Missouri Christian reform school, under investigation for abuse, is put up for sale
The Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch property, whose owners are under criminal investigation for allegedly abusing girls at the southwest Missouri Christian boarding school, is up for sale.
Boyd and Stephanie Householder, who have owned and operated the faith-based reform school since 2006, are asking $199,900 for the land and buildings.
They’ve also listed their three-bedroom manufactured home across the road on 3 ½ acres for $74,900.
“2 Residential Properties on 35 Acres,” says the listing posted online this week. “Raised Ranch Brick home has pretty much been gutted with exception to the remodeled kitchen. Additional Residence is a 2 Story home/dorm. Previously used as a group home. Full kitchen and 6 bedrooms/baths. Walk-Out basement with living quarters. Partial fencing around acreage and cattle/horse tight.”
The property sits on 35 acres along Highway N about seven miles from Humansville in Cedar County. The listing contains 21 photos, including shots inside and outside the two-story building that housed the students and outdoor scenes depicting horses and a gravel drive with two American flags flying on both sides.
The Householders have denied ever abusing or neglecting any of the residents and in a Sept. 12 interview with The Star said they were closing their reform school for good. Boyd Householder, 71, said that he “will not put up with a corrupt sheriff’s department and a corrupt social services department.”
When asked what was next for them, Stephanie Householder said “we’re not quite sure” and they didn’t know “where God’s gonna move us.”
“We’re trying to figure (it) out,” she said. “Everything’s gonna go on as far as all the legal things. … We’re just waiting it out.”
Authorities removed all girls from the school in mid-August and conducted a search of the property earlier this month as part of their ongoing investigation. Boyd Householder and his wife, Stephanie, 55, say the allegations are all lies conjured up by former students who are angry at them and want to shut Circle of Hope down because their lives didn’t turn out the way they wanted.
But former residents who talked to The Star described punishment that included withholding food and water, and being forced to stand against a wall for hours for even minor infractions. They explained how they were restrained — a procedure in which they said that after shoving a girl to the floor, Boyd Householder would kneel and press his knee on the back of her neck while four other girls or staff members were required to push as hard as they could on the pressure points on her arms and legs.
In recent years, the state has substantiated four reports of abuse and neglect involving Circle of Hope, according to the Missouri Department of Social Services. One was for neglect, one for physical abuse and neglect and two for sexual abuse allegations.
But because the faith-based facility is exempt from state licensure, the state has no oversight over Circle of Hope’s operations.
The Householders said they were fighting all four findings, but the state has delayed the process.
Law enforcement officials involved in the investigation have not responded to multiple requests for comment.
In response to The Star’s recent stories, a Lee’s Summit lawmaker has requested that the state’s Office of the Child Advocate conduct a review of allegations against Circle of Hope, examining the hotline calls that came in and reports that were unsubstantiated.
Rep. Keri Ingle, a Democrat, also has requested a committee hearing in Jefferson City. The former Jackson County Children’s Division social worker said she’s working on legislation that would mandate state oversight on exempt facilities in certain cases.
On Monday, a GoFundMe page was set up by the Householder’s estranged daughter and another former Circle of Hope student to raise money to purchase the property.
“Buy back the place our childhood was ruined at,” it said.
“As many of you know Circle of Hope in Humansville Missouri was a place of extreme torture and abuse,” the page said. “It has been put on the market for sale and the survivors of Circle of Hope would love to be able to buy this property back and turn it into something it should’ve been from the beginning, A place of healing.”
This story was originally published September 22, 2020 at 10:17 AM.
