Courthouse News Service
Tuesday, September 06, 2011 · Last Update: 6:32 AM PT
Torture Alleged at Chain of Children’s Homes
By JONNY BONNER
SALT LAKE CITY (CN) – Hundreds of parents claim a group of boarding schools tortured their children: locked them in dog cages, forced them to lie in feces and eat vomit, masturbated them and denied the troubled teens any religion “except for the Mormon faith.”
The Utah-based World Wide Association Of Specialty Programs and Schools and its owners – Robert Lichfield, Brent Facer and Ken Kay – went to great lengths to hide the “torture,” which began in the mid-1990s and continued for a decade, the 357 plaintiffs claim in Salt Lake County Court.
The plaintiffs say that 59 schools and owners tied to the company “jointly promoted, advertised, and marketed defendants’ residential boarding schools as a place where children with problems could get an education while receiving instruction and direction in behavior modification for emotional growth and personal development.”
But they say the children were subjected to physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the schools including, Cross Creek Center for Boys, Brightway Adolescent Hospital and Red Rock Springs. They say the abuses inflicted upon some children for years “could be accurately described as torture.”
According to the complaint, students were locked in boxes, cages and basements at the schools, denied medical and dental care, and forced “to carry heavy bags of sand around their necks or logs throughout the day over many days.”
They were sexually abused, “which included forced sexual relations and acts of fondling and masturbation performed on them,” according to the 119-page complaint.
Students were “forced to eat their own vomit … bound and tied by hands and/or feet … chained and locked in dog cages … forced to lie in, or wear, urine and feces … forced to sleep on cold concrete floors, boxspring, or plywood,” and put to forced labor, the complaint states.
Children were “kicked, beaten, thrown and slammed to the ground … forced to eat raw or rotten food … poked and prodded with various objects while being strip searched … denied any religious affiliation, except for the Mormon faith … [and] threatened [with] severe punishment, including death, if they told anyone of their abuses and poor living conditions,” according to the complaint.
Their mail was confiscated, and personal visits and telephone calls were forbidden or discouraged, the parents say.
“At all times relevant, defendants did not disclose to the parents the physical, emotional, mental, and/or sexual abuse to which their children were subjected at their facilities and conspired, even to this day, to prevent them from discovering such abuse,” the complaint states.
The defendant company still operates residential centers in Utah, South Carolina and Costa Rica, but has faced school shutdowns in Mexico, Jamaica and Samoa amid child abuse investigations, according to the complaint. It says that more than 2,100 students were enrolled in its schools in 2003.
The plaintiffs filed a similar lawsuit in Federal Court in 2006, which U.S. District Court Judge Clark Waddoups dismissed in August for lack of jurisdiction.The parents seek punitive damages for fraud, gross negligence, false imprisonment, assault and battery, and breach of contract, and a protective order to prevent spoliation of evidence.
They are represented by Windle Turley of Dallas, Texas and James McConkie II with Parker & McConkie of Salt Lake.
Wood VS WWASP Original Complaint
I’m a high impact survivor and would like to get involved and am interested in any resources for a law suit. Just learning about this community now…please email me at the provided email.
Christian,
I’m sorry to inform you but it might be too late to join the Turley Lawsuit. Many have applied but they have reached a total of over 350 plaintiffs and have not taken on any new participants in years. However there is always a chance that they might take any particularly egregious case on. I know High Impact was HELL, I am a High Impact survivor as well. If you wanted to write a summary of your experience and submit it here, I would be happy to send it to Turley with our recommendation.
Hi Christian, My name is Margie Waterman, I am a friend and advocate for Christopher Sutton who in now in prison accused of convicted of conspiring to kill his parents. he is currently appealing the verdict. If you know Chriss and would like to contact him please e-mail me at marjoriewaterman@bellsouth.net. I’m sure Chriss would be interested in knowing more about this law suit if it’s not too late. Chriss is at Tomoka correctional Institute in Daytona beach Fl. He does not have access to e-mail…Thanks for the info…Margie
Marjorie-
I was reading what you posted and wanted to ask you about Chris. He went to Horizon Academy with me and went to a lot of seminars with me. Can you please let me know how he’s doing, as I know it has been three years since your post.
-Anya
Sorry!
I think this might be the wrong Chris!
Hello my name is Eveline. I spent three and a half years throughout several of these programs. I was in Jamaica during the riot, I was at Casa by the Sea the day it got shut down, I spent about eight months out of the thirteen months I was at Spring Creek Lodge in their “special needs” room. In complete solitary confinement, and I finished off at Darrington Academy. Before I began these programs… I was a little troubled, I smoked weed and cut some classes. When I finally graduated the program and got sent back for getting in trouble for drinking wine. Seriously… By the time my parents finally allowed me back into their home, I was already almost 18, but had graduated with honors and had an overabundance of credits. I worked full time and went to school full time and one night I messed up and went to hang out with a couple old friends had too much to drink, was raped, went home and got kicked out by my step mom. I never told them about the rape. Now I have seriously fallen off the deep end. I got seriously strung out on heroine and due to the lack of support cause of the whole tough love thing, I am in serious need of some help. I do take full responsibility for my own actions and am not trying to blame any program or parent for my own issues, however I am clean now and homeless. I have no friends and could really use some financial support. I could buy a home and move away from the chaos. Finally have a sense of security and safety I have not had since I was fourteen and I was taken out of my home and sent away to these programs. Please anyone who has any info on any ongoing lawsuits or anyone interested in starting one, PLEASE contact me. I know I am not the only one who has been traumatized and had to miss out on their parents love and guidance and money may not take it all back but if invested and used properly, could definitely help us move leaps and bounds forward. Further from this nightmare and not divulging ourselves deeper into even more pain and suffering.
I survived Carolina springs academy
Anybody see a Netflix limited series “The Program”? It described the behavior modification program I was forced into. I would like to hold my mother and Eckard Wilderness Camp accountable!!!
I am a survivor! I survived horizon academy in armagosa valley Nevada. Anyone know of how to get records or some info about this place or what a legal step I can take
Hi I’m Jameson Bentley. I was locked up a year and a half at casa by the sea. Are there any class action suites going on or coming up?
I was in Unity Family in the early 2000s. I graduated after 16 months. I didn’t enjoy working for a for profit company as a minor as jr staff. The Netflix documentary brought me here. If a lawsuit exists please contact me.
I am a survivor. Midwest tranquility bay and gulf coast
I survived Spring Creek, and would love to hear of a lawsuit. Seems I missed that though?
Mid 2000s Unity family
I am a survivor of Eckerd Wilderness Camp for troubled youth. How do I get a hold of someone legally who can help me with lawsuits? Who can I contact? Help, please. Just saw documentary about Ivy League. Exactly what I endured!! Mom was all about tough love.
I was asked years ago to join. I was fresh out of Jamaica at the time and didn’t want to revisit the two and a half years I spent there again. I was the one who secretly spoke to the reporter from the Observer. It was a big article in the U.K. at the time (2003). I was also a part of an incident at the U.S. embassy and lived in Jamaica for 6 months without a passport and without a visa. I can prove that. Haven’t talked much about what all I went through but feel ready now.
Can you tell me your story as I was going to send my 15 yr. old daughter.
vickie, i can tell you all about my story. please let me know if you are still interested. I find most are not, and this is why I do npt speak of it much.
I am 31 now..in 1998 I was taken and sent to Utah where I stayed 2 weeks..sent to Jamaica and that is when tranquility bay just opened..it was much harsher mentally and physically..never will forget..I wanted to join on lawsuit never did finish tho..I came back n 1999..I was 16 turning 17 and came back 17 turning 18..it was a total nightmare..if anybody does know of anything else on lawsuits with it I would be interested
Jarrett,
I was there in the beginning also. I was torcherd and when I finally got away I was captured and choked out on the beach and then severely punished. My parents were lied to the whole time. I had been at Casa by the sea at first and was in the original 60 there then was sent to Jamaica for a harsher punishment. My parents thought I was in ” School” learning and having a good experience. Letters were never sent until I sneaked one out through another parent and then my parents got me. I served 6 years in Prison in California. I feel my life went bad because of the program I had to go into. I am now married, father of two and an Author. I am VERY interested in shutting down these guys and joining a class action suit.. Does anyone know of any that I can get into and share my story? 209-304-9114
I am 28 almost 29. I was dropped off one day at Carolina Springs in South Carolina when I was 14. A year later I would have never thought I’d be free. When I arrived at Carolina Springs, there were holes in the walls we had to use our towels to block the holes. It was freezing might I add when I arrived there in February. What I would see after that has scarred me for life. I would have been better on the street. I have tried to get in touch with Turley and they told me that I was not able to join the suit due to the docket being submitted. I have seen a lot being that I was there in 1998-99. Carolina had been open about a year before I arrived. Torture and betrayal should have been their mission statement. What a joke Please if someone can get in touch with me, I have found my close friends who endured this hell hole with me and would be interested to. Turley we want to fight for our lost rights!
I was a student at Red River Academy a sister School to Cross Creek, the programs focus on making students change to be accountable, educated, youth. All this about eating rotten food and being strip searched is untrue. I spent almost 2 years at Red River I graduated High School and Completed the program. This is an insult to the schools and the staff who actually care greatly about the youth. The only physical intervention ever used is when students are trying to hurt themselves or others and they are restrained not hit.
you were not in Samoa you cunt. you have no idea what other people had to face. I bet you never got put in the hot box or watch a Samoan stand on a kids head. The food had roaches in it. Go fuck yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Recently, Youth Foundation Inc. became re-licensed by Utah Human Services and removed Cross Creek Program’s website and Karr Farnsworth from their new licensing. They have also received licenses for the two buildings that are empty, including the one that’s for sale that used to hold River View inmates. They also have a license to house 8 inmates in their “pass house” which is actually their office.
I wonder if that has anything to do with being named in the Turley lawsuit. They do like to mix things up and hide from accountability. Their buildings are also owned by Londamerican in the United Kingdom based on the Washington County, Utah assessor’s website. In my opinion, they are hiding their assets from a judgment.
i was at dundee for a year until the riot then i was shpped to tranquility bay and then spring creek lodge. there are pictures of me lying on the floor all over the internet, the problem is i am canadian and i do not know how to go about suing for my abuse and neglect…does anyone know
Was also at Costa Rica during the riot’s, after Pani came in. It was… I don’t knkw if I can adequately describe it. But I’m sure you understand. A picture of me and some other boys heading down the road away from the facility ended up in the paper. I was the one with the pillow cases of food.
I was at BETHEl BOYS ACADEMY during 2001-2002 and wanted to know if anyone has join with a lawsuit against these GOD-FORSAKEN FOUNTAIN CLAN. Please contact me at callmevan23@yahoo.com if any information
I was in Jamaica for 32 1/2 months. I have not spoken of my time there since I have become an adult, but have recently felt the need to talk about it to some people I can relate to. This seems to be the only place that I have found for this.
I look forward to speaking to others with similar experiences in the future.
jbarronnidayiv@gmail.com
I was sent to Tranquility Bay in 1997 I was 13 years old. I left there in summer of 2000.The place I left still haunts me. The treatment I was subjected to was horrible. I am 29 years old today and I still have nightmares about Tranquility Bay. I find myself older in each and every dream pleading with staff there. I find myself screaming I’m 29 I have a child can I please go home now. The feeling of being trapped and helpless against anything. Still affects me and makes it difficult for me to move on.Ive tried to figure out how to file a lawsuit against them but do not know where to begin. Can anyone point me in the right direction? HeatherNitto@gmail.com
Is this still in process? I was at CCM in the early 90’s an I would like to be a part if so.
Thank you,
stacymichelle@msn.com
I spent 27 moths in Tranquility Bay and it was the worst experience of my life. I recently met up with someone that was there at the same time as me and he got a hefty settlement. Those backyards should give back every dime they received for that plus more!
Bastards*
as far as i know no one has won any lawsuit against wwasps. although some may have settled out of court. i went to casa by the sea mexico tried to run away was then sent to tranquility bay Jamaica tried to run away again:) i turned 18 and they even held me a month after my 18th birthday refused to let me walk out of there wouldnt give me my passport. broke a radio over a staff members head and a couple days later they finally let me leave.
Hello, my name is sherrie and I resided in casa by the sea march 2003 to may 2004. I was honest on the lawsuit and also stated things in favor of the school. I told the truth and while the school wasn’t for some it did help a lot of people. If there is a settlement I want to know where is my part since I’m in the plaintiff sheet?
First Red River Academy is not closed and was never in Texas,
Second Brain Vaifanua and his wife have now been moved to Red River Academy and are runnig it
http://singapuri.com/bv/#
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/brian-vaifanua/86/832/564
http://jilliestake.blogspot.com/2013/11/utah-was-hurricane-high-school.html
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1997-11-16/features/9711120116_1_paradise-cove-boys-western-samoa
https://www.facebook.com/brian.vaifanua.1
http://www.orange-papers.org/forum/node/2020
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53538050-78/vaifanua-american-court-hurricane.html.csp
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439×1251312
i was in tranquility bay in 2002 and 2003 and was seriously abused. i can prove i was there when the riot that shut the school down happened. how do i get involved in the lawsuit?
I would like to be involved in the lawsuit. I was at spring creek lodge from 2003 to 2004.
I was at CCM in 96 I want to be a part of this if I can I still have horrible nightmares
I just came across this site. I was at Spring Creek Lodge in the mid to late 90’s. I would very much like to be involved in a lawsuit against them. I never pursued it before because no one believed what said I went through. I am no where near over it.
HI, i myself am not a victim of any of these horrible hell holes, but i just recently sat down with my brother (not by blood) and listened to his stories, he is very curious about helping to shut WWASP down he was in Carolina Springs Academy back 2007/08. If this lawsuit is still in effect i would like any information on it i can get, i want to help him get closure on what happened, and if anyone from CSA would like to talk with him, his nickname was “Big Country” “County” Please anyone that can help me with information or can help me to help my brother get past this please email me at ultimateshadow91@yahoo.com.
I was in Costa Rica when it shut down and Jamaica after repeatedly abused in both hope something happens to them
Matt, I was at Dundee during the same time and also ended up at TB. I’m curious what family you ended up in? Your name sounds familiar.
Hello my name is Eveline. I spent three and a half years throughout several of these programs. I was in Jamaica during the riot, I was at Casa by the Sea the day it got shut down, I spent about eight months out of the thirteen months I was at Spring Creek Lodge in their “special needs” room. In complete solitary confinement, and I finished off at Darrington Academy. Before I began these programs… I was a little troubled, I smoked weed and cut some classes. When I finally graduated the program and got sent back for getting in trouble for drinking wine. Seriously… By the time my parents finally allowed me back into their home, I was already almost 18, but had graduated with honors and had an overabundance of credits. I worked full time and went to school full time and one night I messed up and went to hang out with a couple old friends had too much to drink, was raped, went home and got kicked out by my step mom. I never told them about the rape. Now I have seriously fallen off the deep end. I got seriously strung out on heroine and due to the lack of support cause of the whole tough love thing, I am in serious need of some help. I do take full responsibility for my own actions and am not trying to blame any program or parent for my own issues, however I am clean now and homeless. I have no friends and could really use some financial support. I could buy a home and move away from the chaos. Finally have a sense of security and safety I have not had since I was fourteen and I was taken out of my home and sent away to these programs. Please anyone who has any info on any ongoing lawsuits or anyone interested in starting one, PLEASE contact me. I know I am not the only one who has been traumatized and had to miss out on their parents love and guidance and money may not take it all back but if invested and used properly, could definitely help us move leaps and bounds forward. Further from this nightmare and not divulging ourselves deeper into even more pain and suffering.
I too was at Dundee when it was shut down, was there for a little less than 1 year. I was also in SCL for a little under a year before then. The “riots” were, well like the other people that were there have said, they were something we had never seen before, and likely have never seen since either – not even read about in books or movies even…
I have a confession to make… I was 1 of 3 or 4 kids the staff took away from the main area when the PANI corralled us into the cafeteria, I was sent to Costa Rica in the first place for manipulating the system, I knew they couldn’t technically restrain me if I wasn’t causing harm to myself, others or damaging property, so I simply refused to participate and sat on the hillside all day, watching the ice melt off the mountain tops (this was in Spring Creek Lodge). Once the twins (identical twin owners) got wind of what I was doing, they immediately shipped me out to Dundee. I was forcing them to make me a special case from day one, it’s what I do.
This was my MO in Costa Rica. I was full of so much resentment that I would actually induce asthma attacks on myself in order to get out of the responsibilities they would force us to do.
Let me explain asthma real quick in case you don’t know. It’s what happens when the throat swells up almost completely shut, that wheezing you hear from people is coming from the small amounts of air, barely passing in and out of your throat. Almost like making your throat pipes become a whistle. But it’s not like what happens to normal people without asthma that can “wheeze” a little after running long distances. Once this starts, it can be VERY VERY difficult to turn around, and has been known to send full grown adults, more so children into death if medicine is not readily available.
Well Mr. Bailey would say “He’s faking, don’t let him get the medicine” numerous times, this only enabled me to push myself even further and further. I truly believe I am the reason this school and operation started to unravel in the first place. I later learned there was a nurse that had been working undercover for sometime and finally had enough evidence to shut the school down.
There were less than 200 kids at the school.
I had severe asthma
I induced asthma attacks on myself in the hopes of them not wanting me there as a liability anymore so I could maybe go back home to be with my family.
Mr. Bailey did not let me get my asthmatic medications
I vaguely (remember, I was experiencing severe asthma attacks at the time) recall in full detail what happened when this was going on, but I do believe I remember the nurse and Bailey fighting very aggressively about it. She wanted me to be treated, he did not. This back and forth happened every time. Most of the time she won, but it only meant a more severe punishment for me in OP once I recovered.
I remember one time they starved me for an entire day, made me sleep standing up. I had a breakdown the next morning. I didn’t try and run, I knew that wouldn’t end well. So I just started yelling, begging, crying for someone, anyone to come help me, to feed me. That’s when Bailey violently shoved me against the wall and dislocated my shoulder (this happened 3 separate times). I must have immediately blacked out because the only other thing I remember is waking up to seeing the biggest black jamaican they had on staff that day literally sitting on top of me, eating a bag of M&M’s. It wasn’t a little bag either. He actually made/forced me to watch him eat every single one. One at a time. It drove me into such further frustration that I apparently blacked out again.
That’s just one of my stories…
So, back to my confession… They took me aside with 1 or 2 other lower levels and 1 upper level, they convinced us that there would be hell to pay for the Costa Rican government sticking their noses in the schools business and that none of it mattered in the long run because our parents were forced to sign over 51% parental guardianship of us anyways in order for us to be there in the first place. That even if the governments’ claims were true, the “school had other schools round the world” – implying Jamaica – “where those governments didn’t care about child protective laws as much”. So, they told the 4 of us that if we listened to their instructions exactly as they told us to, that we would be 4 of less than 12 out of all the kids that WOULD NOT GET SENT JAMAICA OR ANOTHER WWASP PROGRAM. That if we obeyed their exact commands, we would get to eat fast food that day (you have no idea, that’s like telling a 5 year old they’re about to meet Santa Clause) and that they guaranteed our return back to our families (most of us still had at least 5-6 months left in the program if we were to stay in and not make any mistakes at all until our graduation (which in and of itself is an almost impossible feat).
You have to put things in perspective – I was almost 17 years of age at the time, had been in this schooling system for almost 2 years (majority of my high school). We weren’t allowed to look at anyone, ESPECIALLY females. I read stories of kids saying they had to “kneel down and have their nose on the wall in OP.”… Yeah, I vividly recall Locksley always yelling at me and slapping me in the back of my head for nodding off and yelling “NOSE AND TOES BUOY – NOSE AND TOES BUOY”. This meant I had to have my nose and toes touching the same wall. All day. Standing up. Albeit most of the time I made mistakes I suppose I knew might get me sent into OP, they were still not justified punishments. These “mistakes” I made were as trivial as accidentally stepping out of cadence more than once in the morning or afternoon, or not showing up for roll call 45 seconds after they said wake up (mind you, roll call was 1/4-1/2 football field away from our bunks, in the front entrance/circular driveway), or not finishing my food in the time slotted for me to eat. It’s not like I was spitting on staffs faces, or writing on walls or anything. The stories I have are seemingly endless, reading these other stories seems to have opened the lids of some things I’ve had compartmentalized for over a decade – just wild…
I’m digressing…
My confession.
The staff and Narvin Linchfield’s WIFE, (I think her name was Rosa) told the 4 of us that if we did EXACTLY as they said, that Narvin would personally write a letter of recommendation to have us be sent back home with our families.
I did what pretty much any kid in my shoes would have done. I complied.
Here’s where my 10+ year guilt-trip finally rings its bell.
She commanded us to unplug and load up all of the staffs computers into 2 different staff cars that were backed up against the family fathers office door. It kind of felt like we were helping keep state secrets from falling into enemy hands (at least, that’s what I told myself for so many years). But, in reality, I know exactly what we were doing.
We were essentially preventing the prosecution from being able to ever get the evidence needed to prove the school was as manipulative and corrupt as all of its students claimed.
We weren’t allowed to speak to our parents, only write letters (at least, as long as you were a lower level – I made it to level 3, 1X time. It lasted for a whole 3 hours before I got “dropped”).
So, instead of calling our parents, we were instructed to sit on the family father’s computer and type a letter.
It was those computers that we were removing from the campus!
We also loaded up numerous plastic bins with god knows what inside in the back of an SUV they had.
And then that’s when we started to see the light…
They took us into “town” to a McDonalds first (drive thru), I’ll never forget them handing me rice and beans (from the local Mc Donalds) and thinking – “I’ve been eating this exact thing for almost a year now, but I’m really going to enjoy this one because it’s not in the confines of the school.”
After that they met some people in a parking lot and had us unload all of the evidence into their vehicles.
Here’s where the bigger guilt-trip comes in…
They convinced us to speak out to the local media. They (local news channel) brought out a big video camera with microphone and all and started asking us questions about what was going on.
I remember this like it was yesterday… Mrs. Linchfield told us to tell the media that “The government came in with big guns and started scaring the staff – they got all the kids together and told them (us) that the rules of the school did not apply and that them holding us there against our will was against the law”. That’s when I knew what I was doing wasn’t right, but I didn’t know what else to do… I had to tell the media that the kids were doing things that wasn’t entirely true, things that were drastically exaggerated. Mrs. Linchfields motives were to help convince the public that the school was righteous in its practices and that the kids that were there, needed to be there.
While that’s half-true, it’s still wrong. Yes. Many of the children that were there NEEDED some sort of assistance they weren’t able to get in their original environment, but that doesn’t EVER justify the means to the end. What the staff did to us on a regular basis would be considered inhumane, and unlawful, if done to a prisoner of war in one country from another, let alone a relatively innocent minor.
Now, to focus on today. There was a class-action lawsuit against WWASP. I tried to get on it, but it was difficult they said because I was a minor at the time and some other sort of yadda yadda, but my father was able to get our names on the list. Be that as it may, I don’t believe I heard from a single person or representative at the Turley Law Firm since day one of them signing my Dad on. I never asked him if he got a settlement out of it because he was out so much money from paying to send me there, and quite frankly, I didn’t want money from them anyways. I didn’t want anything at all. The stories I’ve mentioned here make Dundee look like the Ritz compared to what I still have locked up on the top shelves in my head. No amount of money could reverse what I was forced to endure at that school, and likely many/most of the other children that were there with me as well, not to take away from all the other WWASP affiliated schools globally. This Dundee Academy was staffed by mostly all Jamaicans, from Tranquility Bay. They brought them there for a reason. They know how to scare the crap of kids, they did a pretty good job at it. I guess they just never realized some of us (I) would be willing to cut their nose off despite their face in order to get some normal treatment from time to time.
For what it’s worth, I went into a black hole myself when I got out. Tried to go to college, didn’t work out. I was too conflicted with what happened to me before I returned to the States. It’s not like any of us were taught how to flip a switch and accept the old reality. Not to compare to soldiers of war, but I’m sure there are similarities.
I lost a solid 4-5 years of my life. Not much recollection as to what I did over those years. At least nothing of significance. The good news is I finally found light, I have a child now, am engaged to a beautiful woman (inside and out), own my own (successful) company and have an even closer relationship with my Father than I ever did before. I’m not sure everybody had the same relationship with their parents as I did mine, but I was always close to my Father. And when I landed back in my homestate, after not seeing them for what seemed to be a lifetime, he looked me in the eyes and broke down crying. This is a 260 pound fully grown man that’s almost solid muscle. He cried like a baby. He couldn’t stop apologizing to me. I guess he somehow heard some of the horror stories as I was in transit and felt guilty. I realized immediately it wasn’t his fault, our parents were just as much victims as us, but in their own ways. This Narvin Linchfield, his wife and all their henchmen are the epitome of professionals with this shit. This is what they do for a living. They prey on parents that love their children unconditionally and are willing to do virtually anything to retain them as a client/money maker.
If you’re a parent that’s considering having your kid(s) sent to a WWASP school, don’t. For the sake of you and your child(ren), just don’t do it.
If anyone would like to speak with me further, I would be happy to consider it, please leave a reply to my comment with contact information so that I may reach out to you once time permits.
Thanks to anyone who was willing to read this, and I wish the best for every child that’s ever been subjected to the kind of treatment many of us were.
With Taste,
Blake …..
“It’s not what happens to an individual, but HOW THEY HANDLE WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM that defines their character.”
P.S. – Apologies for any grammatical, or punctuation errors. I’ve already spent more time on this than I originally intended on.
Blake,
I realize that it’s been awhile since you were at Dundee. I am a parent who is looking at Palmetto Therapeutic Boarding School owned by Narvin Lichfield and his wife, Ms. Florie. It’s on the same ranch that Carolina Springs Academy was on, Magnolia Christian School before that and Seneca Ranch before that.
This couple seems like a really nice couple who value discipline& organic foods vs. medicine, etc. Are those the same values they marketed to your parents?
Any information would be helpful before I take my son there tomorrow.
I just don’t know what to believe.
Congratulations on the Netflix docuseries. These guys are seen all over the globe now. Hope justice will be served. All my energy from Spain too all the victims.
I was at spring creek lodge in 2002, I had braces on my teeth when I went and never was able to see a orthodontist for over 6 months, I have severe tooth pain to this day and removed my own braces with pliers. I would like to sue the school and my mother for abuse and neglect, I hope these scum all go down.
I was at tranquility bay for a year and it was so fcuked they shut it down. I was stuck in the friggin mountains of Montana for another year. Came out instutionalized. I would still put bullets in some of these people twenty years after the fact. And fuc- the parents who send their kids there. Hope y’all die hard. Ps. If anyone knows about new lawsuits I’m down. #fukemall
Hi I would like I Would like to know how I can get on the docket to get on the class action against WWASP programs. I attended cross creek programs in La Verkin Utah and I have a friend that attended Sky View, Nevada. Please inform if possible
I was at tranquility bay for almost 4 years. I was forced to do sexual favors for the director Jay Kay. I was beaten and abused daily.i am 32 now and still wane up screaming at night. My life is totally doomed from this program. How can I become involved in th is lawsuit ?
Yeah same… i a, extremely traumatized by what happened to me at cross creek over 8months..my back has hurt ever since…i was 100% treated the worst of any ‘student’ there.. i never lashed out or made a ‘scene’ although in retrospect sure should have!! consodering i was being imprisoned while my parents paid aa fortune, being told im canooing or some LIE. i have the brochure.,i cant blame them although it strained our family extremely..
I am one of the four children that was held at the facility in south Carolina then shipped to a lake house and stashed there until 2 others stole our guardians car and belongings. at which point they went ahead and shipped us to costa recap. there is where we spoke to the embassy in hopes of getting the facility shut down. By the grace of God, I only spent about two months in this program. But I was subjected to the abuse and bullying and torture. is there anyway I can help this organization? Please let me know I wont to stop troubled youth from having to go thru what I and so many others did! Danny; Matthew; John, if you guys see this I hope your all doing good in life and I wish you the best of luck. CODY A>
So many years lots of us pushed those memories down, I still have nightmares 20 years later, I was in Carolina springs first early 2000s and tried to run away, they sent me to tranquility bay and i was there a year and a half till right before my 17th birthday, one of the students killed herself jumping off the third floor, ill never forget that sight or the sound her head made hitting the pavement.
I believe they only sent me home because they figured I’d get the same idea
If I ever see Luke Jason or dace in person , they’re gonna find out what it’s like to be on the receiving end of their beatdowns . I spent 6 months at casa by the sea , and I will never forgive these animals for the torture they put innocent children through.
Parents were brainwashed into thinking , they were sending their children to a vacation bible school, when in fact they were sending them to a 3rd world country prison – with no constitutional rights .
These men are thieves , and criminals and deserve to be punished
I attended Midwest Academy 2004-2005
I sent my son to Midwest Academy on Nov 2024. I pulled him from the “program” in May 2025. I am only now beginning to understand the naïveté and stupidity of my decision back in the fall of 2024. I have a lot of listening to do now, to my son and anyone else that lived through these horrible places. I am interested in making sure the Lichfield clan and all of their henchmen and women are brought to justice for the abuse they have profited from for all of these years. They all make me sick and I am ashamed.