Of course, it gets much worse when the program in question is under investigation. This was the case when I made my final exit from Straight, Inc. in late `82. I was not aware of the investigation till after I got out and even then only vaguely aware of the implications. That's the head trip part of the trap. My family had been involved in the Seed and Straight for something like a dozen years, or since I was 6 years old. I was so acculturated to all the craziness that I didn't really understand how wrong it all was or really believe that anyone would help me.
First my mother and a couple of other program mothers tried to kidnap me out of my bed at my brother's house. Given the choice between finally letting loose and beating all their asses and calling the law I took my chances with the law. Turns out 17 is (was?) the default age of emancipation for most purposes in Georgia. Cops sent Mom packin.
Next, my dad lied to the cops saying that I was in a department store with no money and had a history of shoplifting. Again, Stone Mountain, Georgia cops actually did their job and checked the story instead of just hustling me off to the newly opened Straight branch in Cobb County, Ga. Told Dad to quit the bullshit and leave me the hell alone.
When I tried to enroll in school my mom refused to release my transcript, so I took a couple of part time jobs to help with my brother's household expenses while I waited to come of age and get my own transcript. A couple of weeks go by like that before I was taken into custody by a couple of SM, Ga. detectives with an extradition order signed by some program zombie judge in Florida. The only "crime" they could cite was "chronic runaway".
After a few weeks in Cobb Cnty and then Macon Cnty detention centers, the state of Florida flew me to St. Pete. When the plane landed my mom; exec staff, Nancy Gettinger; exec staff "Dr." (of education) Huge Burns and a couple of other people attempted to kidnap me before the HRS case worker could take custody of me. I spent about an hour alone in a customs room waiting for the dizzy bitch to show up.
Next stop was Fame Haven, a group home in Sarasota where the staff and residents were well familiar with the cult. I liked it there. It was a much needed rest, if a little constricting. As per their policy regarding escaped Straightlings, I was not permitted to leave the property unless accompanied by at least half a dozen staff and residents. Willy Medley had become the defacto body guard for us. He was a real good guy. I hope life has served him well.
Next was the court date. The judge granted me permission to return to my brother's home in Georgia for the holidays. By then it was only a month till my 18th birthday so I just missed the flight back.
There were a lot of kids in similar situations to mine. A few regulars around here knew Jerry Vancil, who was returned to the program just prior to his scheduled testimony. Last anyone we've been able to contact knows, Jerry tried to run from the St. Pete building out into the swamp, was pursued & tackled by a group of phasers and hasn't been seen or heard from since.
Had I known then what I know now about the political elite behind Straight and that the community never really did know or support what was going on in there, I certainly would have stayed in area and fought them. As it is, I just wanted the freedom to move on and start my life. While I was busy doing that, these same sadistic lunatics have used their political influence to extend the program into public policy. So now my oldest daughter is going through coerced 12 step "treatment" along with a nearly impossible to meet set of requirements designed to keep her under the thumb permanently. My youngest was threatened with a strip search in school because another kid said she was acting funny.
