Very reliable sources have told me the girls are being sexually abused at Bethel Girls Academy, Petal, Miss.
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AID=/20050216/NEWS01/50216001
Students flee Bethel school; allege abuse
Law enforcement officers were at a Petal school for troubled
teenagers Wednesday morning investigating allegations of abuse and
reports that several of the girls there had run away.
According to Forrest County Sheriff's Department deputies, 11 girls
fled the Bethel Girls Academy, although the school's director, Herman
Fountain Jr., said only seven girls were missing. He couldn't
immediately explain the discrepancy.
Four girls were being sought by authorities this morning. Others had
returned to the school. It was unclear how many staff members were on
duty at the time the girls ran away.
"Some of the girls had an uprising and sort of took over the place,"
Fountain said. "They just ran away."
One of the girls, Angenika McNeil, 16, said her arm was broken after
she was restrained. Fountain said she may have injured her arm when
she punched a wall.
Another girls was treated in an ambulance for a cut to the head this
morning. Fountain said she fell.
Fountain said he was not at the school at the time of the incident.
The school has had a history of problems with state authorities. The
Department of Human Services removed 38 girls from the facility last
spring after receiving complaints of mistreatment from the girls
about physical and verbal abuse.
No charges were filed in connection with the incident, and the school
continued to accept students.
The school mixes Biblical teaching with military-style discipline. It
takes in girls with behavioral problems from around the country.
Nikki Rich, hired about a month ago as a drill instructor, said she
was quitting.
"This is ridiculous, I'm not going to stay here," she said.
Rich said the girls were providing notes outlining their issues with
the school to employees. Rich said she had several of the notes and
planned to give them to DHS officials.
Deputies said DHS has been called. The agency has not arrived as of 1
p.m.
Originally published February 16, 2005
