Boarding School Owners Charged With Rape, Sodomy And Torture Of 16 Female Inmates

A Missouri couple who ran a religious boarding school has been charged with over 100 counts relating to extensive sexual, physical and mental abuse of at least 16 inmates, including girl children and young women, authorities said.

Boyd and Stephanie Householder, the owners of the now-defunct Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Boarding School, was arrested Tuesday on dozens of abuse charges.

Boyd has been charged with 79 felony charges and one misdemeanor, including charges of rape, sodomy and neglect. Stephanie has been charged with 22 felony charges, including child abuse, neglect and child endangerment, according to a news release from Missouri Attorney’s office.

The horrific abuse came to light after Householder’s daughter Amanda, an alumna of the school, along with other women who attended the boarding school, spoke out on TikTok. These videos triggered an investigation from Sheriff’s office, reported news outlet NBC News.

During the investigation, several victims described the abuse they had to face at the hands of the couple. The torture included acts like Boyd pushing his knee into the backs of the victims, applying pressure to certain pressure points and restraining them with handcuffs. Some of the victims were allegedly forced to hold the “push-up position” for extended periods.

The alleged torture included slamming the victim’s head on the wall, hitting them with belts and other objects. Boyd allegedly shoved a victim’s face into horse manure and poured hot sauce down another victim’s throat.

In one instance, Boyd reportedly forced a girl to drink at least 220 ounces of water and then run a mile until she vomited, and then forced her to run again. He also instructed several victims on the best way to kill themselves - by cutting their wrists upwards, not across.

“On one occasion, while restrained, the victim said the defendant put a dirty sock in her mouth and sprayed her face with a hose,” Eric Schmitt, Attorney General said “The water went up to her nose and her mouth, making it hard to breathe,” reported news outlet, St. Louis Post Despatch.

Householders closed their school in mid-August amid an investigation as the authorities removed two dozen girls from the facility.

“As the father of two young girls, it is simply unthinkable that this type of abuse could be perpetrated against those who are so vulnerable, as well as on families of the victims,” Schmitt said.

“This is a moment that does deserve to be celebrated,” Amanda said, reacting to the news of her parents’ arrests. “I am sad because they are my parents, but something my parents would always tell me is, ‘You made your bed, now you have to lie in it.’ Well, my parents made their bed and now they’re going to have to lie in it. As hard as that is for me, it’s about time,” she added.