New Page 2

Three pregnant teens escape New Hope Maternity Home in Utah

New Hope Maternity Home, American Fork, Utah
Director believed to have former affiliations with WWASPS

New Hope Maternity Home

1082 N. 370 E. American Fork, Utah 84003
Phone: 801-763-7348 Fax: 801-492-4150
E-Mail: spencerkmoody@yahoo.com

Spencer and his wife, Jana, were the previous owners of
New Beginnings Maternity Home in Kanab, Utah. (Click here and see below)

New Beginnings is believed to be associated to the World
Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS)

New Beginnings is believed to have closed, another program has opened in its place

Families have filed lawsuits claiming WWASPS-associated
facilities are abusive, parents claim they were defrauded.

NEWS:

2/1/07: Update on pregnant teens

1/30/07: Pregnant Utah Teen On The Run Turns Herself In

1/24/07: Van stolen by pregnant teens recovered in L.A.

1/24/07: Utah Mother Worried About Runaway Teens

1/24/07: Pregnant trio, including girl from Illinois, may be in California

1/23/07: Police are still looking for missing teens

1/23/07: Families of pregnant runaways worried

1/23/07: Pregnant trio may be in California

1/20/07: Pregnant teen rebels still on the run

1/19/07: Shock turns to compassion for alleged assailants

1/19/07: 3 pregnant teens on the run

1/19/07: 3 Pregnant teens attack Utah group home director with frying pan, flee stolen van

1/19/07: Pregnant girls flee maternity home: beat and tied up director, stole her van

1/18/07: Husband of woman beaten by teens speak out

UPDATE ON PREGNANT TEENS

February 1, 2007

-- American Fork police Sgt. Shauna Greening said police are following leads after interviewing the 15-year-old pregnant teen who turned herself in after running away from a group home two weeks ago.

The teen ran away from the New Hope Maternity Home with two other teens after hitting the caretaker with a frying pan and tying her up, along with another pregnant teenager. The trio fled to California.

The 15-year-old was from California, and contacted her mother, who Greening said convinced the girl to turn herself in. They drove to Utah and she was booked into the Slate Canyon Juvenile Detention facility.

The girls are wanted on charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, theft of a motor vehicle and use of a stolen credit card. Greening said charges were filed against the 15-year-old from California on Tuesday.

Greening said the two missing girls "may or may not be in Los Angeles."

"We are just still trying to locate them," she said.

KUTV 2

Pregnant Utah Teen On The Run Turns Herself In

January 30, 2007

A pregnant teenager on the run for two weeks after a trio of girls allegedly attacked an American Fork maternity home director has turned herself in to police.

American Fork police Sgt. Shauna Greening says the 15-year-old surrendered to police Monday afternoon.

The girl is now in a juvenile detention facility awaiting a hearing to address allegations of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated robbery and auto theft.

Greening says the girl's mother drove her to the station from California after making arrangements with police.

The girl is among three teens who police say used a frying pan to assault Jana Moody and fled the New Hope Maternity Home on Jan. 26th. The girls stole Moody's credit card and a van, which was later found abandoned in California.

The other teens remain on the run.

Van stolen by pregnant teens recovered in L.A.

January 24, 2007
By Ann Shields Special to The Tribune

AMERICAN FORK - Police may be one step closer to finding three pregnant teenagers who are accused of beating up the director of their group home and stealing her van. The girls have been missing for more than a week.

But on Tuesday, police here announced the discovery of the director's van, which was found in Los Angeles County, said American Fork police Sgt. Shauna Greening. The search for the girls also was enhanced Tuesday when their identities were listed on a national criminal database, which police hope will assist in tracking them down.

Police Chief Lance Call said charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, auto theft and criminal mischief have been filed with juvenile court and registered on the FBI's National Crime Information Center.

The girls, two of them 15 and one 16-year-old, allegedly attacked the director of New Hope Maternity Home, at 1082 N. 370 East, on Jan 16. After binding her with duct tape, the girls took her purse, cell phone, video camera, credit cards and van, police said.

They are from California, Illinois and Texas, and police believe they will go to their home areas, Call said. Gina Castro, of Chicago, the mother of the 16-year-old, told the Provo Daily Herald that she hasn't heard from her daughter and "is frantic for news." She believes her daughter is in California as the girl has called an aunt in northern California. The girl also has contacted her boyfriend, the father of her baby, but "that was a few days ago," said Castro.

Michael N. Westley contributed to this story.

Utah Mother Worried About Runaway Teens

January 24, 2007

AMERICAN FORK, Utah (AP) - Police have located the van they say was used by three pregnant teenagers to flee an American Fork maternity home after allegedly assaulting the director with a frying pan.

American Fork Sgt. Shauna Greening told Salt Lake City's KUTV television late yesterday that the van was found abandoned in Los Angeles County,

She says the van wasn't occupied. And officers there also found no clues that would lead them to the three girls.

Greening say police believe the girls may be getting help from friends to stay on the run.

Police thought the trio may have headed to California after speaking with Carlos Rivera, whose 16-year-old girlfriend is in the group.

Rivera, of Chicago, told police California was the destination mentioned by his girlfriend during a phone call last week.

Pregnant trio, including girl from Illinois, may be in California

January 24, 2007

AMERICAN FORK, Utah Police have located the van they say was used by three pregnant teenagers, including one from Illinois, to flee a Utah maternity home after allegedly assaulting the director with a frying pan.

Police in American Fork, Utah told Salt Lake City's K-U-T-V television late yesterday that the van was found abandoned in Los Angeles County.

Sergeant Shauna Greening says the van wasn't occupied. Officers there found no clues that would lead them to the teens.

Police believe the girls may be getting help from friends to stay on the run.

Authorities thought the trio may have headed to California after speaking with Carlos Rivera, whose 16-year-old girlfriend is in the group.

Rivera, of Chicago, told police that his girlfriend had mentioned California as a destination last week.

Police are still looking for 3 pregnant teens

January 23, 2007

AMERICAN FORK — Three pregnant teens who fled a maternity home in American Fork a week ago are still missing. Police say the girls, two 15 year olds and a 16 year old, hit the director of the home over the head with a frying pan, then took electrical cords and bound the woman, putting a sock in her mouth and taping it shut. They also tied up another girl, 17, who was staying at the facility, police said. Police say the girls, who hail from California, Texas, and Illinois, left in a minivan after stealing the director's purse, checkbook, credit cards, cell phone and video camera. Police believe the three girls have fled the state.

Pregnant trio may be in California

January 23, 2007

Investigators are cheering a break in the case of three pregnant teens who ran away from a group home in Utah County. The van the girls stole from the director of the home turned up today in Los Angeles. Still no sign, though, of the girls.

The three, ages 15 and 16, are not from Utah. When police finally track them down they will likely face charges of aggravated assault for attacking the director of the home with a frying pan, and tying her up.

Earlier:

AMERICAN FORK, Utah – Three pregnant teens who fled a maternity home after striking the caretaker with a frying pan may have traveled to California, a boyfriend said. Carlos Rivera of Chicago said that was the destination mentioned by his 16-year-old girlfriend during a phone call last week.

"I haven't talked to her for four days,” Rivera said Monday. The other girls, both 15, are from California and Texas. Police said they struck Jana Moody with a pan, then tied her and another pregnant girl and dashed in the woman's van Jan. 16.

They immediately used Moody's credit card to get gas, but there is no other evidence of spending, Police Chief Lance Call said.

“If they've gotten rid of that van, and they are keeping their heads down ... it's possible they could be gone for a while,” he said.

The girls likely will face charges in Utah County, Call said.

New Hope Maternity Home, 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, is a place for struggling teens to learn about prenatal care, adoption and parenting skills. They are sent by their families to get them away from drugs or bad relationships.

The 16-year-old's mother, Gina Castro of Chicago, is anxious for news.

“I'm scared to death for her life. My daughter's in more trouble now than she was before,” Castro said.

Families of pregnant runaways worried

January 23, 2007
By Natalie Andrews

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 has become fodder for pro-choice bloggers and made headlines from the United Kingdom to Oregon, especially in the girls' home states of California, Texas and Illinois. Two of the girls are 15, one is 16.

The 16-year-old's mother, Gina Castro of Chicago, is frantic for news of her daughter.

"I'm not getting any information at all from anybody, I'm scared to death for her life. My daughter's in more trouble now than she was before," Castro said. She said that until Monday the police hadn't called her about the alleged assault. She now believes her daughter is in California but can't get any confirmation.

American Fork Police Chief Lance Call said that they were talking to the families through Jana Moody, the caretaker of New Hope, who the girls allegedly bound and assaulted. Police had not talked to the families about their missing daughters.

He said that girls' warrants were updated Monday to reflect a kidnapping charge because they bound Moody and another pregnant 17-year-old in the New Hope Program. They are also wanted on charges of aggravated assault, stealing a vehicle and using the stolen credit card.

Call said police are watching for use of the stolen credit card and checkbook. After a week, the only expense the girls have had on the card was for fuel at an American Fork gas station.

If they don't use that, Call said that the girls could be difficult to find.

"It's possible, if they've gotten rid of that van, and they are keeping their heads down, in other words not attracting attention to themselves, it's possible they could be gone for awhile," he said.

But they can't hide forever. These girls have babies on the way, and babies don't wait for warrants to be served or charges to be filed. Call said that if police pulled them over for anything, the warrants would appear in the National Crime Information Center, and they would be arrested.

Moody was in charge of calling the girls' parents and telling them what happened. Call said not contacting the parents immediately was out of concern, to not overwhelm the families.

"Some people get very intimidated in talking to a police officer directly," Call said. "If we can just keep this as cooperative as we can, we'll be in a lot better shape for everyone."

Co-director of the home, Spencer Moody, told the Associated Press after the attack that they would be shutting down the home, despite having dozens of girls stay there without problems. American Fork police Sgt. Shauna Greening said that in the three years the home has been licensed, this was the first problem.

Castro said that her daughter has called her aunt, in northern California, and her boyfriend -- who is also the baby's father -- but even that was a few days ago. She has not called her.

"I've been trying to find out some information too, but I can't find anything out," said the boyfriend, Carlos Rivera of Chicago. He said he was worried for his girlfriend and his unborn child's safety.

"I haven't talked to her for four days, so I don't know what's going on," he said.

The girls have been missing for seven days. He said he didn't know where the girls were, though last time they talked, they were going to California.

Castro suspects that her daughter didn't want to give her baby up for adoption, when friends and family members were telling her to. It may be one of the reasons why the girls decided to run.

The New Hope Maternity Home Web site says that the program houses the girls for the term of their pregnancies and two months afterward. It provides both parenting classes and counseling for girls who choose adoption.

Castro said she knew her 16-year-old daughter didn't like being at New Hope. Far away from her friends and boyfriend, the girl didn't like not being able call or e-mail them. That's what her mother wanted, originally.

"That was my whole plan, trying to get her away from the whole elements in Chicago, going through a teen intervention program," Castro said. "Now she's in a worst position when she started."

Natalie Andrews can be reached at 344-2548 or nandrews@heraldextra.com.

Police are looking for a silver 2005 Dodge Caravan, Utah license 128 VTX. Anyone with information can call the American Fork police at 763-3020.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.

Pregnant teen rebels still on the run

January 20, 2007

More news

AMERICAN FORK, Utah (AP) - Three pregnant teens who overwhelmed the caretaker of a maternity home with a frying pan, power cord and duct tape remained on the run, police said Friday.

The girls used the victim's credit card to immediately get a tank of gas Tuesday, but there was no evidence of it being used elsewhere, police Sgt. Shauna Greening said.

"I don't know what their finances are," she said.

The teens, two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old from Illinois, California and Texas, struck Jana Moody with a frying pan, then tied her and another pregnant girl and dashed in the woman's van, Greening said.

Moody's husband, Spencer Moody, said one of the girls told his wife: "You're a good person. We just need to do what we need to do." She was not seriously injured.

The couple's New Hope Maternity Home, 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, is a place for struggling teens to learn about prenatal care, adoption and parenting skills. They are sent by their families to get them away from drugs or bad relationships.

"We haven't had one negative experience with a girl. ... We're just hoping they're found OK," Spencer Moody, 53, said.

http://www.strugglingteens.com/archives/2004/12/dec04newsviews.html

HOME FOR PREGNANT TEENS
(October 20, 2004) Spencer and Jana Moody, New Beginnings Maternity Home, Kanab, UT, 435-644-8648, moodman@kanab.net, www.nbmaternityhome.com, announced the formation of their residential support facility that is specifically setup to assist programs who accept a new intake and then learn she is pregnant. Their goal is to help the girls get through their pregnancy with the possibility of returning to the original treatment program. The advantages listed indicate the referring program will receive a $500 referral fee for each placement, provides a service for parents, and parents may decide to continue with the original program after the birth. (This depends on whether the girl is adopting out or keeping the baby, etc.).

Note: The above-mentioned website is no longer in existence. However, we were able to locate
the website, naming Spencer Moody as the director: http://web.archive.org/web/20040402143744/nbmaternityhome.com/gpage2.html

From their website: Educational Director Spencer Moody holds a Masters of Education Degree from Southern Utah University. He has had over 8 years teaching "At-Risk" students. In addition he has taught multimedia, TV production, theater, speech and debate, and has coached football, wrestling and track. He believes that all students can succeed through nurture and encouragement... that in celebrating what's right, we can find the passion to fix what's wrong.

New Beginnings has teamed up with Christa McCauliffe Academy in being able to offer an accredited school anytime, anyplace, and any pace. This allows girls to come in at any time during the school year and to continue their education. It also allows them to make up missed credits.

For those in a different set of circumstances, a GED program is available. Whatever the situation, our education program will be customized to best fit the individual needs of each girl.

Click here for website promoting New Beginnings and Spencer Moody