What is 'Circle of Hope Girls' Ranch' case about? 'Dateline: Secrets Uncovered' delves into couple facing 100 charges
HUMANSVILLE, MISSOURI: Circle of Hope Girls' Ranch, located in Humansville, Missouri, was established as a reformatory boarding school in July 2006.
The troubled teen industry is frequently characterized by a lack of substantial regulation across various states. Parents often enroll their children in these programs to address behavioral issues. However, the industry's insufficient oversight can allow instances of abuse to go unreported and unaddressed.
In the case of Circle of Hope, the institution operated without obtaining a license or accreditation from any state agency in Missouri. This lack of official oversight allowed the alleged abuse by individuals associated with the religious institution to persist for over a decade.
Boyd and Stephanie Householder established Circle of Hope in July 2006, leveraging Boyd's prior experience working in similar reform schools in Missouri and Florida. Their facility, situated on a 35-acre property outside Humansville, Missouri, welcomed girls as young as 6 years old.
The Householders lived in a two-story, four-bedroom house with an industrial kitchen, while their separate residence was situated across the street. Shockingly, reports indicate that they consistently subjected the girls under their care to abuse, yet they seemingly evaded any consequences for their actions.
However, once the reports of abuse started going viral on social media, the institution faced significant controversy and legal issues, leading to its closure in 2020. Former students filed reports and lawsuits alleging child abuse, contributing to investigations conducted by authorities, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
What happened to the victims of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch?
Boyd Householder founded Circle of Hope in 2006, presenting it as a facility aimed at reforming rebellious teenage girls. However, the institution became embroiled in controversy as former residents started reporting instances of cruel punishments, including food deprivation, manual labor, and prolonged face-down restraints.
Girls at Circle of Hope were tasked with daily activities, including tending to animals and performing household chores. Reports from parents and former residents revealed restrictive practices such as a limit of two changes of clothes per week, and showers were strictly timed, with punishments imposed for exceeding five minutes.
Educational offerings were primarily Christian homeschooling packets from Accelerated Christian Education, and the curriculum often did not align with high school credit standards in public school districts, as noted by parents and residents.
Residents were granted a brief 15-minute phone call with their parents every other week, conducted on speakerphone. However, if girls expressed a desire to return home or voiced complaints about their treatment, 17 former residents and staff members reported that the Householders would abruptly terminate the call.
Additionally, letters sent by residents were subject to censorship by Boyd Householder. Reports from witnesses led to investigations by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, uncovering disturbing practices such as the use of handcuffs and zip ties, stuffing dirty socks into girls' mouths, physical assaults, and other forms of abuse.
When did Amanda Householder find out about her parents' abuse?
In early March 2020, Amanda Householder received a distressing Facebook message from Joseph Askins, a man she knew but had not spoken to for a while. Askins had just visited her father's religious boarding school, Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch.
The ranch, led by Boyd Householder, claimed to help young ladies make better choices. Askins reported witnessing disturbing incidents during his visit, including Boyd slapping a child in the mouth, forcing a girl to drink her vomit, and instructing teenage girls to assault each other, as captured in a video.
The unsettling video shared by Joseph Askins deeply disturbed Amanda, but it wasn't the first instance of concerns being raised about activities at her parent's ranch. The Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch, run by Boyd and Stephanie Householder, had been under scrutiny for a while, with past reports and lawsuits from former students alleging child abuse.
The latest revelation only added to the ongoing concerns about potential mistreatment and abuse at the ranch.
How did Boyd and Stephanie Householder abuse the girls at Circle of Hope Ranch?
Parents and former residents reported instances of physical abuse at the Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch, involving Boyd Householder using restraints as punishments, including pressing a knee into girls' necks during face-down positions.
The Householders allegedly withheld food as a form of punishment, and residents claimed they were forced to stand and stare at a wall for extended periods if they didn't comply with the school's rules.
Charging documents also allege that Boyd Householder would slam girls' heads against walls, lock them in isolation in a dark and soundless room, pour hot sauce into a girl's mouth, and use duct tape and socks to immobilize another girl's hands for extended periods.
Despite numerous complaints and reports of abuse, the boarding school continued to operate for years.
How did the Householder couple get arrested at Circle of Hope Ranch?
Amanda Householder, disturbed by the video and years of witnessing alleged abuse at her parents' ranch, decided to break her silence. In May 2020, she created a TikTok account dedicated to exposing the abusive boarding school owned by her parents.
The videos, which featured Amanda and former residents sharing their experiences of abuse at Circle of Hope, quickly gained traction, amassing over 33 million views. This surge in visibility contributed to heightened awareness and sparked collective action against the alleged mistreatment.
The investigation into Boyd and Stephanie Householder, along with their reform school, began in November 2020. Subsequently, in August 2021, Child Protective Services removed 24 girls from the Circle Girls Ranch. The Householders, faced with the government's involvement, opted not to reopen their school.
The couple also faced multiple charges of abuse and were arrested. In July 2021, they were released from jail due to reported health issues. While awaiting trial, the couple was placed under home confinement, citing Boyd's contraction of Covid-19 and Stephanie's serious blood clot condition, according to their attorney.
What charges were pressed against the Boyd and Stephanie Householder?
Boyd Householder is facing a total of 80 felony charges, including six counts of second-degree statutory rape, seven counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, six counts of sexual contact with a student, one count of second-degree child molestation, and 56 counts of abuse and neglect of a child.
Stephanie Householder was charged with a total of 22 counts, including ten counts of abuse and neglect of a child and 12 counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
'Circle of Hope's Boyd and Stephanie Householder' explosive trial pushed to September 2024
Boyd and Stephanie Householder, facing multiple counts of abuse at the Circle Girls Ranch in Cedar County, had their pretrial conferences and trial dates canceled.
Originally arrested in 2021, they were charged with over 100 felonies. The investigation began in November 2020, and in August 2021, 24 girls were removed from the ranch by Child Protective Services.
Placed on home confinement while awaiting trial, they were required to wear electronic monitoring devices, but this restriction was lifted for Stephanie Householder on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Judge David Munton has now instructed attorneys to provide available dates for a three-week trial to begin after September 30, 2024.
'Dateline: Secrets Uncovered' Season 12' Season 12 airs new episodes every Wednesday at 8 pm ET on NBC and is available for streaming on Peacock the following day.