Agape Baptist Academy was a Christian boarding school located near the city of Stockton, Missouri, that functioned from 1990 until 2023.[2]
History
Agape Baptist Academy was founded by James Clemensen. It originally opened in the state of Washington on an old air force base, but it moved due to problems with asbestos.[3] In 1996, the school moved to Cedar County, Missouri, and when they arrived in the local area, they held several small events such as a blood drives and other charitable events.[4] Serious allegations of the violent treatment and sexual abuse of students have been made.[3][4] In May 2003, an F3 Tornado struck the school and the cafeteria building roof was ripped off.[5]
In January 2022, Agape's long-time physician, Dr. David Smock, was charged with 11 felonies relating to sex abuse crimes.[6]
In August 2022, Agape was indicted over the transportation of a youth who had an order of protection against his mother.[7] In October 2023, the mother of a former student filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Agape, Cedar County Sheriff James McCrary, and the teen escort company in federal court.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d "Search for Public Schools - Agape Baptist Academy (A9902666)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ Salter, Jim (January 11, 2023). "Missouri boarding school under investigation will shut down". AP NEWS. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
Agape Boarding School in Stockton has been the subject of state and location investigations and several lawsuits from former students. It will stop providing service effective Jan. 20, according to a statement from the school for boys.
- ^ a b Piore, Adam (January 5, 2023). "Inside the Christian Reform School From Hell". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ a b "'A very scary place': Men allege years of abuse at Missouri Christian school". NBC News. February 12, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ Bauer, Laura (November 8, 2020). "Mom ... you've got to get me out of here". Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ "Missouri boarding school doctor says not guilty to 3 charges". AP NEWS. January 14, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ^ "Indictment: Boy forcibly taken to Missouri boarding school". AP NEWS. August 31, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
The mother of a California teenager conspired with a former Missouri boarding school dean on a plan that resulted in the boy being forced into a car, handcuffed for more than 24 hours and driven to a Missouri school for troubled youths, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
- ^ "Mother files wrongful death lawsuit against now-closed Christian boarding school in Missouri". AP News. October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
External links