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Associated Press
02/18/05
A school for troubled teenage girls has been temporarily closed while state officials investigate more claims of abuse.
The closure of Bethel Girls Academy on Thursday came a day after 11 students fled the facility.
Some of the girls said they had been physically and verbally abused by staff members.
Officials said 44 students have been released into state custody.
"For right now we're going to close the doors," said Bethel Girls Academy director Herman Fountain Jr. "We are planning on opening back up, but we've got to get everything taken care of first."
Fountain operates a similar home for boys in Lucedale.
The girls school has been under scrutiny in the past.
The Department of Human Services removed 38 girls from the facility in May 2004 after receiving complaints of mistreatment.
No charges were filed in connection with the incident, and the details of an agreement with the state that allows the school to continue operating have not been released by the attorney general's office.
The academy claims it uses Biblical teaching and strict discipline to help girls with behavioral problems.
Angela Roberts, whose daughter, Angenika McNeil, 16, was injured while at Bethel, said the academy and Fountain advocates child abuse and that's why she wanted her child removed from the facility.
"The contract was broken when he broke my daughter's wrist,"Roberts said. "I want him (Fountain) prosecuted for what he did to my child."
Fountain said McNeil's injury occurred when she punched a wall at the academy.
Officials with DHS, Department of Health, the attorney general's office and local law enforcement are investigating the abuse allegations.