Two women have launched civil lawsuits against the Circle of Hope Girl’s Ranch in Humansville alleging physical and sexual abuse.
Both women have requested anonymity.
Jane Doe (1), says she was at the ranch in 2014 and in 2015, for several months. Doe says the owners of the ranch, Boyd and Stephanie Householder, physically abused her, with Boyd Householder throwing her into a wall and having restrained her for over an hour. She claims the Householders son raped and sexually abused her.
Jane Doe (2), says Boyd Householder made her a “secretary ” when she arrived in 2015. Doe says Householder raped and sexually assaulted her for six months. Doe believes Stephanie householder was aware of the abuse.
Both lawsuits claim the Householders had no qualifications to provide counseling or treatment and had run a program of ostensible biblical authority that involved terrorizing, intimidating, and other forms of mental abuse on the residents.
The lawsuits accuse the Householders of restraining girls, forcing girls into solitary confinement in total darkness for days, forcing some girls to hold others down and force feeding those who did not finish their meals until they vomited, refusing to allow girls to use the restroom even after an accident, and forcing others to remain in push-up positions for hours.
The state of Missouri has not filed any criminal charges at this time.
