More abuse allegations from religious boarding schools in Missouri surface

MISSOURI(KBSI) – The Abm Ministries school in Piedmont, is just one of the Christian boarding schools in Missouri where victims say they endured horrible abuse and neglect as children. The owners currently face charges, but they aren’t the only Christian boarding in Missouri facing all forms of neglect charges.

Victims and advocates say do to the un regulation of religious schools in Missouri its led to thousands of children being abused. David Clohessy is the Director of the SNAP network. A network that advocates for children who have been abused through religious programs. He went to Jefferson City to talk with the Attorney General and fight for a change. 

“Were here primarily to beg the attorney general to take action on these controversial for profit private Christian boarding schools across the state where we suspect that a lot of abuse is happening,” says Clohessy.

In the last year alone lots of victims have come forward to share some of the horrific things they endured as children in these facilities. There have been hundreds of lawsuits, along with physical, mental, and sexual abuse allegations. Clohessy talks about what he aims to accomplish in Jefferson City. 

“Three things specifically. First investigate these schools, second use his bully pulpit to publicly warn parents about these schools and third to prod local prosecutors to also investigate these institutions.” 

A state law was passed in 1982 that gave religious boarding schools freedom and left the state with no way to monitor how children were being educated.

In 2021 Governor Mike Parsons signed into legislature greater oversight on unlicensed care facilities, but victims say this simply isn’t enough. Aralysa Baker, was a student and victim of ABM ministries. 

“The ABM flew under the radar that’s why its become such a big deal because they thought they fixed it and it really just wasn’t enough.” 

At least four religious boarding schools in Missouri face charges for neglect and abuse. According to records ABM ministries and Circle of Hope boarding schools were shut down in another state so and relocated in Missouri.

“If the Attorney General is willing to listen and actually take on this cause, whether or not he will I can’t say but I really hope that he does because it’s a huge problem, a huge problem, ya know just in our survivor group we have over 220 plus names of children that attended and some of them aren’t alive anymore and ABM contributed to that.” 

If you’d like to help survivors and advocates you can contact your Attorney General.