KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A man who attended Agape Boarding School alleges he was physically abused, deprived of food and other allegations in a lawsuit.
The man, identified as M.B.2, filed the lawsuit against the school and several former staff members in United States District Court of Western Missouri, Southern Division.
The school is closed.
Named in the lawsuit are Julio Sandoval, a former dean of the school and former staff members Seth Duncan, Tyler Hartman, Elijah Reeves and Brian Clemenson.
Allegations against former staff
M.B.2 said the school had a system where students worked their way up in rankings.
The students were differentiated by the color of shirts they wore, according to the lawsuit.
The lowest rank of students wore brown shirts, and they were referred to as "brown town" students.
M.B.2 said students were sent to "brown town" as a punishment.
M.B.2 alleges in the suit he was subjected to extreme cruelty, including being placed on the wall for days on end, for speaking or other minor infractions.
He also said staff would force students to work out until they vomited while depriving them of food and water.
On one occasion, after M.B.2 threw up, Hartman and Duncan allegedly grabbed him and threw him to the ground.
The lawsuit listed dozens of examples of abuse he and other students endured during their time at Agape.
READ | Full lawsuit filed against former Agape staff
M.B.2 accuses the defendants of negligence, negligent hiring, supervision, retention, and failure to warn and negligent failure to supervise children, among other things.
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests held a demonstration on Wednesday outside Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey's regional office in Kansas City.
“Assaulted, beaten, denied water, denied food,” said Rebecca Randles, the attorney representing M.B.2
She said he faced emotional and psychological abuse.
“Our concern is they still maintain a corporate presence and there are group homes running on that facility,” Randles said.
David Clohessy, the leader of abuse survivors group, said the allegations are heartbreaking.
“My heart goes out to him, all of our hearts go out to him, "Clohessy said. "Nothing can be done to restore stolen childhoods and shattered faith."
Melody Derksen, ex-wife of Jason Derksen, Agape’s former principal, detailed her own abuse.
“It’s more than we know and more investigation needs to be looked into," Derksen said. "It’s all true. I believe it 100% based on my experience,” Derksen said.
Survivors of all ages Randles represents wrote names of who they claim are behind the abuse across Missouri facilities.
“People are going to walk by and wonder why it’s here, what’s the deal with it?" said Sophia Ellis, a Circle of Hope Girls Ranch survivor. "They will look more into it. It will catch the attention of the people we want to catch attention to. The abuse we survived changed our minds, changed our hearts, changed so much of our lives that we are still affected by today.”
Another abuse victim said she feels for those who may still be in abusive situations.
“It’s over for us, but there are still so many places open and doing things like this,” said Ashlyn Dixon, Circle of Hope Girls Ranch survivor.
Those making the allegations said Missouri is becoming a magnet for unregulated schools and want to see a statewide investigation and more action from the attorney general's office.
“What on earth will it take for these local prosecutors to actually investigate," Randles said. "We’ve been urging the legislature to allow or require the AG to go in on cases like this."
Clohessy also wants action from the state level.
“We want the AG to make a public statement warning parents about these facilities," Clohessy said. "He absolutely has the power to do that. We’ve asked him to write to the prosecutors in the counties where these schools are. He absolutely can do that.”
The Missouri Attorney General's office and the defense attorney who represented former Agape staff did not respond to requests for comment from KSHB 41.
The Agape Boarding School sent out a statement in January 2023 from Bryan Clemensen, former director of the boarding school.
“For the past 30 years, Agape Boarding School has provided over 6,000 boys with an opportunity to get their life back on track and toward a bright future. Agape has made the decision to stop providing services to the boys in its care effective January 20, 2023. Agape’s focus is on getting the boys who remain in the program safely transitioned to their parents or to foster care, other group homes or residential programs. Agape’s decision to close is voluntary and solely due to the lack of financial resources to continue caring for the boys.”
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