Location:

Petal, Mississippi

Current Status:

Closed.

History:

Charges of child abuse against the Fountain family date back many years.

1988: Herman Fountain, Sr. was running the original facility, then called Bethel Children's Home, when state welfare officials conducted a surprise raid, and removed 72 children.

1990: A judge ordered the closure of Bethel Children's Home.

1994: Herman Fountain, Sr. reopened the facility as Bethel Boys Academy.

2003: Herman Fountain, Sr. was ordered to relinquish control of the facility and the facility was ordered to stop using a cattle prod to punish children.

2004: Bethel Girls Academy, run by Herman Fountain, Jr., began its affiliation with WWASPS.

In May, state authorities removed all the girls from the facility.

In September, the "school" was filled to capacity when girls were transferred from WWASPS program Casa by the Sea. Mexican officials raided the program and sent all the children back to the U.S. after finding evidence of child abuse.

2005: In February, girls rioted at the facility.

State officials closed the facility again a few days later.

Noteworthy:

Bethel Boys Academy, run by John Fountain (son of Herman Sr.), is still operating but has again changed names.

The facility is now called Eagle Point Christian Academy.

It is also part of the WWASPS network.