CHILD'S DEATH IN TREATMENT - LETTER WRITTEN BY M. ANN HAGER

 Angie was a beautiful, vivacious 7-year-old girl in the foster care system, who
 died as a result of being restrained at a day treatment center in Rice Lake, Wis.,
 last May. Her life was short, her potential unknown. More >>

  2/28/07

S.C. TEACHER FACES CHILD SEX CHARGES

 CLINTON, S.C. - A middle school teacher accused of having sex with at least five boys -
 some of them students at her school - was arrested Wednesday, authorities said.
 More >>

  2/28/07

  POLICE: SCHOOL MISHANDLED RAPE REPORT AT HAWTHORNE-CEDAR KNOLLS SCHOOL

  HAWTHORNE, N.Y. (AP) - Staffers at a school for the emotionally disturbed conducted their own investigation
  of a 13-year-old girl's rape claim and even tried to collect evidence before calling authorities, a police chief said
  Tuesday. Hawthorne-Cedar Knolls School in Hawthorne houses 104 boys and girls ages 8 to 18 who receive
  treatment, education and supervision for emotional problems. Children are referred by New York City and state
  agencies.  More >>

  2/28/07 - UPDATE ON THE RESTRAINT DEATH OF ISAIAH SIMMONS

  The Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice has been asked to explain why it
  was holding 46 youths at a residential program for juvenile offenders when it
  determined -- after a youth died -- that they could be released to the community,
  an analyst told lawmakers Monday.

  More >>
 

  2/27/07 - FOSTER DAD GETS 15 YEARS TO LIFE IN TODDLER'S DEATH

BATAVIA, Ohio (AP) -- A man pleaded guilty to murder Tuesday, admitting he
 left his 3-year-old foster son bound up in a closet where he died and then
 burned his body and threw the remains into the Ohio River.

 David Carroll Jr. was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, with an additional
 year in prison for his guilty plea to gross abuse of a corpse. More >>

 More news re Marcus

 FOSTER MOTHER SENTENCED TO 54 YEARS TO LIFE FOR CHILD'S DEATH

 BATAVIA, Ohio (AP) A woman in the Cincinnati area has been sentenced to 54
 years to life in prison in the death of a three-year-old foster son she left bound in
 a closet. More >>

 More news re Marcus

 BREAKING NEWS ALERT: FLORIDA KIDNAP SUSPECT AT LARGE

 Police searching for suspect Vicente Ignacio Beltran Marina have issued a warrant for his arrest.
 He is suspected of kidnapping 13-year old Clay Moore in front of his school mates at a bus stop.

 The boy escaped his captor using a safety pin attached to his shirt to rip through duct tape.
 Safety tips for parents, News articles >>


      Vicente Ignacio Beltran Marina,
                      Suspect                                                                                                                                                          

   2/25/07

 WARRANT ISSUED FOR FLORIDA KIDNAP SUSPECT

 PARRISH, Fla. - A warrant was issued Sunday for a man
 suspected of kidnapping a 13-year-old boy at gunpoint from
 a school bus stop, authorities said. More >>

  Watch sheriff explain how police found the boy

    2/22/07

  CONDITIONS AT YOUTH LOCK-UP RANKLE LEGISLATORS

  Members of a House panel that focuses on children said Wednesday that they are outraged that the state spends, on
  average, about $ 70, 000 a year per bed at the 143-bed Alexander Juvenile Correctional Facility, yet conditions and
  services continue to be woefully inadequate. More >>

  2/22/07

  SPANKING BAN ABANDONED

  California Assemblywoman Sally Lieber has abandoned her plans to push for a legislative prohibition on parents spanking
  their children under age 4. More >>
 

  2/22/07

  FAMILIES BEHIND BARS: JAILING CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS

  Thanks to U.S. immigration policy, children (including infants and toddlers) whose parents are in immigration courts,
  are being locked up at detention centers. More >>
 

  2/20/07

TOO YOUNG TO DIE

 It strains the imagination to think of two parents who ask for relatively so little from a state government
 that's supposed to monitor the care of children placed in institutionalized homes and schools and
 instead get as horribly shortchanged as Michael and Lisa Carey. Article >>  More news  >>

 

  2/20/07 - UPSTATE NY WOMAN WHO STARVED YOUNG SON SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS

  CORTLAND, N.Y. -- A woman was sentenced to 15 years in state prison for starving her 5-year-old handicapped son,
  who was found sitting in a playpen infested with cockroaches and lice, wearing a diaper full of his own waste. More >>

  2/19/07 - LAWMAKERS PUSH TO PASS JONATHAN'S LAW

  County governments are calling on lawmakers at the Capitol to pass Jonathan's Law. The bill is named after a
  13-year-old autistic boy who died last week while under the care of two health care workers. More >>  WATCH VIDEO
 

  2/19/07 - ANOTHER COMPLAINT AGAINST O.D. HECK DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER

  Another complaint against the O.D. Heck Developmental Center in Niskayuna has led to a lawsuit. John Willett and his
  ex-wife, Tina Lupo, filed a lawsuit against the center, claiming their son was blinded in one eye after an attack there.
  The parents say their 26-year-old son was kicked by another resident and aides didn't take him to the hospital for
  two days. More >>  More news >>

  2/18/07 - UPDATE ON DEATH OF JONATHAN CAREY - Blog >>

CAREY'S FORMER CAREGIVER SPEAKS OUT

"I was completely shocked. Completely," said Mia Wirth. That was her response to the news that 13-year-old Jonathan Carey had died. Wirth worked as the boy's caregiver 6 years ago as an Albany County respite worker and now she wants to reach out to the Carey family.

"I'm very sad for them. I would hate to lose my 13-year-old," said Wirth.   WATCH VIDEO Read article, More news

  2/17/07 - ANOTHER CHILD DIES WHILE BEING RESTRAINED - More >>  Watch video   Blog

 
                                                Jonathan on an outing with his family last December

         
           Edwin Tirado                  Nadeem Mall                 Police Chief Steve Heider          Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno

  Jonathan Carey, an autistic boy who was a resident at the O.D. Heck Developmental Center, was restrained in a van while
  staff were running errands. Though he was clearly having difficulties breathing they continued running their errands for another
  1 1/2 hours. When they returned to the facility emergency crews were called. The child could not be revived. The two staff
  are being charged in his death. Jonathan was also abused in another facility in 2004. His parents have been fighting to have
  his records unsealed so they can find out what happened. More >> Watch video

  UPDATE

SENATOR OUTRAGED OVER BOY'S TREATMENT


Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno said he's outraged at what happened to Jonathan
Carey, 13. The disabled boy died after an aide from the O.D. Heck Developmental
Center restrained him. More >>  Watch Video

Tragically, just over two weeks before his death, Jonathan's parents were seeking
answers about the abuse he endured at another treatment facility. More >>
 

    2/15/07

2007 - UPDATE

Senator Trudy Schmidt introduces Senate Bill 288 - click here; News article - click here

Montana Legislature - Detailed Bill Information - click here

Status of Senate Bill 288 - click here

2007 Montana Legislature Information - click here
 

  2/15/07

MOVIE REVIEW: JESUS CAMP

Jesus Camp is one of the Oscar nominated documentaries this year. I found it both fascinating and terrifying at the same time. It is the only nominated documentary I have seen so far, but I can certainly understand why it earned a nomination. If it is anything to judge the others by, the documentaries this past year have been excellent. More >>

  2/15/07 

AUTISM'S SPREAD BRINGS A MYSTERY AND A LAWSUIT
A new report finds that one in every 60 boys in New Jersey has autism -- nearly twice the national rate. Youth in the study were affected regardless of race, and the trend is spread equally throughout the state. More >>
 

  2/14/07

WHEN OUR SYSTEMS FAIL PEOPLE DIE

Timothy Souders died of dehydration in his prison cell. He should have been treated in a
mental hospital for his condition but instead was placed in prison where he was held
down in chains for up to 17 hours at a time. WARNING: This video is hard to watch, but
tells the story of his death. Click here for CBS story.

 

SPOTLIGHT ARTICLE: MY ADVENTURES IN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

 Between the ages of 16 and 21, I was prescribed more than fifteen different stimulants,
 antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. The cure was worse than the
 disease. More >>

 (Compliments of PURE at www.helpyourteens.com)
 

DRUG OVER-USE IN CHILDREN AND TEENS

 Over-drugging of youth, including in the foster care system, has grown into a huge national problem
 with no signs of slowing down. Some of the drugs prescribed to children and teens are known to
 cause suicidal tendencies, yet they continue to be prescribed. Some children have reported they
 were given up to 18 different drugs at one time.

 WATCH ON YOU TUBE: DRUGGING FOSTER CHILDREN (click here to watch)

 2/10/07

STATE'S MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM FAILS GIRL

On the outside, it looks like the story of a little girl’s traumatic death in a treatment center last year will end with sentencing in March of a social worker and the corporation for which he worked.

But an in-depth look into the state’s review of practices at the Rice Lake Day Treatment Center and interviews with those who still mourn for 7-year old Angellika Arndt suggest that the story isn’t over by a long shot. More >>

  For more information, Angellika "ANGIE" Arndt's story "Bubbles in my Milk",and more.

  2/8/07

                           CASE OF MISSING LAS VEGAS TWO YEAR OLD FOSTER CHILD REVISITED More>>>

                            
                                                       Everlyse Cabrera - missing for nearly a year

  2/8/07

  GRAFTON SCHOOL STARTED WITH ONE BOYCE MOTHER

Elevated sidewalks connect the buildings at the Grafton School. The school has the capacity
to house 88 students. A facility designed to meet the needs of many disabled children started
with the needs of one. More ...

  2/7/07

  BILL SEEKS JUVENILE SYSTEM REFORM
  The state would be required to oversee the training of staff at private residential programs for juvenile offenders like the
  Bowling Brook Preparatory School, where a student died last month, under legislation pending in Annapolis.More ...

  2/5/07

  ACADEMY DIRECTORY COULD FACE CHARGES

 Randall Hinton, left, proposed a military-style school for troubled teens to the Boonville City
 Council in Spring 2005. He and his brother, Russell, hoped to operate the school at the
 former Kemper Military School campus, now owned by the city. The proposal was voted
 down by the council. More ...
 

  2/5/07

UPDATE: MISSOURI SUSPECT CHARGED WITH SODOMY

A Missouri man accused of kidnapping two boys and holding one for more than four years was charged Monday with molesting them nearly 70 times.

The charges were the first time authorities have openly accused Michael Devlin of molesting the children. More ...
 

  2/5/07
 
 UPDATE ON USE OF BODY SOX ON AUTISTIC AND OTHER SCHOOL CHILDREN

 When his preschool child was put into one of these "Body Sox" as a form of discipline one father
 filed a complaint. The school board has concluded the school did nothing wrong in using this device
 and plans to use it on "all" of their students as they see fit. more

FEATURE STORY: February 4, 2007

ONE YEAR AGO TODAY: GIOVANNI "JOEY" ALETRIZ LOST HIS LIFE more

                                               Attorney Peter Karoly lost his life Friday in a plane crash
                                              Two days before the 1st anniversary of Joey's death more

                           
                                                          Peter Karoly, right, with Joey's mom and dad                                            Mom and Joey

  Please light a candle for Joey and his family who are grieving his loss and loss of their friend, Peter click here

Visit Joey's Site and see the beautiful little boy he was and the tremendous void his death has caused

Joeys' Main Page
 

 
 LISTEN TO INTERVIEW WITH NEWS FIRST 5/30 JAMES JARMAN ABOUT HINTON'S ARREST
(Once you click on link above, click on News First Video)

 

   3 PREGNANT GIRLS ARE STILL MISSING (click here) ONE TURNED HERSELF IN (click here)
   Blog: 3 pregnant missing teens; why they might have run

   RANDALL HINTON BACK IN COURT : Hinton has been ordered to stay away from the kids (click here) (Blog) YOU TUBE

   SEMINOLE EX-TEACHER GAMBLES AND LOSES : Now a felon, Kathleen Garrett faces 5 years in prison (click here)

  Attention Staff: A Call for Help (click here)

  Help Stop Child Abuse Now
  Contact Childhelp at 1-800-4-A-CHILD
 

  2/1/07
 
 CASEWORKER CHARGED WITH STEALING GIFT CARD INTENDED FOR CHILD

  A state Child Protective Services caseworker is accused of stealing a $200 gift card that was
  intended as a Christmas present for a child in protective custody. (Click here).
 

  1/30/07

  BETHEL BOYS ACADEMY IN THE NEWS: CAMP CENSURED FOR SEYMOUR TEEN'S TORTURE

      "The claim states Paolillo was:
        Denied medical treatment for two weeks for a broken bone that was protruding through his flesh
        While injured, he was beaten, rolled through the dirt and interrogated until he could not remember who he was

        The claim further states:
        His Italian heritage and sexuality were repeatedly insulted
        School leaders encouraged the abusive behavior
        School leaders owned a pit bull trained to attack students by biting them in their crotch area
        The dog was also allowed to urinate and defecate in the student barracks
        A school leader would regularly bite students’ ears, bragging "how he could see sunlight through the open wound"
        Paolillo was told by school leaders if he told anyone about the beatings "they would find him and seek retribution
        no matter where he went in the country."

        Joseph Paolilo was awarded $900,000 but was also sentenced to 20 years in a psychiatric hospital

        Eight other families filed a civil suit with similar claims. The case is pending.
  
Joseph Paolilo was abused - beaten and tortured - at Bethel Boys Academy and has
finally had his day in court. This young man was awarded $900,000 and has been
sentenced to 20-years in a psychiatric hospital for trying to kill his parents.

His father said he has learned about the routine beatings and mental abuse from a
drill instructor with a pit bull trained to bite in the crotch. "They beat him viscously,"
his father said. "I feel relieved that some satisfaction was given to my son, so he can
seek professional treatment and counseling." (Click here for articles, click here for
more Bethel Boys news - the facility, once renamed "Eagle Point Academy" has again
been renamed to Pine View Academy. The facility is now operated by
Fountain's son, John Fountain.
 

      The civil case with eight other families is still pending. Those families, too, allege severe abuse and torture.

  1/29/07

  RESTRAINT DEATH OF ISAIAH SIMMONS

  Initial reports:

  "Four youths who witnessed his death immediately told their lawyers that they watched Isaiah Simmons suffer
  an excruciating death. Students say staff sat on Isaiah for three hours until he passed out and died."

  A Maryland senator said that the Juvenile Justice System in their state "is an embarrassment, it is the worse
  system we have in our whole government, and has been for years. It is in need of total overhaul."

  Isaiah allegedly acted out in a dinner line and had to be restrained. The incident occurred during dinnertime
  around 5 p.m. and officials were not called until after 8 p.m., over three hours later. Officials have shown
  concern as to what happened during that window of time. (Click here for articles).
 

  1/29/07

IN MEMORY OF MATTHEW GOODWIN
March 4, 1987 to February 6, 2002 

February 6 will mark the five-year anniversary of the restraint death of Matthew Goodwin who
died of Pneumonia, respiratory distress, and blood poisoning, after he had been kept in
mechanical restraints for 16 months at The Bancroft institution in NJ.The facility where
he died is flourishing, no charges were ever brought in his death, and the state of NJ has
yet to pass Matthew's Law and to offer protection to other children in similar situations.
(Click here for more information about Matthew, more information on CAICA'S BLOGS)

  1/28/07

  NEW CAICA BLOG: ATTENTION STAFF, A CALL FOR HELP
  Children are crying out for help. They need staff to come forward and do what they are required by law
  to do - report child abuse and/or neglect. Reporting could save the life of a child. (Click here for Blog).
 

  1/28/07

 SEMINOLE EX-TEACHER GAMBLES AND LOSES

 Kathleen Garrett had gambled before and won. When the mother of an autistic child
 complained seven years ago that Garrett was an abuser, she fought back and kept
 her teaching job. And earlier this month she rejected a plea deal, gambling that she
 would beat a second round of child-abuse complaints. Now a felon, Kathleen Garrett
 faces 5 years in prison (click here).
 

  1/28/07

        
   Foster care death: 20-month old Nathaniel Saunsoci-Mitchell
   CLOSER TO ANSWERS (click here for articles)
 

  1/27/07

  INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS: CULTURAL ASSIMILATION AND DESTRUCTION
  (Click here for article)
 

  1/27/07 - PRESS RELEASE
 
  KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER ACT BRINGS CONGRESS TOGETHER ON VITAL ISSUE

  Washington, DC—The Bazelon Center commends members of the House and Senate who
  this week reintroduced the "Keeping Families Together Act" (KFTA). The legislation would
  end the need for parents to relinquish custody of a child in order to access necessary mental
  health services. (Click here for more).
 

  1/23/07 - Two compelling documentaries

"NO PLACE FOR A CHILD" - DOCUMENTARY
    Click here for documentary, Click here for story
 “No Place for a Child” is a documentary that follows five children through the Indiana
 Child Welfare system for seven years.
 
 "WHO'S WATCHING THE KIDS?" A COMPELLING DOCUMENTARY
    Click here for documentary: Montana PBS: Producer Anna Rau
 

  1/23/07

  Parents of the three missing girls were not immediately notified of their missing daughters. Police are saying they
  did this to protect the families. Parents, in my opinion, have a right to know IMMEDIATELY when their child, pregnant
  or not, is missing from an institution that is caring for them - these are minor girls aged 15 and 16. One mom, Gina
  Castro, spoke out she is concerned about her daughter's safety.

FAMILIES OF PREGNANT RUNAWAYS WORRIED

A week ago, three pregnant teens allegedly hit a 53-year-old woman with a
frying pan, tied her up with electrical cords and ran away with her SUV,
credit card and cell phone.

Still on the run, the girls' running away from the New Hope Maternity Home
on Jan. 16 ... click here for more.

  1/23/07

PARENTS HONOR "SWEET" JAMES:
'WE WILL CARRY HIM IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER'

The parents of slain “sweet, funny, kind” student James Alenson broke their silence
yesterday saying that they are devastated by the loss of their 15-year-old boy, who
was stabbed to death at his suburban school.

(Click here for articles).
 

  1/23/07

  HUDSON GIRL ARRESTED AFTER THREAT OF ATTACK
  A 16-year-old girl accused of threatening to kill two middle schoolers with a knife was intercepted early yesterday
  before she could head out the door to school. The Hudson girl, police said, targeted two 13-year-old girls from nearby
  Northboro in an online chat room Sunday. The threat came two days after a student at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional
  High School was stabbed to death by another student. (Click here for article).

  1/21/07
 

EXPERTS SAY ASPERGER'S DEFENSE LIKELY

Asperger’s syndrome has been used as a defense with some success in cases
of violence, experts say, suggesting it may arise when the fatal stabbing of a
student at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School eventually goes to court.
(Click here for articles)

  1/21/07

  THREE PREGNANT TEENS WHO ESCAPED NEW HOPE MATERNITY HOME
  IN UTAH BELIEVED TO STILL BE ON THE RUN (click here for update)
  Director believed to have former affiliations with WWASPS

  
     Three pregnant teens escape New Hope Maternity Home in Utah
 

  1/20/07

  16-YR OLD AUTISTIC BOY STABS AND KILLS STUDENT - CHARGED WITH MURDER

        
         Ogdren with attorney, Jonathan Shapiro                    John Odgren                  James Alenson, 15, died after being stabbed

  Moments after he fatally stabbed a classmate at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School yesterday morning,
  John Odgren was worrying about his victim ... Odgren was charged with killing James F. Alenson, 15,
  of Sudbury in a school restroom shortly after 7 a.m.  (Click here for articles.)                          
 

  1/19/07

 
 SEX OFFENDER APPLIES FOR SCHOOL AS A BOY

 PHOENIX - A charter school alerted authorities to a 29-year-old sex offender
 who tried to enroll there, pretending he was just 12, in what sheriff's officials
 said Friday may have been an attempt to lure children into sexual abuse.
 (Click here for article.)

  1/19/07

  AUTISTIC STUDENTS MUST TESTIFY IN ABUSE CASE AGAINST TEACHER

Circuit Judge Clayton Simmons made the ruling at a pretrial hearing Thursday
 in the case against Kathleen Garrett. Trial is expected to begin next week
 against the 26-year veteran of Seminole County public schools charged with
 physically abusing the students, who ranged in age from 12 to 15. (Click here)

FORMAL CHARGES: Court Document (PDF file)
REPORT: Garrett Arrest Report (PDF file)
LETTER: Teachers' Union Responds (PDF file)

  1/19/07 - NEWS ALERT: 3 PREGNANT GIRLS STILL MISSING

  THREE PREGNANT GIRLS FLEE NEW HOPE MATERNITY HOME IN UTAH

  After three pregnant teenagers hit their group home director over the head with a frying pan and tied her up, one of
  them reportedly told the woman, "You're a good person. We just need to do what we need to do." The teens stole
  her keys and her van. That was Tuesday morning - the last time anyone reported seeing the girls (click here).

  Video

  View This Story

  1/18/07

  PARENTS THINK KIDNAPPED SON WAS MOLESTED

ST. LOUIS - The parents of a kidnapped Missouri boy said Thursday they believe their son was
 molested during the four years he was missing, and his grandmother claimed his captor had
 awakened the boy every 45 minutes, apparently as a way to control him. (Click here for article.)

 
  FAMILIES OF KIDNAPPED BOYS TALK TO OPRAH WINFREY (Click here for article.)

  1/18/07
 
 OUT OF SIGHT: MISSING CHILDREN OF AMERICA
 
 Learn about Warning Signs and What To Do, Services and Resources by State, Sex
 Offender Registries by State, and more (click here).  

 PROTECTING CHILDREN ONLINE

 Learn about online pornography and how to protect your kids (click here).

  MORE BREAKING NEWS

  CANON CITY PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTOR ARRESTED

A man who runs a school for troubled kids in Cañon City is accused of assaulting some students there and police say it's not the first time he's faced these kinds of allegations.

32 year-old Randall Hinton was arrested on charges of assault in the third degree, false imprisonment and reckless endangerment.

Employees say Hinton is the Director of the Royal Gorge Academy.
(Click here for article) More news articles (click here)
 

  1/18/07
 
 NOT GUILTY PLEA IN MISSOURI KIDNAP

 (CBS/AP) A man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of kidnapping a
 13-year-old Missouri boy who was found four days later in the man's
 apartment with another boy who had been missing for more than four
 years (click here).
 

1/17/07

  ACADEMY OFFICIAL RANDALL HINTON APPEARS IN COURT TUESDAY

The Royal Gorge Academy official recently arrested on charges of third-degree assault,
 false imprisonment and reckless endangerment appeared in court for the first time
 Tuesday. Randall Hinton of Canon City, 32, was arrested Jan. 9 by Canon City Police
 Department after allegations were made by at least one student at the private school
 led to charges being filed. His sentencing hearing is scheduled January 24th at
 8:15 a.m. (Click here for article, click here for more news).

  1/17/07

  3 GIRLS ARRESTED IN VIDEOTAPED BEATING
  Video Posted Online Shows Vicious Attack By Trio Of Teenage Girls On 13-Year-Old

(NOTE: Beating occurred in December, girl did not tell her parents. When
 the girls who performed the beating put the video on the Internet, they did
 not expect police to find it. They were arrested.)

(CBS/AP) A 13-year-old who police say thought she was meeting another
 teenager to resolve a love triangle was instead dragged by her hair and
 punched and kicked repeatedly in the head — an attack made very public
 in a video posted online and broadcast nationwide (click here for article,
 click here for video).

 

  1/16/07 

  RANDALL HINTON UPDATE - MAN MUST AVOID CONTACT WITH CANON CITY SCHOOL

  A man (Randall Hinton) accused of hurting students at a school he ran for troubled kids in Canon City, can no longer have
  contact with the school or any former or current students. (Click here for article, click here for more news).

  1/15/07

 MAN WHO PROPOSED MILITARY-STYLE SCHOOL IN BOONVILLE
 ARRESTED IN COLORADO

 Randall Hinton, who in April 2005 presented the City of Boonville with a proposal for a
 military-style school at the site of the former Kemper Military School, has been arrested
 in Colorado for abusing students at a school where he serves as director. According to
 reports from a Cañon City, Colo. television station and newspaper, a man who proposed
 establishing a military-style school in Boonville has been arrested on child abuse charges
 in Colorado. (Click here for article, click here for more news).

 

  1/13/07

   PARENTS DISCUSS DISCOVERY OF MISSING MISSOURI BOYS

        
      Ben and family reunited        Mom and son reunited - Missing 4 years              Smiling Ben

   "Shawn is a miracle ..." (Click here for article)

   Shawn's family has worked for years helping other families search for missing family members.
   (Click here for their website "The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation")
 
  Shawn Hornbeck smiles at his mom, Pam Akers (Click here for powerful video of their reunion)  

  Shawn's mother, Pam Akers, and his stepfather, Craig Akers, were elated at having Shawn back, four years
  after he vanished. (Watch a tearful Craig Akers describe the phone call he says he will remember for ever )

 "We've got a lot of catching up to do," said a tearful Pam Akers. "He's grown up on me, that's for sure." "Shawn
  is a miracle here," she said.  (Watch the boys shortly after being rescued ) (Click here for article)

  1/13/07 

  15 FOSTER KIDS TAKEN OUT OF HOMES - ONE CHILD DIED LAST MONTH

  A state sweep of foster homes managed by a now-closed private agency has resulted in the removal of 15
  children from eight of the homes, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
  said Friday.

  Patrick Crimmins said he could not provide the homes' locations or detail why the children needed to be
  removed. He did say that state foster care standards had been violated in the eight homes. (Click here for article)

  POLICE: FOSTER MOM DELAYED HELPING GIRL

 As 6-year-old Katherine Frances suffered from a skull fracture, brain damage, internal
 bleeding and bruising to her eye, hip and arms, her foster mother was at a coin-operated
 laundry washing the blanket on which she had been beaten, police say.

 On Nov. 25, DeSoto police were called when Katherine and her 8-year-old sister were
 hospitalized for bruises. Katherine suffered severe bruising on her forehead, both cheeks,
 neck, shoulders, arms, back and chest, in addition to injuries on her pelvic bone area,
 directly above her pubic area and on her buttocks, court records show.

 (Click here for article, click here for Katherine's Main Page)  Click here for video
 

  1/13/07

  4-YEAR OLD'S FATHER TAKEN INTO CUSTODY: SUSPECTED OF DECAPITATING DAUGHTER

 John Patrick VioletteJohn Patrick Violette, 37, of Clayton was taken into custody early
 this morning in Washington, D.C., and faces murder charges in connection with the
 death of his 4-year-old daughter Friday, the U.S. Marshals Service and Clayton police
 have confirmed. (Click here for articles)

  1/12/07

  NEW BLOG: ISABELLE ZEHNDER: RESTRAINTS THAT KILL KIDS

CAICA has been tracking deaths of children in residential facilities for some time. We
 have found 52 children who have died within the past ten years as a result of being
 restrained. These are needless deaths that can be prevented. It is our hope that the
 children who have died will not have died in vain, but rather that their stories can be
 used to bring about change so that other children will not have to endure what these
 children, and their families, have had to endure.

 Please visit this new Blog and leave your comments - what you experience today
 may be a comfort to someone tomorrow. (Click here for Blog.)
Joey's mom, Joey's voice
 

  1/11/07

  RANDALL HINTON: ACADEMY PUTS OFFICIAL ON LEAVE

  The private school official arrested on charges of assaulting a student has been placed on administrative leave
  by the Royal Gorge Academy. Randall Hinton of Cañon City, 32, was released on $2,500 bail following his arrest
  Tuesday on charges of third-degree assault, false imprisonment and reckless endangerment. (Click here)

  1/11/07

  DIRECTOR OF CANON CITY ROYAL PEAK (ROYAL GORGE) ACADEMY ARRESTED

  (AP) CANON CITY, Colo. Police have arrested the director of the Royal Gorge Academy on several charges of
  mistreating children. (Click here for article, click here for more news)

  1/10/07

  PRESS RELEASE: RANDALL HINTON ARRESTED AT ROYAL GORGE ACADEMY
  (formerly ROYAL PEAK ACADEMY) (en Français, voir ci-dessous)

                       
                            Randall Hinton (center)                     Royal Gorge Academy formerly Royal Peak Academy

  Canon City, CO (January 10, 2007) Randall Hinton, who has long history of working with troubled youth, was
  arrested last night. In a telephone interview with Jeff Worley, an Investigator with the Canon City Police Department
  in Canon City, CO, CAICA learned a search was done on the premises. According to Officer Worley, a vast majority
  of the students were interviewed. (Click here for more) En Français: Randall Hinton Arrete (cliquer ici)

 12/21/06

  WWASPS ATTACKED AGAIN - PLAINTIFF TOLL RISES TO 82 IN TEXAS LAWSUIT
 
 The Turley Law Firm in Dallas, Texas, initially filed a lawsuit on behalf of one plaintiff
 in August 2006. In October 2006, 26 more were added. Yesterday, another 55 new
 plaintiffs joined the lawsuit, for a total of 82 plaintiffs. (Click here for PRESS RELEASE)

 Plaintiffs are both parents who feel they were defrauded by WWASPS and former students
 who were abused and/or neglected during their stay at one or more of WWASPS facilities
 inside and outside the US.

 Chase, et al. v. World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, et al.

 Click here for original Complaint filed August 25, 2006
 Click here for 8/26/06 Press Release
 Click here for First Amended Complaint filed October 11, 2006
 Click here for 10/16/06 Press Release
 Click here for Second Amended Complaint filed December 19, 2006
 Click here for 12/21/06 Press Release