spent 12 years in maximum security prisons were real torches occurs..idk email if u want aznbkoi@gmail.com

      Reply
      • kf

        A lot of us entered in to casa by the sea as kids that were doing normal teenage stuff. It sounds like you made the choice to become a hardened criminal. If casa was marketed to parents as a therapeutic help center, then abuse should never have existed in a program like that. Yes, abuse happens in prisons and jails, which is expected. If your family shells out over 30K annually to go to a program like this, abuse shouldn’t be in the equation. There’s no justification.

        Reply
      • Erik

        Just because u went to prison don’t mean people went effected by the lrograms. It just means u went to prison.

        Reply
      • TJ

        Aznbkoi, you are full of something, I wouldnt say its sh@t that you’re full of or air. Either way, dude, you were an upper level? Police. You are most likely a snitch. Let me guess, you should have a life sentence right? Woooo big and bad. Chump. You got out of a life sentence because you testified against someone. That’s all you are. Are you in a witness protection program now? Good for you. Safety first.

        Reply
      • Michele C

        Hmm…I like you.

        Reply
  25. cameron

    Was a member of the the boys group loyalty up until the raid where I ended up getting transferred to Midwest Academy in Iowa…hated everything about casa by the sea except friday night tortas and wed spaghetti with white sauce..every other day had to make sure to pick the rocks out of the beans….

    Reply
  26. A_Mom

    I have a question for those of you who were sent to Casa. I took my daughter there. She was skipping school, had gotten into legal trouble, wouldn’t work, stole from everyone in the household including the family vehicles. Drugs and boys etc. I thought the Casa program was a way for her to learn that she wasn’t entitled to whatever she wanted. Not a military school. Obviously that was not the case but I want to know from those of you who were sent, what other option do parents have? What do you think we should/could have done?

    Reply
    • Survivor's friend

      Are you kidding, “mom”? Do you endorse the abuse and torture of a child? Your child? If a teen is caught breaking the law, there are consequences within the law. But places like casa are unregulated torture chambers that do near permanent damage to a person for life. I say “near” because, with counseling and love, there is hope and healing for the survivors. I’m not sure about the emotional/psychological damage to those parents that made the mistake allowing their children to undergo this abuse.

      Reply
    • Erik

      I was there for 27 months. I was smoking pot and failing school before I went. If u personally went yourself maybe you would know why there are so many fucked up survivors. U could have done lots of things you just are most likely square.

      Reply
  27. Ricardo Flores

    Was there from 1999-2002. Never reached level three. Lol I always thought the shit they tried to teach was bullshit. I’m sure all the staff remember me. I was a pain in the ass and I didn’t give a fuck how long I had to be there. Sat on level one majority of the time. Wendy was my group therapist and she wasn’t educated for shit. Not to mention she always came in with no panties and a dress on lol. Arturo was a pic of shit. Daze was a clown I hope the worse for him and his family. Luke wasn’t that bad to me he was pretty cool. Jason was a muscle head bitch who always tried to scare the little ones. Nothing they could do to me could break me. Years later I live in D.C. More successful then any of those fucking clowns.

    Reply
    • Caiti Kingsbury

      Good for you. I wonder if we ever met in seminar?

      Reply
      • Addison Soebbing

        I was there from 2/22/02 to 6/30/03
        And actually graduated. If there is anyone out there that was there at this time comment and let me know I would love to talk to you.

        Reply
        • Erik C

          I remember you bro. You have reddish hair, I think we may have been in the same family at one point or something. Respect then beacon for me. Maybe it was just seminars. As I write this I’m pretty sure we had the first seminar together and I remember sitting in the hall doing homework with you. I was there Feb 17 of 02 to December 03. Transferred to pacific view after Arturo dropped me from level 4 to level 2. One of the two brothers (Hamilton may be there names, one was John) was cool with Arturo but Arturo hated me and John made a joke about me horse playing during Christmas fireworks and I was permanently dropped to journey family. I think Arturo classified it as violence or physical intimidation. I turned 18 like 2 weeks later and was gonna take my 50$ and a ride to the boarder. The dude who ran PV offered to let me go over there and bumped me back to level 4 and eventually I graduated and was on our student council etc.

          Reply
  28. aznbkoi

    Ridiculous. ..you people are ridiculous. ..NO RAPES OR TOrcHER OCCURRED AT CASA…u guys n girls r spoiled brats..pussys…whining about shit that never happened. ..it’s a shame to see how irresponsible u all r

    Reply
    • WWASP Survivors

      Obviously I don’t have to tell you how disrespectful this is. I’m sure you know, and I’m sure that’s why you said it. But I will tell you, these things did occur. I as well as several other members of this site know from personal experience. Just because you didn’t see it, or may somehow justify it, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

      Reply
      • Rachelle

        I was separated from the underage teens. I was underage. I was left in my own trailer. Each night I heard the screams of these girls being rapped over and over.

        Reply
  29. aznbkoi

    I was there 2 years 98 to 2000 N NONE OF DAT SHIT HAPPENED…quit whining…what mommy n daddy sent u to casa from your suburban home n handwashing clothes was to much for you…waaa waaa. Get over it…food was good n life lessons taught were good too.. u kids r just spoiled rich kids

    Reply
    • Erik

      Is this Scott uchida?? Derek chu??

      Reply
    • Buddha

      I was in Valor same time you were there i think most times we kicked it was in sick bed (room) and yea ppl got their ass whooped but none of that torture shit went on and reason late ass reply had a dream bout the place. But the place was haunted that was the only thing that was scary other then that shit was easy gotta learn the system

      Reply
    • TJ

      Hey! We got one still brainwashed over here!

      Reply
      • Bill Boyles
    • PenHor

      Fuck you

      Reply
  30. Erik

    They wouldn’t let me into sick bay once because they had a full room and didn’t want to open another even though all they would have to do is have two upper levels watch it. I had a fever of 102. Hell.

    Reply
  31. Nameless

    My fiance suffered 8 years in prison because of this nightmare. He is now diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and severe depression. He was there between 2001-2003. I was told by him all about R&R , listening to crazy tapes, laying on the floor in urine and feces. Is there still a lawsuit for this piece of shit place? Almost everyone who has been there seemed to have severe trauma after and horrible life experiences. My fiancé is a good person, with a huge heart and he has suffered tremendously then was told to “get over it”. How can you harbor these traumas with no one who cares to listen…
    melanie001203@yahoo.com
    If anyone has information, I’d like to know if legal action could be pursued?

    Reply
    • Erik

      If he was there in 2001 I know him.

      Reply
  32. Yolis

    So guys, why you arrived to that place?…
    Casa by the Sea was an inferno! it was something like a prison
    But in same way, this guys were an inferno to their parents and families!
    I heard some cases of guys that were in the Casa by the Sea, and really were scary stories…all very hard to believe.
    Is bad that so young guys had to pass for this traumatic experience but for something were there..
    I hope that the people that made so much damage to the guys, have paid for that, but i think the mexican authorities received some bribe and nothing happened.
    The important thing is that this guys that lived in that center, could learned the lesson, that is better to be good, respectful than doing troubles… the respect have the be gained….. is a bad, and hard way to get matured… i have learned that lesson in my own head too when i was young…not hearing my parents…
    Blessings!

    Reply
    • Broke_It

      Fuck you and your broken english. Is this Miguel? We were sent to a place that had no business even existing. What difference does the reason make?

      Reply
  33. greenleafcrew

    hey guys. I had a friend who went to Casa. some of the stories are fucking crazy and sad. I feel for yall man. listen I am trying to get as much info as I can about this place. I want to ask so many questions. the reason is I am trying to get a script that actually works. I want to expose WWASP for what it is and does. I know its painful for you guys but if you can help me out I would really fucking appreciate it. I just got lots of questions to make this work the way I want. I will give yall credit if you want. Let me know ok?
    email me if you’re interested, mikeyhalsey@gmail.com

    Reply
  34. Rachelle Rosenthal

    I was a survivor. The program was closed while I was still there. I told them it was illegal to harbor a us citizen beyond their consent. They replied “your parents don’t want you” I said no shut…” So I was locked in a small dark room for days freezing with no food water or blanket. Finally someone from casa came said get your stuff we are dropping you at the border. The man who drove me began to place his hand on my thigh. He rubbed up my leg. Frozen in terror I attempted to ask questions to distract him until I could jump out of the van…. When I was there I would hear screaming each night from other girls. Worst of all I was a very good teenager . I never did a drug or anything illegal. My mother had a drug problem . My father the lawyer convinced me that my home was unstable which it was, and he could get me in to a nice birding school. Obviously a criminal client recommend it and since he could do it for free due to his job he had no problem convincing me it was a beautiful school in California. From there I was very intelligent . I had a scholarship to usf. I went to school since I was accepted at 17 prior to casa by the sea. I played pool for funds to survive. No one deserves this treatment regardless of their past. Non the less hang in their fellow soldiers since most of us don’t have family,you must see who you are believe in yourself know you are good and just accept the bad and make the good.

    Reply
    • Danielle

      I honestly didn’t know there were this many kids who ensured the abuse that I did when I was there. I was beat up, sat on, food was so chewed up and spit in my mouth, etc. Luke was the worse when it came to abuse. After taking my exit plan, I was literally left at the border wI think $25 and the bage of clothes I came in with. I was homeless for a year and had nightmares for years!! Psychologically this place really screwed me up!! My mother is still in denial, and swears this place was worth her money.. now that I’m a mother of 3 I couldn’t imagine sending my children to a place like this. What’s really sad about this place is I learned nothing. If it wasn’t for my amazing husband now, it would’ve taken longer for me to start recovery. I still to this day suffer with nightmares/night terrors about this place. I wasn’t even a bad child. I was actually on the honor roll, varsity tennis player, I played piano, flute, and cello and did many more productive things. My mom was just pissed her husband had raped and molested me and blamed me for everything! So in order to hide this secret she hid me in Mexico. So I went from one type of abuse to another!!
      I hate to hear that others endured as much if not more abuse than me at this place. I’m very thankful it is closed down. Please email me if anyone has any questions or comments!! Daniparham2014@outlook.com

      Reply
      • Rachelle Rosenthal

        Can i delete a comment on here? i tried to modify my comments since i do have ptsd from this place i tend to rush through what i am writing so i can get it out and make so many grammatical errors….

        Reply
        • Bill Boyles

          I’ll be happy to delete it if you’ll tell me which one it is. Just post a reply to it with “Delete this one” or something. 🙂

          Reply
          • Rachelle Rosenthal

            Thank you. Please delete this post Rachelle Rosenthal Says:
            March 1, 2016 at 5:48 am….

            Reply
          • Rachelle Rosenthal

            as well as this one, Rachelle Rosenthal Says:
            May 7, 2017 at 6:59 am

            Reply
          • Rachelle Rosenthal

            and this one Rachelle Rosenthal Says:
            May 7, 2017 at 7:25 am. I dont want any commentary about my parents on the site. They are my family and still no matter what may of happened to me, that means something to me.

            Reply
          • Rachelle

            Please delete my comments.

            Reply
  35. Jeremy downs

    My names jeremy downs i was at casa by the sea for 19 months. After they closed one of my close friends killed himself while still in the programs care in Mexico. The abuse was torture, i think of this place and what happend alot. Freejdowns@gmail.com email me if u were in journey or was there from march 2003-closed

    Reply
    • Jeremy downs

      I was also at pacific view when it closed.

      Reply
    • Rachelle Rosenthal

      When i was there, the program was closing. As a attempt to keep it open they brought in one other girl… We were sitting on a plastic table, in plastic chairs. All of the sudden she broke the left leg off the chair and slit her throat right across from me. After was a fog, I was locked in a dark room freezing. Maybe days passed, im not sure. Finally someone opened the door threw a blanket at me and said “no one wants you but we can leave you at the border”…(i turned 18 and it was illegal to harbor a us citizen in a foreign country beyond their consent ) I said “i already knew that, and its ok just bring me to the border”. Once again left in a dark room for who knows, then had my bags thrown at me and time to go…. and pray as the man touched my thigh i wouldn’t be rapped.

      Reply
  36. Andrew Moser

    I was there,my father tricked me into thinking I was going to a resort and left me in the lobby with Miguel. Hardest time of my life.

    Reply
    • Rachelle Rosenthal

      Im so sorry. I was tricked as well, i went willingly, better then home, but the video looked like a nice boarding school with horseback ridding hors he I felt bad for my dad, my mom was a mess and to this day im still not sure what environment was better for me. Their or home….I said to him ill go anywhere it has to be better then here. My mom was bad on Quaalude’s. She would forget i told her i was going out with friend, locked me out of the house… i went for a drive, pulled over stepped out of my car and i was rapped (great way to loose my virginity) and thrown in my trunk by a man in the military who said over and over im going to kill you and dump you and your car in a lake…I got away went home bloody pounding on all doors finally got in the house. went to talk to my parents. We all sat on the futon top, the only furniture i had in my bedroom, and as blood dripped from my head and hand print bruises arose from the strangulation, i began to tell them what occurred. They were tripping on mushrooms or acid, apparently when a person trips they have a laughing phase???? so they laughed at me….. Either way after all of that, seeing my mom each night fall over naked with her purse on her back, caring her in bed as she nodded in her food, my dad playing russion rulet, i had enough. My dad said this is not a good environment for you and i agreed and this casa place was recommended by a bad guy but in my dads defense the video for this place looked like a gd damn resort.
      It was bad. I have had a very fucked up life. I try so hard, I got into collage had a rare illness had to get chemo got over that got a great job got hit by a truck, just had a metal anker put in my shoulder 5 weeks ago. I handled all my trauma well. they say gd only gives you what you can Handel but please gd i am begging you for a break, and not a bone this time!! please , Just so i can be successful tell my story and help others. bc i promise you if i could over come it you can. I did become a owner of a company. I recently am out of work since the accident but once im better again i will be back to inspire i promise.

      Reply
  37. Lynne

    Did anyone know Michael Perry?

    Reply
  38. Rachelle Rosenthal

    When i was there, the program was closing. As a attempt to keep it open they brought in one other girl… We were sitting on a plastic table, in plastic chairs. All of the sudden she broke the left leg off the chair and slit her throat right across from me. After was a fog, I was locked in a dark room freezing. Maybe days passed, im not sure. Finally someone opened the door threw a blanket at me and said “no one wants you but we can leave you at the border”…(i turned 18 and it was illegal to harbor a us citizen in a foreign country beyond their consent ) I said “i already knew that, and its ok just bring me to the border”. Once again left in a dark room for who knows, then had my bags thrown at me and time to go…. and pray as the man touched my thigh i wouldn’t be rapped.

    Reply
  39. Rachelle Rosenthal

    Thank you. Thank you everyone for writing about your story. Im desperately trying to be able to adequately type and voice my horrors, i also sound like a retard when i speak of this trauma since i jump from one story to the next. i see the imagery in my mind and the words just don’t connect to my mouth. then as i type i rush just to get it out. i apologies for the grammar and please assist me in deleting duplicate messages and editing my old ones.
    I feel it is so important for us all to be bale to get out what we want to say without d=fear and what imagery is stuck in our minds.
    Im so happy we are here to support each other.
    If you have not seen, they made a movie called COLDWATER. Its a male version of a similar place at a different location… everyone was allowed to speak English lol

    Reply
    • Bill Boyles

      Rachelle – we have an online facebook group also called “WWASP Survivors” for people to support each other and be among others who know the things you can’t even put into words. We’d love to see you there!

      Reply
      • Rachelle Rosenthal

        Thank you kindly, I just submitted a request that is pending approval.

        Reply
  40. Zack Barron

    I was in the truth family until it was broken up and we were all put into other groups. I was in Honor. I’m 31 now, and I got to leave when I turned 18. That was a few months before it got shut down. I wish I was there for that. I would love to find some of these workers from there that treated us the way we did. I live in San Diego and dream of coming face to face with. I still have crazy bad dreams about this place. Gustavo and Miguel Rodriguez deserve to burn in hell.

    Reply
  41. Janessa crews

    Chelsea Filer
    Was in congeniality with you
    Hope your doing as best as you can

    Reply
  42. Justin Meador

    Justin Meador here. Casa from 98-00 I believe.
    Yes this place was exactly what everyone says it was.
    I attempted to jump out a 3 story building and escape but not much luck!
    The aftermath from that escape was… lets just say they got shutdown for a reason.
    Anyone who I knew wants to catch up send me a email. staxpkr@gmail.com
    ya’ll know who you are! Scott U, Jay S, Brandon G, Lilly F, etc etc etc.
    Sean D, Sky L, hope everyone is well.
    – J

    Reply
  43. Kathryn Yeomans

    I arrived at casa September 27th 2002. I arrived in the middle of the night. I went to sleep in what I would learn was the merit casa and when I woke up the next morning. Terrified and numb not knowing where I was and unable to speak Spanish to get an answer from anyone who would talk back when I spoke to them. The morning was a blur but after lunch was PE. No running but walking the court in flip flops in an aimless circle. Then all I remember was my buddy shoving me to the ground saying don’t move kick off your Sandals. She said lay still and flat don’t look around or draw attention to yourself. We lay outside on the ground for hours. They took our flip-flops. They took the upper levels. Belts and tennis shoes.girls wet themselves unable to ask or just go to the bathroom. A girl from my family jumped a wall with a 30 foot drop to rocks on the other side. After hours we went into the classroom to lay there on the floor in the same position. Code red, absolute silence. I couldn’t believe that my parents would send me somewhere where ever right was taken. We remained in code silence for a week. And on restrictions for the next week. Couldn’t even ask to go to the bathroom. It was terrible and striped me of any sense of happiness. My heart weighed heavy. I was there from September 27th 2002- to graduate July 8th 2004. I was in merit and when glory was made moved to that family. Then as an upper level I was a Wendy girl for a month before an Elvia which was great for me because she was my glory family case manager too. I was 15 when I arrived there and 17 with 4 months to 18. I also graduated high school a year early. When I arrived home all my friends were still in high school.

    Reply
    • Tabitha

      Hey Kathryn. I’m so sorry to read about your horrifying experience. this sounds so tough and i cant imagine how difficult it must’ve been for you. I am earning my doctorate in clinical psychology and am interviewing folks with similar experiences for my dissertation. If you would be interested in sharing your story (anonymous of course) to contribute to a formal publication, it will be used to advocate for psychologically minded protocols- please contact me. However, if this message leaves you uneasy please do not feel pressured to reply. All the best to you.

      Reply
      • Broke_It

        For fucks sake there’s never any shortage of tourists surrounding this issue. You want to study trauma like the others and myself have endured? Bully for you. Given that you’ve got to be the 20th person I’ve seen asking for stories I’m just gonna call it and your bullshit. To everyone else, these people get off on our ordeal. It’s their fucking entertainment. Do not share unless you yourself have a way to verify independently that it’s not just another looky-loo enjoying themselves at your expense.

        Reply
  44. Broke_It

    Not sure why I even try to post, my comments have never made it past moderation. It’s funny because I was also that guy that was ignored and discounted even among the other victims of casa. All these years later and no voice or place at the table, nothing changes. Must be that low energy I always was getting feedback on. I went thru hell there, and I didn’t even make friends. The staff all went on to live comfortable lives, hell my old case rep is a reality tv “star” on Bearing Sea Gold. No matter how well I do in life I’ll always remember, I do not matter.

    Reply
    • Sudo

      Hello Broke,
      They definitely made it past moderation. It just sometimes takes us time to login and approve them 🙂

      Reply
    • WWASP Survivors

      That’s crazy! What’s his name?

      Reply
      • Broke_It

        His name is Ian Foster. His blog makes me throw up in my mouth.

        Reply
        • Broke_It

          This clown even has his own fan page. Would look a lot better with a more complete history of his doings on there but I can’t stand fb anymore.

          Reply
  45. Tim nelson

    I was at cbs for 22.5 months. It’s was hell on earth. I thot my abusive childhood was bad… it was nothing g co paired to what they did to us. Cold showers, force fed shit food, bearing gs, emotional and physical abuse. I saw them break a kids arm for no reason other than they were mad. Mario Hampton was one of the worst. Along with Miguel and Toro. Juan too. They are all bastards and deserve to die. Mike chism, Dace Goulding also should be tortured to death. I was abused in ways I only talk with my therapist about. Anyone that sent their kids there should rot in hell.

    Reply
  46. Sam

    You forgot Michael Perry , he went there as a teen around 99-00. He ended up killing 3 people just one year after he left. He was executed by the State of Texas in 2010. Says it all

    Reply
    • Curtis Fowler

      I was in freedom family with him… I was in 12/1/98-2/25/2000… got along fine with him 😂

      Reply
      • Kevin Bauersfeld

        Was in freedom family 99-00. Maybe you remember me. I wasn’t there long. Basically having a torture fest in r&r the 3 months I was there.

        Reply
        • Kevin Bauersfeld

          Then began the real hell in HI. No lie! I was the first to go there.

          Reply
  47. Donna Frascati

    My son went Midwest Academy and told me of these horrible stories they did to him just recently! He has been struggling with all these years with drugs due to this degenerate Trane! He was rapped, put in isolation, our letters were not given to him, they made him sleep on a floor no pillow, no blanket, no clothes! the stories go on and on! It took my son all these years of holding it in to finally tell his father and I! He is going to be 27! I want to sue this organization!

    Reply
    • Broke_It

      HAHAHAHAHA, fuck you Donna. You either put him there or did nothing while he suffered. Either way knock it off with the buyers remorse. We all suffered while those who were supposed to be looking out for us were busy shitting the bed. You are the problem, these places wouldn’t exist without total dumbfucks like yourself and my parents putting their kids in them. Caveat Emptor. No backsies and I can only hope your son grows to hate you in the same way I’ve grown to hate my own mother. Now get the fuck off these message boards you stupid cunt.

      Reply
      • Car co

        Broke it. ????????

        Reply
  48. Sean Cowdrey

    I was here for almost 5 months until the kids started rioting and the Mexican police came in with full swat gear. Our parents were informed to come get us and I had to wait a day or two until my name was called. Kids grouped up and we couldn’t sleep during that time. I was placed in intervention here for fighting another kid. There was a top floor that was all tile floors and just cut outs for windows. They put you in a room where you sit all day on the floor in structure staring at the wall with a staff member behind you. Every hour or so they let you stretch or use the restroom. Only get two meals a day in intervention with only water and something like a baked potato with nothin on it and rice and beans. I was in that room a month and a half. Not to mention if you don’t obide by their rules like speaking or scratching an itch without permission your pinned down with knees and elbows from three men jammed all over your body. I’m an engineer now at 30 yrs old but that place fuels me along with the one in Carolina I was at for the rest of my two year stay. Glad it’s shut down.

    Reply
    • Maxine

      I was at Casa by the sea too and was transferred to Carolina Springs.

      I remember also waiting at Casa by the Sea when it was closing down- praying my parents come picked me up. I was transferred by a charter bus back into the states where I vaguely remember a huge room with everyone else who werent picked up yet…. where I was picked up by another “paid kidnapper” to take me to Carolina Springs.

      Reply
  49. Ramie Denise Black

    My youngest sons dad had nightmares of that place and in jan 2018 he hung him self do to the nightmares from there fuck that place…

    Reply
  50. Ramie Denise Black

    Rip allen michael darago i love you sweet heart.

    Reply
  51. Danielle

    This place was joke!! The so called seminars were BS and brainwashing!! Luke was the worst!! He was so abusive verbally and physically!!i had nightmares for years!! And still every now and then. All my horrifying experiences here were due to my mother and her abusive husband. My mom just wanted to get rid of me.

    Reply
  52. Hillary C.

    I was at CBS from 2000-2001 in the courage family. I remember a girl slitting her wrists in the bottom bunk in the bungalow next to ours and I could see her from my top bunk. Everything about that place was HELL. My mother pulled me out after 8 months and it was the worst 8 months of my life. The 5 minute freezing cold showers, the horrible food, those tapes, never being able to speak to my mom. I think I only made it to level 2 because I wasn’t cooperating in the seminars and couldn’t tell horror stories of why I was “fucked up” and sent there. If anyone was in the courage family please reach out.

    Reply
  53. Alysia Isbouts

    Hi! Is anyone actively checking this site still? I have a few questions about active/open programs similar to the WWASP programs. I’m sure there are some out there but I could really use some help in finding them. I was at Casa during the time of its shutdown (2004) and then went to Academy at Ivy Ridge.

    Reply
    • WWASP Survivors

      Still here… Ask away!

      Reply
  54. Helmeppo

    My father blocked out memories of this place.

    Reply
  55. Adam

    Dace is now a Female Track Assistant Coach at Dixie State University.
    Google search and you will find his info and e-mail address. I am unsure if he is still a teacher in the Washington County area but he is an assistant coach at the University and working with girls.

    Reply
  56. Constance Fox

    I was in Casa for nearly a year, and honestly my only hope was that I knew I could get out in a year when I turned 18. Looking for Temple and Precilla Wu.

    Reply
  57. Anne-Marie Beck

    Hi Everyone: Wondering if any of you could tell me what the name of the high school providing diplomas within Casa by the Sea was? Please contact me: beck.annemarie.career@gmail.com

    Reply
  58. Kris Erol Gratrix Jr. aka (K.J.)

    I was at CBS from 2002 to 2003 for about 6 months. once my family realized what this place was they made a deal with me to get my school done and they pulled me from the program. I’m 35 years old now and I’ve spent almost half a decade in jail or prison but this place was by far the worst time I’d ever done anywhere in my entire life. I’m from Alaska, so they had children from all over the United States.

    Reply
  59. Krissy O’Neill

    I was at Casa by the sea May 1999-May 2000. Looking to reconnect with some others that were there when I was.

    Reply
  60. Cristina (Leduc) McGregor

    Thinking of you survivors <3

    I hope everyone finds the closure they need.

    Reply
  61. Maxine

    I was at Casa by the Sea 2004 and was there until it was closed down where i was transferred to Carolina Springs in South Carolina.

    I was too “kidnapped” by a man and women who came into my house to take me to Casa By the Sea as I know my parents didnt have the guts to tell me I was going away. The mental abuse we endured here is unreal.. especially when I tell my close friends the story of why I had “disappeared” during high school.

    I laugh when I see a 3 musketeers bar as I remember it being a “treat” if you didnt get any consequences for the week and was on “good” behavior to get this. Or not being able to look outside the window for more than 3 seconds in fear of us trying to find an escape plan. ohhh and we talk about intervention room – i think its what it was called- when you had too many consequences cus you werent allowed to talk without permissions…

    Its been 15 years and the memories still stick like it was yesterday.

    My heart goes out to the WWASP Survivors. People can only understand so much of what we had gone through than those who had to live through it day after day.

    we love to connect with those who want to talk about their experiences and reconnect to those I had met here.

    Reply
  62. Anonymous

    I know someone that was here in 2002 for 2 years. They deserve justice.

    Reply
  63. Zack

    Was there for 13 months until I turned 18. Got shut down 3 months after I left. Truth family then put into honor because they split us up. Only got to level 2 for the candy bar. If you went to upper levels, you are a coward! Zack Barron

    Reply
    • Barseg Joseph

      I was there in 98-99. I was in freedom family . Two names that I remember that were in my family are Chris Evan’s and Nick Fredricksom , they were both in trouble all the time . My buddy when I first got there was Blake . Arturo was my families “father”.

      Reply
  64. Benjamin Jones

    I was at Casa from May 99-Jan2001. Only made it to level 4. I was in Honor Family. My parents figured out they were being scammed. Only took 20 months lol. I witnessed abuse, both physical and sexual. The seminars were a joke. Jason in particular was a fucking monster.

    Since Leaving Casa, I served 9 years as an active-duty infantryman in the U.S. Army’s Second and Fourth Infantry Divisions. I served tours in Iraq and Columbia. On my last tour in Iraq I lost 18 brothers from my Battalion, and was myself awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge for shrapnel wounds from an IED.

    When I medically retired from the army as a sergeant, I went to work as a Corrections Officer for three years, then as a Military Contractor for Six years. I now work in security and have a degree in criminal justice.

    Just to put some things into perspective; I have been in fire fights, been blown up multiple times, seen friends blown apart, seen friends killed by snipers, fished bloated bodies out of rivers, exhumed a mass grave in an Iraqi school yard, and by necessity taken lives. I have lived in horrible conditions, been starved, had dysentery, and been deprived of sleep for weeks. I occasionally have bad dreams about Iraq. (maybe a couple times a year.) But I Frequently have nightmares about Casa by the Sea. LIke I am trapped there and cannot escape despite knowing that I am almost 40 years old. Maybe because I was younger and more impressionable when I was at Casa than when I was in the Army. But it should speak volumes.

    I wish I could find Jason Finlinson and pay him a visit. It would be therapeutic to tell him who I am and see the terror on his face when he realizes that I am a warrior and not a frightened child anymore. Then I would tell him that “Based on results, he has exactly what he intended.”

    Ben Jones

    Reply
  65. Anthony Laccetti

    I was there from the end of 1999 to 2001 then spent a few months opening up the school at Academy at Ivy Ridge with Jason(admin) and Carson(fellow prisoner). I don’t really remember many details of what I went through, just the basic day to day things, like savoring my weekly candy bar. I stayed out of trouble for the most part, but I still remember being miserable. I had a good friend there named David that I would love to reconnect with, not sure what his last name is though. Feel free to reach out to me, my email is tonylaccetti@gmail.com

    Reply
  66. Evan

    I hope someone tracks down Dace and the rest of those evil men and puts a bullet thru their fuckin heads, Ive suffered for these scumbags for years and am ready for retribution, someone needs to pay

    Reply
  67. Marissa

    I was engaged to Michael Gulick back in 2014, he has since passed away.

    He told me a story about being dragged away to a place in Mexico, that was supposed to be a school.

    He told me a few stories but I don’t remember catching the name, or if he even said the name. But watching a documentary on Netflix has reminded me of what he went through. Is there a way to find out if this was the program that he was in?

    Reply
  68. Abby Manion

    I arrived on Christmas morning to Casa by the Sea from Georgia in 2003. I was apart of Odyssey, I believe. I won’t ever forget this time of my life. I wish I could remember all of the girls that had a special place in my heart from here. This is the craziest experience of my life but I won’t ever forget staying up late for that holiday event and watch the moon sit behind the palm tree in our quad. The worst nightmare of my life.

    Reply
  69. Dennis Murray

    I was here from 2000-2001

    Can’t remember the family name , but Nestor ran it.

    Y’all remember that fucking goon Arturo ? Thought broke my neck the first 2 days there . Was amazing spending my first week in r&r ,

    If any of yall remember me , feel free to hmu ! 3152967277

    Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Youth Foundation Closed | WWASP Survivors - […] Casa By the Sea […]
  2. Youth Foundation Success Academy CLOSED | WWASP Survivors - […] Casa By the Sea […]
  3. Share this link! We need to get the word out to parents desperate for help for their teens! | Challenger: Summer 1989 - […] and sent to rehabilitation. I found one story on a legal website that led me to another site about…
  4. The dream crusher: Casa by the Sea (Nothern Mexico) | Søren Hansens blog - […] Casa by the Sea […]

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.