sexual abuse

A Mexican orphanage relied on donor churches in Missouri and other states. After nearly 60 years, Niños de México announced it would close immediately — a response that former volunteers call "incredibly cowardly."

Legislation to restrict marriage for Missouri residents under age 18 had been stalled by Republican critics for years. The law also stops child sex abusers from using non-disclosure agreements to silence their victims.

The bill has been called “Trey’s Law,” referring to the late Trey Carlock, who died by suicide in 2019 after being sexually abused at the Branson-based Kanakuk Kamps. It passed as part of a larger public safety package.

Bipartisan supporters of the bill say that nondisclosure agreements are often used to silence underage victims and prevent them from speaking out. The bill is named for Trey Carlock, who was assaulted at a Christian summer camp in Branson and later died by suicide.

Spurred by sexual abuse allegations at Branson-area Christian camps, the bill would extend the amount of time survivors have to file civil action against a perpetrator. Survivors would have until age 41 to file civil action, rather than age 31.

In the wake of child sex abuse incidents at southwest Missouri’s Kanakuk Christian sports camp, Branson-area lawmakers are filing bills in the Missouri House and Senate aimed at making it easier to file lawsuits seeking damages from perpetrators.

Dozens of criminal charges for abuse have been filed against operators of Christian boarding schools in Missouri. Survivors say it was only because of TikTok that law enforcement and the Missouri Attorney General finally took action.

Logan Yandell, a survivor of sexual abuse at Kanakuk Kamps in Branson, Missouri, alleges that the camp’s CEO misrepresented prior knowledge of past misconduct allegations in order to convince his parents to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

A new federal lawsuit filed against Circle of Hope Girls Ranch, a now-shuttered Christian boarding school in Missouri, says a 13-year-old girl faced “abuse, harassment, forced servitude, assault, fraud” and other mistreatment by the camp owners.

Stephanie Householder, who ran Circle of Hope Girls Ranch with her husband Boyd Householder, faces 21 charges of child abuse and neglect alleged by former students. Her husband, who died last month, had nearly 80 charges that include allegations of sexual abuse.

Clay County Prosecutor Zach Thompson announced Tuesday that Timothy Haslett Jr. is charged with first-degree murder for the killing of Jaynie Crosdale. Haslett was previously accused of kidnapping a Black woman and holding her in his basement.

Boyd Householder faced 78 felony charges — including rape — stemming from his years directing the Circle of Hope Girls Ranch near Humansville. Householder’s wife, Stephanie, is scheduled for her own trial in late October on 21 similar charges.