Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Troubled Teen Industry

Pinehaven Christian Children's Ranch - new entry on the wiki

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Ursus:
These comments appear to have been heavily moderated. Compared to what I had previously copied (just the first few below), the earlier comment by David now currently reads as "This comment has been deleted by the administrator." The second comment by him, as well as the one by larrywanders, is now missing entirely.

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Comments left for the above article, "Mother searches for teen missing in MT" (by Kate Greene, 06 Aug 2010, WTHItv.com):


ashley_kees 33p  · 5 weeks ago
why is this place even still open?!David 49p  · 5 weeks ago
We are asking the same questions. The problem is they are operating without need of licensing and without checks and balances.

Countless reports of abuse come in every month its so sad. And no authorities want to listen. And even Montana's media wont run this simple report about the missing boys.kenpscott 3p  · 4 weeks ago
David, you really know nothing of Pine Haven, when you lived here you were trying to "fit In with the Amish Community, they rejected you for a reason. You witch hunt on your own Blog is without merit.[/list]
larrywanders 61p  · 5 weeks ago
This comment has been deleted by the user.[/list]
David 49p  · 5 weeks ago
Larry,
I think those comments are on the other video.[/list]
anonymous1709 23p  · 5 weeks ago
they usually return within a day or two??? Where did that come from? I don't think anyone ever just walked back to the ranch a couple days later... "sorry guys i changed my mind..." I wish they would tell the world what happens when a kid gets caught after running away...jkatie 27p  · 4 weeks ago
I am very familiar with Pinehaven ranch. It has helped many troubled teens get their lives back on track and become very successful adults. These teens gain a high school diploma while at Pinehaven, they are taught every day life skills, and they even enjoy recreational activities. I know the great things that are done for these chldren if they choose to stay at this ranch.kenpscott 3p  · 4 weeks ago
I can tell you from being a former Sgt with the Lake County Sheriffs Department and a resident of St. Ignatius for 30 years that the negitive storys behind Pinehaven have no Merit. Your always going to have bad apples even when you try to make a difference in someone's life. Most kids that come there are damaged goods. I am talking about mental, Physical, and Sexual abuse. Some are repairable and some are not. There they have the first experence of disapline and being held accountable for their actions, and guess what........they don't like it. So they take off. Most of the kids there learn how God is so important to have in their lives and you can see the transformation of them in their faces. Yes no system is perfect, not everyone has all the answers, that goes with ANY school.snow_angel2006 1p  · 4 weeks ago
damaged goods?????? I personnally know one of the boys (he is family) and the mother of one of the others is a close friend of mine..they are not "damaged"..they might have issues (like we all do) that they need to address but everyone can change with the right advice, leadership etc. Obviously something caused the boys to leave..especially ones that have been in there for quite some time..if they were getting the right leadership and things to transform themselves..they would not of taken off..something is obviously amiss..I just hope and pray that they are all found safe and know God is watching over them...kenpscott 3p  · 4 weeks ago
hello, I can tell you I am praying with you, I just wished they could have gone to a phone and called someone. I am not saying they are all damaged but the majority have serious issues. I can tell you there are more sucess stories from Pinehaven then bad one's. Your going to get failures in any thing. look at the public schools, the sexual, physical and emotional abuse there. There are kids there who will buck the system because they do not want to held accountable, have responsibilities, or be diciplined PERIOD. Why do you think they go there in the first place. I can honestly say I don't know everything that goes on up there, but I have had house parents for friends, good people. not to mention the people who go there in teams from all over the county including Canada, Someone had to seen some of what pinehaven is accused of. Pay no attention to a man by the name of David Krug, this man has some serious mental issues, and is a fraud.[/list][/list]
kenpscott 3p  · 4 weeks ago
One day while on an investigation of an auto accident I came to the ranch and saw a young woman moving a manure pile with a shovel to another pile, I asked her why she was doing this, she stated to me she had a bad attitue and a dirty mouth. I asked her if the moving of this manure was going to make a difference, she said yes after the fist 20 trips from the first pile she knew she wanted to change. I saw her as the years passed by and she was a wonderful and polite girl, and graduated form the school there a bright young woman hungry for the Lord.
I have seen the faces of these kids at my anual 4th of July BBQ or when I am on the Pinehave Ranch, which I am a frequent visitor and have seen these kids transformed into bright, smart and respectful adults. Don't fall into the negitive stories, I suggest anyone who reads this to go there and ask some of the kids how they like it there, Look at the school and see what these kids do to learn to be productive adults. Ken ScottNeet94 1p  · 4 weeks ago
One person stated on here that if the person before them was a parent of a mentally challenged or physically challenged child or had to care for one then they would understand more how these parents could send their children so far away. Well, I read some more about this ranch and camp and nowhere did I read that it was for these kind of problem children. It seemed to me to be more of a behavioral problem child. Correct me if I'm wrong. I help my mother take care of my nephew who has diabetes, cebral palsy, bipolar, schizophrenic, mental retardation and obsessive-compulsive disorder so we have to hide anything that he desires unless it is something we don't care about . It is very challenging because unlike a (troubled teen) "Johnny" doesn't even understand nor can help it. In saying that, I don't think this ranch should not be too hard on these kids because they do understand and are capable of changing unless they feel trapped or that they feel its hopeless, because then they will bolt. Just my opinion..thanks for listening...God Bless!

All content © Copyright 2000 - 2010 LIN Television Corporation.

Ursus:
Video news coverage at the link...

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WTHITV.com
One of the missing Pinehaven teens found alive and is at home with family

Updated: Saturday, 07 Aug 2010, 11:20 PM EDT
Published : Saturday, 07 Aug 2010, 7:08 PM EDT

Tom Brodbeck


Adam Irwin

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - According to Bob Larsson, the director of Pinehaven Children's Christian Ranch in Montana, one of the missing teens from the Pinehaven ranch, Adam Irwin, has been found alive and is at home with his family in Normal, Illinois. News 10 has also contacted the family and they say he is at home with family.

Larsson said that Irwin was found by the Kallispel Police and was returned to Pinehaven for one night and was then flown back home the next day.

Irwin was originally caught by police on Wednesday in Kalispell, Montana, several miles north of where he ran away during a camping trip.

However, police said shortly after they caught Irwin, he took off again on his way to juvenile court.

When Irwin was asked why he ran away, Larsson said that he said he was “homesick.”

News 10 will keep you up to date on the other missing teens from the Ranch.


All content © Copyright 2000 - 2010 LIN Television Corporation.

Ursus:
Comments left for the above article, "One of the missing Pinehaven teens found alive and is at home with family" (by Tom Brodbeck, 07 Aug 2010, WTHItv.com):


Qhoeleth 20p  · 5 weeks ago
So glad he was found and returned homejkatie 27p  · 4 weeks ago
I, too, am glad he is home.
But what most people do not understand is the purpose of Pinehaven ranch.
Children are sent there by parents. They have to ask tyhe director of Pinehaven to come and take their children there. Most of these children are having disiplinary problems, very rebellious, and are doing things that will eventually cause them to end up in the court system. They can have a very good life at Pinehaven ranch if they so choose. They are taught skills that they can use when they get older. They are given structure, kindness, positive attention, even love. They are rewarded for their good behavior with weiner roasts, picnics, and so many other good things. They are fed well and have nice clothes and shoes. And they go to school on the ranch and graduate with a high school diploma. I know all this because my church and many other churches support Pnehaven ranch.anonymous1709 23p  · 4 weeks ago
I was there for four years. We NEVER had a weiner roast, or a picnic, or anything of that nature. We were fed well when we were not in trouble, but food was commonly taken away as a form of punishment. We have to graduate... that is the only way we get out of there. Please do not be fooled by a presentaion Bob showed your church. Alot of children do go there for disciplinary reasons, but not all of us. Some came there because their family situation was not the greatest and they were hoping to find refuge at the ranch. Most of us left with more problems than we ever had coming to the ranch. I encourage you to read our discussion board on Facebook... http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid...
that way you can get the whole story... Not just a slideshow of children who were threatened the loss of contact with their family if they didn't smile... please join our discussion... I would like to hear your thoughts and would be more than happy to answer any questions...[/list]
jkatie 27p  · 4 weeks ago
I am truly sorry for your situation. But it sounds as if you have a lot of pent up aggression toward authority.
I know several people --- friends of mine --- who have visited the ranch. Tney had nothing but good things to say. No one knew they were going to the ranch.
?
In your case Pinehaven?kept you off the streets and kept you from going hungry and kept you from getting in trouble and going to jail.
?
If I'm wrong about the statement? about agression against authority, I appologize.?
?
I look forward to hearing from you again. I can't visit you on facebook because I don't have an account.
?

?anonymous1709 23p  · 4 weeks ago
thank you for responding! Even if we disagree, its nice to talk to someone who is level-headed. I do not have aggression towards them at all. I did not go there because of a family situation, I had a serious attitude problem. I do believe that they taught me a measure of respect for authority that i did not have prior to my coming there. Unfortunately, I witnessed alot of abuse while I was there... Mental, physical, emotional and, yes, even sexual.

A teacher there went to prison after raping two of the girls there. I have seen kids thrown down the stairs, choked, punched... There was a pregnant girl that was dragged down the hill by four of the staff because she refused to run. There was the boy who ran away and was found dead three months later in the owner's trailor (his records were sealed so we can't get it investigated anymore???) Discipline is necessary... but the things I just listed are not proper discipline... it's abuse.jkatie 27p  · 4 weeks ago
It's so difficult for me?to absorb this as truth. But I'm not going to question your word. If all of this has happened in the name of God, it's wrong. I don't know whether or not you beleive in God. I do. And God is a just God. Bad things that are done in His name and those doing bad things in His name?have bad consequences!?
?
I am so sorry for all the bad?things you had to see and experience in your stay at Pinehaven.
?
Who owned the trailor?where the dead boy's body was found?
?
Your so right about the things you discribed as being abuse.?My husband and his sister?were abused when?they were children. Luckily they were not sexually abused. But at the time they went through all their abuse, there were no laws to protect them.
?
I don't know how old you are now, whether you are male or female. I just hope and pray that you are doing okay now.
?
I want to thank you for sending your reply to me. And I hope you continue to write me.
??

?anonymous1709 23p  · 4 weeks ago
To answer your questions... Andy Larsson, Bob Larsson's son. The boy was found in Andy's trailor. Andy has recently stepped down due to his 2 yr affair being exposed. I am 23 now, female... I am wonderful! I had a few rough years after I left Pinehaven, just because I was not prepared to enter "the real world", but once I figured things out, I started doing alot better. I do firmly believe in God... I'm glad we have that in common! He has carried me through the situations that brought me to Pinehaven as well as the things I went through while I was there... And I strongly believe He has put me in a position now to protect other children from simlar situations... He IS a just God... He seems to be sick of people doing evil things in His name and is putting an end to it now... Deaf ears are listening, blind eyes are seeing, and God is going to save those kids through the voice of His children who have escaped... Feel free to email me... mnmlive@live.com... I will try to forward you some info that way if you are interested...[/list][/list]
anonymous1709 23p  · 4 weeks ago
When visitors come to the ranch, the children that are in the most trouble are hidden. What the visitors see when they come to help us for a week is not the typical day to day routine... In fact, we look forward to your visits because the house parents are alot nicer when you're there. If they acted like that when you all were not there, there would not be a problem. Alot of people have not believed us in the past because of Bob's slide shows and the visits to the ranch... Fact is, if the ranch was what he tries to tell everyone it is, there would not be so many children from different years saying the opposite. Furthermore, the children who graduated from there who disagree would certainly have stepped up by now and voiced their opinion. There is not one person who used to live there who has come forward and said we are lying. All these kids Mr. Larsson is claiming he "helped" are no where to be found. We do not intend to say that nothing good comes out of the ranch. I learned many things there that I would not have ever learned had I not gone there. That just does not justify the wrong-doings.anonymous1709 23p  · 4 weeks ago
All of what I learned could have been taught with love, compassion, patience, and sensitivity (knowing that I came from a broken home, they could definitely have been gentle with their approach and showed me what a true family is supposed to look like). I can honestly say that, from my experience, as well as others I have talked to, I left Pinehaven with more problems than I ever had coming there.[/list][/list][/list][/list]


All content © Copyright 2000 - 2010 LIN Television Corporation.

Ursus:
News 10 also spoke with Salyers himself on the phone. He said he was homesick, but that there were other reasons for leaving. He said he didn't want to comment until he talks to his mom about everything.[/list]
I can only imagine what those "other reasons" might be...  

Two pieces of video news footage at the link:

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WTHITV.com · [Terre Haute, Indiana]
Missing Olney teen found in Montana
Wabash Valley teens runaway from Pinehaven

Updated: Tuesday, 10 Aug 2010, 11:48 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 10 Aug 2010, 5:13 PM EDT

Kate Greene



TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - News 10 has just learned that 16-year-old Chance Salyers of Olney, Illinois is now with his mother Rhonda Morris in Montana.

Morris spoke with News 10 via the phone on Tuesday and said Salyers called her to come pick him up in Kalispell, Montana.

News 10 also spoke with Salyers himself on the phone. He said he was homesick, but that there were other reasons for leaving. He said he didn't want to comment until he talks to his mom about everything.

This comes just a few days after 17-year-old Adam Irwin was caught by police in Kalispell.

Both boys had been living at Pinehaven Children's Christian Ranch in St. Ignatius, Montana for about a year. It's a ranch for troubled teens.

Irwin and Salyers ran off from a camp site 65 miles north of the ranch on July 15.

News 10 spoke with Irwin's grandfather Douglas Irwin who said the ranch is doing good things for teens. Irwin said Adam claimed he was homesick and that's the reason he left.

"Most of time I thought he was really happy out there, at least his comments sure was," Adam Irwin's grandfather Douglas Irwin said. "In some ways he would like to be back there but in other ways he's very glad to be home."

The other two Wabash Valley teens,14-year-old Cody Thompson of Olney, Illinois and 15 year-old Thom Morson of Terre Haute remain missing. They ran away together from the ranch on July 26.

News 10 asked Chance Salyers if he had seen either boy or knew of their whereabouts. He said he did look for the boys in Kalispell once he heard they went missing, but never saw them.


All content © Copyright 2000 - 2010 LIN Television Corporation.

Ursus:
Video news footage at the link...

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WTHITV.com · [Terre Haute, Indiana]
Last two missing teens found in Montana
Valley teens went missing from Pinehaven ranch

Updated: Tuesday, 17 Aug 2010, 2:37 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 16 Aug 2010, 2:51 PM EDT

Kate Greene



TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Fourteen-year-old Cody Thompson of Olney, Illinois and 15-year-old Thom Morson of Terre Haute were both found in Missoula, Montana.

Both boys went missing on July 26 in St. Ignatius, Montana at the Pinehaven Children's Christian Ranch for troubled teens.

Thompson and Morson were found after Thompson's mother Laraine Cornwell put flyers of her missing son in Montana. Cornwell told News 10 her prayers were answered when someone recognized his picture.

"I got a call from a lady later that morning and she said I know where your son is," Laraine Cornwell said.

Cody Thompson now sits with his mother, happy to be back home in Olney, Illinois. However, he said when he and Thom took off from Pinehaven ranch he was feeling very differently.

"That day, we were pretty depressed," Cody Thompson said.

Thompson and Morson ran away just 10 days after two other teens 16-year-old Chance Salyers of Olney, Illinois and 17-year-old Adam Irvin ran of Normal, Illinois way from a church camp about 65 miles north of the ranch on July 15. Salyers and Irvin were found in Kalispell, Montana last week.

What made Thompson run away?

Ever since News 10 aired the story about 4 Wabash Valley boys leaving Pinehaven, allegations of child abuse came into our newsroom and on social networking sites.

Thompson said he was never physically abused and never witnessed it, but he did hear about it.

"I heard about a bunch of stories about house kids having fist fights with their house parents," Thompson said. "As he was telling me, my house brothers tell me they saw it."

As for Thompson, he said Pinehaven was hard work, but it was more emotionall draining.

"It was hard because everyday I had to wake up and call someone else mom and dad," Thompson said. "I was told to call them mom and dad, I didn't have a choice, it was depressing."

Thompson said he did learn things from Pinehaven.

"I learned how to be respectful, and treat people right and change my ways and learn about God," Thompson said.

Thompson goes to court on Friday for violating probation. According to his mother, staying at Pinehaven was part of his court order.

His mother, Laraine said she wants to see that Pinehaven is regulated by the state.

According to Montana state law, alternative schools with a religious affiliate, like Pinehaven, are not monitored by the state.

As of right now, News 10 has been told none of the boys will return to the ranch.

To read a letter from Thom Morson's grandfather about Pinehaven, click here.


All content © Copyright 2000 - 2010 LIN Television Corporation.

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