Hello! My name is Stacy [REDACTED], and I am a survivor from attending Cross Creek Academy. I was in Cross Creek for roughly 22 months. I was taken in the middle of the night by 2 people not knowing who they were. I was told I can walk out voluntarily or be put into handcuffs. Keep in mind, these people were just normal people like us with no licenses. Additionally, I kept asking where I am going, but they refused to tell me the location accept that we were heading to the airport. I get on the plane shaking, crying, and so confused with me not having any idea what is happening. Finally, I get to my destination located in Laverkin Utah where Cross Creek Manor was. Once I arrive, I was taken back for processing. I was unable to wear shoes for the first few weeks, I couldn’t shave, I couldn’t wear makeup, I couldn’t wear jewelry, I was not allowed to make a phone call to my parents, I had no access to a phone at all. I was literally held a prisoner. That day, I was placed in a group with about 20 other girls. I was in A-Group, and my therapist was Ben Ashcraft, and my family rep was Jean Ebert. That morning, I had what was called “group” where all us girls sit in a circle and talk about why we are here, issues we went through in life etc. Ron Garrett had come in that morning and put me on the spot asking why I am here. I had said “I do not know” Ron started to laugh and degrade me by saying that I am here because I am a bad kid that did horrible things. I was forced to share with everyone all my life struggles, including my sexual abuse that happened to me when I was a little girl. I never felt so humiliated in my life.
Ron was yelling at me, telling me I am a dirty whore, I deserved what I got from being sexually abused. I was sitting there in shock as tears were dripping down my face. Once Ron humiliated me, he left to go to the next group to target another girl. I was taken into a private therapy session for my therapist to get to know a little more about me. Luckily, I absolutely loved Ben Ashcraft as he treated me with respect. Ben really cared about us girls and did everything he could to make sure we opened up about our life struggles so he can guide us for the future. When I was told that in order to graduate the program, I needed to attend seminars and pass, I was so confused and lost. After about 3 months, I attended my first seminar called Discovery. Fortunately, I passed it after being tormented by staff. Once I graduated, I was then informed that I can’t attend the next seminar for a few months. There were months in between each seminar. Luckily, I was never put into isolation like other girls, but I was put on silence for days at a time where I couldn’t make eye contact or talk to anyone. This was so horrible; I still think about it from this day at the age of 39 years old. As I went through each seminar, I was forced to lie and say things that I did back at home when in fact I didn’t. I had to fake my way through the program otherwise, I knew I would be there for a long time.
There are levels you have to go through in order to keep moving up. When I first got to Cross Creek, you start at level 1 and go from there. Once I reached level 2, I had to have been at the program 6 months or so. As I went through more seminars, I was traumatized even more, but at that point in my life, I didn’t care because all I thought about was getting home. Eventually, I was able to talk to my mom and dad and then see them when they would come to visit. I ended up getting very ill while in the program, and I was basically called a liar until I had collapsed and ended up in the hospital. My parents asked if they needed to fly to me, but Ron Garrett stated I was fine, and it wasn’t serious. It was very serious as I was inpatient for 1 week. After I got back from the hospital, I had what was called a staff buddy who had to monitor me 24-7 in which was so humiliating. I was made fun of by staff, especially Ron Garrett.
Everyday, I was forced to watch veggie tails which is a religious show that I took offense too. If you said anything about the show, you would get written up or thrown into solidary confinement. This place is sick! They treated us like we were animals. They threatened us that we would be transferred to Guantanamo Bay. I was so scared, I did exactly what I was told to do. Yes, when I ended up graduating, I was so close to being done with high-school, I chose to come back to just finish school. I still had to follow rules, but not like the other girls. If I didn’t have to redo 11th and 12th grade again, I would have finished back at home. I am so happy this place shut down. They all deserve to be in jail rotting away.
There is so much more I left out, but what happened to me is something I will live with for the rest of my life. Being 39 years old now, working for an Attorney for 16 years, and raising a beautiful daughter, I came out ok!
Survivors often feel an instant connection; it’s refreshing to speak to someone else about these facilities without parrying assumptions that we were “out of control” and being able to share this with other survivors.
