I u rg e e v e ry on e , part icul arl y form er Elan School student s, t o f i rs t s c a n t h i s e n t i r e d o cu m e n t f i r s t f r o m b eg i nn i n g t o e nd b e fo r e y o u r e a d i t .

B o l d , r e d a nd l arger ch ara c t er s h av e
b e e n a dd e d t o i l l u s t r a t e m a j o r po i n t s a n d po i n t s o f i n t e r e s t .

W i k i l e a k s i s no t c u rr e n t l y a c c e p t i n g su b m i s s i on s . S o I a m po s t i ng t h i s h e r e . ( 39 p ag e s o f
c or ru p t i o n)

An Unauthorized Hi story of the Elan School , e x c e r p t s f r o m 1 9 9 1 b o o k o f a d i ff e r e n t n a m e wh os e t i t l e w i l l b e w i t hh e l d .

Th i s i s t h e t e s t i m o ny o f a f o r m e r e m p l o y e e o f Jo s e ph R i c c i ( c r e a t o r o f t h e E l a n S c ho o l )
… … … …

Jo e R i c c i m o v e d t o M a i n e i n t h e e a r l y 70 ' s t o o p e n E l a n , a fo r- p ro f i t t r e a t m e n t c e n t e r fo r t ro ub l e d
a do l e s c e n t s t h a t s oo n m a d e h i m , a nd h i s p sy c h i a t r i s t p a r t n e r, D r . G er a l d D a v i ds on , v e r y w e a l t h y
m en . T h e t w o e n t r ep r e n e ur s b r an c h e d o u t i n t o r e a l e s t a t e , a nd o t h e r i n t e r e s t s . I n 1 9 7 9 t h ey

f o r m e d a n o th e r c o m p a n y , D a v r i c M a i n e , a n d pu r ch a s e d S c a r bo ro ug h D o w n s , a h ar n e s s r a c e t r a c k
fo r $1 . 2 m i l l i o n .
… …

" B e c o m i n g r i c h w a s d ef i n i t e l y a n o bs e s s i o n t h a t s e e m e d t o d r iv e Jo e , " r e c a l l s a n e a r l y s t a f f
m e m b e r a t E l a n . " M o n e y w a s e x t r e m e l y i m po r t a n t t o h i m w h e n h e w a s e a r n i ng $ 10 , 00 0 a y e a r ,
a nd d r i v i n g a n o l d O l d s mo b i l e . I t r ep r e s e n t e d t h e po w er t o r e a l l y b e s o m e b o d y i m p or t a n t , who
w o u l d b e a c c e p t e d b y e v e ry on e a ro un d h i m , a nd t h a t m e a n t a l o t . "

E l a n w a s no t v e r y l u c r a t i v e a t f i rs t a nd m o s t o f t h e m o n e y m a d e w a s p ut b a c k i n t o t h e bu s i n e s s .
B u t gr a du a l l y i t s t a r t e d r e ap i n g a b ig p ro f i t , a t t r a c t i n g t ro ub l e d t e e n s f r o m w e a l t hy f a m i l i e s w h o
w er e c h ar g e d $1 , 20 0 a m o n t h f or t r e a t m e n t .

……..

O n J a nu a r y 8 , 1 9 7 4 a fi re t otall y destroyed the form er schoolhouse i n S e b a go t h a t E l a n h ad r e n t e d f r o m a l o c a l do c t o r. Jo e a n d G e r r y w e r e i n C h i c a go r e c ru i t i ng p o t en t i a l

r e s i d en t s w h e n t h e f i r e e ru p t e d i n t h e e a r l y ho ur s o f a f r i g i d m o r n in g . F i r e d ep a r t m e n t s f r o m t h e
su r ro un d in g t ow n s o f G o r h a m , S t a nd i s h , S t e e p F a l l s , S e b a go L a k e , a nd B a l d w i n r e sp on d ed t o

h e lp pu t o u t t h e b l a z e . B u t e ff or t s i n g e t t i n g w a t e r t o f ig h t t h e f ir e w er e h am p e r e d b y t h e 1 ,5 00
fo o t d i s t a n c e t o t h e n e a r e s t br oo k , a nd b y t h e e x t r e m e c o l d . T e m p e r a t ur e s ho v er e d a r ou nd 1 2
d eg r e e s , a n d t h e w a t e r w o u l d h av e f ro z e n i n t h e h o s e s i f i t h ad n o t b e en k e p t m o v i n g b y p u m p s .
Th e bu i l d i n g 's ow n e r, D r. B a r n e s t o l d t h e p r e s s t h a t h e d i dn ' t h av e m u c h i n s ur a n c e t o c ov e r t h e
b u i l d i ng , t h o u g h E l a n i t s e l f w a s " a d e q u a t e l y i n s u r e d . " J o e e xp l a i n ed t o m e m b e r s o f t h e p r e ss
t h a t t h e r e s i d e n t s h ad d on e e x t e n s i v e r e m od e l i ng t o t h e bu i l d i ng , m a k i n g s ub s t a n t i a l
i m pr ov e m e n t s , a nd i t w a s h a rd t o se e a l l t h e w o r k t h a t t h e y h ad d on e d es t r o y ed . T h e c a u s e o f t h e
f i r e w a s no t d e t e r m i n e d .

Sh e r ry [ R i c c i ’s w i f e ] , w h o w a s p r eg n an t w i t h t h e i r f i r s t c h i l d a t t h e t i m e o f t h e f i r e , do e sn ' t r e c a l l

h o w m u c h t h ey g o t f o r a n i n s ur a n c e s e t t l e m e n t , bu t o bs e r v e s t h a t t h e b l a z e s e e m e d t o b e a

tur n ing p o in t f o r E l a n . S h e s ay s t h a t a f t e r w a rd s t h e bu s i n e s s s e e m e d m u c h m o r e lu c r a t i v e ,
a nd m o v e d to i t s p r e s en t l o c a t i on i n Po l a n d Sp r i ng . M o n e y s t a r t e d p ou r in g i n , a n d t h e s t a f f
gr e w.

Joe and Sherry were mill ionaires before they celebrated thei r 30th bi rt hday .
……..

A f t e r J o e a nd S h er r y m a d e t h e i r f or t u n e , t h e y b eg a n i nd u l g i ng m o r e i n l e i s u r e a c t i v i t i e s l i k e
go i ng o u t t o e a t , bu t t h e y h a d n o f r i e n d s o r a s s o c i a t e s o u t s i d e t h e s p h e r e o f E l a n .
………..

T h o u g h t h e y h ad a l a r g e s t a f f , Jo e a n d Sh e r ry b o th c o n t i nu e d t o w o r k a t E l a n , b u t i t w a s c l e a r t h a t
i t w a s Jo e w h o r a n t h e sh o w. H e w a s i n t h e w o r d s o f o n e f o r m e r e m p l o y e e " a s or t o f c u l t f i gu r e . "

H e s ay s " It was like he was Ji m Jones...He was our reality. It' s hard to explain, but Joe had a way of defining things as i f his definiti on was the onl y one. We al l would have swallowed Cyanide for him i f he'd asked..."
An o th e r f o r m e r s t a f f m e m b e r r e c a l l s Jo e h a d a k n a c k fo r c r e a t i ng i n t i m a c y w i t h p eo p l e , f o r

m a k i n g t h e m b e l i e v e t h e y w e r e i m po r t a n t t o h i m , a n d t o h i s pr o j e c t s . T h e y f e l t t h a t t h ey h a d a
sp e c i a l r e l a t i on s h i p w i t h h i m a n d h e w o r k e d a t pr e s e rv i n g t h e s e r e l a t i o n sh i p s b y b e in g g e n er ou s .
O c c a s i on a l l y h e w o u l d f i n a n c i a l l y a s s i s t p o o r e r k i d s w h o h a d g o n e t h r o u g h t h e p r o g r a m .

They di dn' t have a college education and weren't t rained for any special work ot her than working at Elan, so Joe would employ them as staff t herapis ts and give them m ore money than they'd ever get in the real worl d. So m e t i m e s h e' d h e lp t h e m b u y a ho us e . B u t J o e e nd e d u p o w n i n g t h e s e p e op l e . T h e y ' d
b e p e t r i f i e d o f u ps e t t i n g h i m , d e s t r oy i ng t h e i r e c o n o m i c s e c ur i t y. T h e n w h e n t h e y d id n ' t a c t
e x a c t l y a s h e w a n t e d t h e m t o a c t , h e' d f i r e t h e m or d i s c r e d i t t h e m , s a y in g t h ey w e r e b a c k o n
dr ug s . " I t w a s l i k e h e w a s t h e i r p i m p . . . p a t h e t i c , " sh e r e c a l l s

…….

I n h i s m a rr i a g e J o e b eg a n e m p l o y i n g s o m e o f t h e ' t e c hn i q u e s ' h e us e d a t E l a n . I f S h e r r y

an n o y ed o r a n g er ed h i m , s h e' d b e p u n i s h ed . O n e p u n i s h m en t w a s e mb a r r a s s m e n t

and h u m i l i a t i o n i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f o t h e r s t a f f m e m b e r s . A c c o r d i n g t o on e f o r m e r s t a f f e r
h e' d ' sh oo t h er d o w n ' ( a n E l a n t e r m t o d e s c r ib e t h e t a k i ng o f a u t ho r i t y a w a y f r o m so m e on e w h o
h ad m i s u s e d i t ) b y h um i l i a t i n g h er a t s t a f f m e e t i n gs , o r h e 'd p ur po s e l y e x c l u d e h er f r o m d e c i s i on -

m ak i n g , i n s t r u c t i n g p e op l e n o t t o t e l l h e r so m e t h i n g . " A t f i r s t w e w e r e l e d t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e i r s
w a s t h e p er f e c t m a rr i a g e , " a f o r m e r r e s i d en t r e c a l l s , " . . . bu t a f t e r a w h i l e i t w a s a pp a r e n t t o s o m e
o f us t h a t i t w a s f a r f r o m i t . "
… …

Jo e w o u l d i n s i s t o n h a v i n g f e m a l e re s i d e n t s a t E l a n b a b y s i t t h e i r s on s .
….

O n e t i m e a g ir l w h o h ad b a by s a t a t t h e i r h ou s e r e t ur n e d t o E l a n , a nd ' c op p e d t o gu i l t ' ( E l a n t e r m
m e a n i ng a d m i t t i n g b ad b e h av i o r ) Sh e c o nf e s s e d t h a t sh e h a d t a un t e d t h e i r y e a r o ld b a b y

p r e t e nd i n g h e w a s a k i t t y. W h e n h e w an t e d to g et o f f h er la p s h e w o u ld n ' t le t h i m , a n d

th at s h e b u r n t h i m w i t h h e r c i g a r e t t e . S h er r y b e c a m e h ys t e r i c a l b u t Jo e r e a c t e d w i t h
d i sg u s t d ir e c t e d t o w a r d h e r. H e s a i d sh e ' d c h a ng e d , an d t h e r e w a s no t h i ng w r o n g w i t h t h e E l a n
r e s i d en t s b ab ys i t t i ng t h e i r c h i l d r e n ,

Sh e r ry b e c a m e m o r e a n d m o r e i s o l a t e d f r o m Jo e , a nd h a d n o fr i e n d s , o th e r t h a n h e r c on t a c t s a t

E l a n . A n d a t E l a n Jo e w a s i n c h a rg e . E v e r y b o d y t o o k o r d e r s f r o m h i m , e v en if i t m e a n t

v io la t i n g h er r ig h ts .

O n e d ay s h e w a s a t h o m e w h e n s h e h e ar d no i s e c o m i n g f r o m h e r b ed ro o m . I t w a s a s e c r e t a ry
f r o m E l a n g o in g t hr ou gh h e r dr a w e r s a nd c l o s e t s . J o e h ad g i v en h e r a k e y t o t h e h ou s e , w i t h
i n s t ru c t i on s t o p a c k h i m a b ag s o h e c ou l d t a k e a t r i p . D e s p i t e ob j e c t i o ns f r o m h e r, t h e s e c r e t a ry

r ef u s e d t o l e a v e u n t i l sh e h a d do n e w h a t Jo e s e n t h e r t o do .

L i v i n g w i t h Jo e b e c a m e t oo m u c h , an d Sherry final ly s uffered a nervous breakdown for which she was hospitalized in 1976.
… …

" Th a t s c e n e a t t h e ho sp i t a l w a s v in t a g e J o e . . . " c on f i r m s a f o r m e r a s s o c i a t e . " . . . E v e ry t h i ng w a s f or

sh o w. H e ' d a l w a y s n e ed a gr ou p a r ou nd h i m , a n d a c t ou t a ro l e , us u a l l y on e t h a t m a d e h i m l o o k
g r e a t t o p e o p l e w h o d i d n ' t d o a n y s e r i o us s c r u t i n i z i n g . "

A f t e r h e r b r e a k d o w n S h er r y w e n t t o t h e r a py s e s s i on s t hr e e or f o u r t i m e s a w e ek , d es p i t e J o e ' s

i n i t i a l ob j e c t i o n . S l o w l y sh e b e g an t o r e p a i r h e r s e l f - e s t e e m , a n d b e c a m e s t r on g e r. But she had negative feelings about Joe, about his pract ices at Elan that she had previously been unable to art icul at e. They were j ust gut feeli ngs that something was seriously wrong, and unti l therapy she hadn' t shared her feelings with anyone. H a v i n g a n o b j e c t i v e t h i r d p a r t y g av e t h i n g s a di f f e r en t p er s p e c t i v e .
Sh e b e c a m e m o r e aw a r e o f b e in g m an i p u l a t e d , a nd b l i n d l y f o l l o w i n g a p a t t e rn o f be h a v io r ,
s i m p l y b e c a u s e i t w a s e a s i e r t h a n r e s i s t i ng .

…. .

Sh e r r y, b e c o m i n g s t r on g e r f r o m h er t h e r a p y, re a l i z e d t h e m a rr i a g e w a s ov e r.
Sh e r ry r e c a l l s t h a t a f t e r o n e m a rr i a g e c ou ns e l i n g s e s s i on t h e y s t op p ed a t a H o w a r d Jo hn s on s , a n d

Jo e t o l d h e r t h a t w h e t h er t h e y g o t a d i vo r c e o r no t , h e w a s g o i n g t o b u y S c a r b o r o u g h D o w n s , a
h ar n e s s r a c e t r a c k a nd h e w a n t e d h er t o b e h i s p a r t n e r. Sh e w a s f l a b b e r g as t e d . T h e y h a d b e en t o
t h e r a c e t r a c k , t e n m i l e s so u t h o f P or t l a nd m a n y t i m e s t o g e t h e r, bu t s h e h ad n o i d e a h e w a n t e d t o

o w n it. It seemed the antit hesi s of Elan, and she couldn't understand why he want ed to get involved with running a racetrack. It seemed t o her that they had started out helping people who had addictions. A racet rack with it s bars and gambling created addictive behavior . S h e
s t a r e d a t h i m , a nd s ud d en l y u nd e r s t oo d t h a t h e n e e d e d a l o t o f c a s h t o b u y t h e t r a c k , a n d s t a l l i n g
t h e d iv or c e w o u l d h e l p h i s f in a n c e s . I f t h a t d i dn ' t wo r k , h av i ng h e r a s h i s p ar t n e r , c o u ld t i e u p h e r
sh a r e o f a d iv or c e s e t t l e m e n t i n t h e pu r ch a s e pr i c e . S h e h ad g o t t e n w i s e t o h i s w a y o f t h i nk i n g ,

a f t e r n e a r l y t e n y e ar s o f m a r r i a g e , a n d sh e k n e w t h e n h er s u rv i v a l d ep e nd e d o n g e t t i ng a w a y f r o m
h i m.
… …

A f t e r n e a r l y t e n y e a r s o f b e i ng m a r r i e d t o Jo e , h av i ng h i s t w o ch i l dr e n , a n d w o r k i n g f u l l t i m e a t

E l a n s h e g av e u p th e bu s i n e s s e s s h e h e l p e d c r e a t e . S h e a l s o l e f t m o s t o f i t s p rof i t s b eh i nd . Jo e , o n
t h e o th e r h a nd s t i l l h ad a s s e t s w e l l o v e r $ 1 m i l l i o n a n d w a s op e r a t i n g t hr e e b us i n e s s e s w i t h a n
e x c e s s o f 3 0 0 e mp l o y e e s .

Sh or t l y t h e r e a f t e r J o e c a l l e d a m e e t i ng a t t h e Sh e r a t o n I n n i n So u th P or t l a nd t o d i s c u s s bo t h E l a n
a nd S c a r bo ro ug h D o w n s . T h o s e p r e s e n t w e r e i n s t r u c t e d t h a t t h e y w e r e t o h a v e a b s o l u t e l y n o

c o n t a c t w i t h h i s so on t o b e e x - w if e . Anyone found talking t o her, or having any communication whatsoever wit h her would immediately be fi red, he warned .
…. .

Jo e fal s el y t o l d t h e s t or y ' s r e p o r t e r , P e t e r D a m m a n n , t h a t h e g r e w u p i n r a t a n d r o a c h i nf e s t e d s q u a l o r , a n d a f t e r b e i n g a h e r o i n a d d i c t a t t h e a g e o f 1 2 e n d e d u p a t D a y t o p

Vi l l a g e , a v e r y b r u t a l d r u g r e h a b i l i t a t i o n p r o g r a m f r o m w h i c h h e g r a d u a t e d w i t h f l y i n g
c o lo r s , w h i l e s t i l l o n l y i n hi s t e e n s . J o e s a i d h e l a t e r s t a r t e d D A R T E C i n Co nn e c t i c u t , g o t
m a rr i e d , a nd t h e n t o o k a th i r d mo r t g a g e ou t o n h i s h ou s e t o s t a r t E l a n .

D e s cr i b i n g E l a n , J o e d e c l a r e d " W e h e lp p e op l e f i n d t h e i r i d en t i t y , d e v e l op t h e i n t e r n a l c o n t ro l s
t h ey w e r e l a c k i n g . W e t e a c h t h e m t h a t l i f e i s a g a m e o f c on s e qu e n c e . W e a r e pr e p a r in g t h e m f or
l i f e , a nd l e t ' s f a c e i t , l i f e i s n o t a v e r y n i c e p l a c e t o b e . " T h e a r t i c l e e nd e d qu o t i ng J o e : " I w a n t t o
d o a nd t r y a s m a n y t h i ng s i n m y l i f e a s I c a n , " h e a s s e r t e d , no t i n g , ho w ev e r , t h a t h e w o u l d n ev e r
d o a n y th i n g t o c o m p r o m i s e t h e p r o g r a m a t E l a n b e c a us e " I 'v e a l w a y s b e l i e v e d t h a t y o u sh ou l d
d an c e w i t h t h e on e w h o b ru ng y a . "

…. .

The enti re El an operation was i ncredibly l ucrat ive for Joe and his partner, Gerry Davidson, eventually making them hundred s of thousands of dollars each year in profi t . I n t h e e a r l y 7 0' s i t h a d r e c e i v e d v e r y
f av or a b l e pr e s s c o v er a g e d u e i n a l a r g e p a r t t o D a v i ds on ' s e x t e n s i v e c o n t a c t s . D e s c r i p t i o n s o f t h e
f a c i l i t y w h e n i t f i r s t b e g an t o o p er a t e , ho w ev e r , d i ff e r d r a m a t i c a l l y f r o m l a t e r a c c o un t s .
P ar t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t i n g a r e t h e co n t r a d i c t o r y s t a t e m en t s a bo u t E l a n w h i c h c a m e f r o m D a v i d s o n
a nd R i c c i t h e m s e l v e s . W h e t h e r t h e p r o g r a m wa s m i s r e p r e s e n t e d a t t h e o u t s e t , or l a t e r c h an g e d a s
i t g r e w i s n o t c l e a r.

Fo r e x a mp l e , j u s t a f t e r E l a n op e n ed i n 1 9 7 1 D a v i d s o n d i d a n i n t e r v i e w fo r U .S . N e w s A n d W o r l d
R e po r t . H e s a i d : " T h e r a p eu t i c c o m mu n i t i e s l a r g e l y a r e ru n b y e x - ad d i c t s w h o h av e b e c o m e
e x t r e m e l y s an c t i m on i o u s , l i k e a l l c o nv e r t e d h e a t h e n . S o t h e c o m m u n i t i e s fr e qu e n t l y a r e s e t u p i n

so m e w a y s r e m i n i s c e n t o f c on c e n t r a t i on c a m p s . T h e y sh a v e t h e i r p a t i e n t s h e a ds , m a k e t h e m
w e a r d i ap e r s , h an g d eg r ad i n g s i gn s o n t h e m , t h i ng s l i k e t h a t . I n ou r t h e r a p e u t i c c o m m u n i t y w e d o
no t d o t h i s . O u r a p p r o a ch i s t o bu i l d s e l f - e s t e e m , a n d r eg a r d f o r o th e r s . W e t r e a t o n e a no t h e r l i k e
r e sp on s i b l e h u m a n b e in g s . O u r r e s i d e n t s r e s po nd i n f a s h i on , a nd w e h a v e n o t r ou b l e wh a t e v e r
w i t h p eo p l e l e a v i ng . "

Despit e these stat em ents, Elan l at er condoned t he use of degrading si gns, sent posses out t o bri ng back runaways who dared t ry t o leave t he program and was accused of seri ousl y

humili at ing its resi dent s .

…. .

A f t e r E l a n o p en e d i t w a s n o t l o n g b e fo r e p e o pl e w h o m a t t e r e d k n e w ab ou t t h e n e w f a c i l i t y i n

ru r a l M a i n e . D a v i d s o n n e t w o r k e d h i s c o n t a c t s i n m a n y s t a t e s f o r re f e r r a l s , a n d a l s o w e n t

t o Wa s h i n g t o n t o l o b b y f o r i n s u r a n c e c o v e r a g e b e i n g e x t e n d e d t o f a c i l i t i e s l i k e E l a n . H e

w a s a p o w e r f u l f ig u r e w i t h c o n t a c t s a t H a r v a r d , a n d Ma s s a c h u s e t ts G en er al H o s p i t a l .

T r o u b l e d teen s b eg an to b e r ef e r r e d fr o m m a ny s tates . J u v en i l e o f f i ce r s an d s o c i a l

w o r k er s w h o d id n ' t k n o w w h er e e ls e t o s en d th ei r w ar d s w o u l d p ack t h e m o f f to E l an .

R ic h p ar en ts a t th ei r w it s en d f el t s af e l i s t e n i n g to J o e t a lk ab o u t w h a t h e c o u ld d o f o r

t h e i r k i d s . Jo e w o u l d e v en o f f er to f ly E l a n ' s p r iv a te p l an e to p i ck u p p o t e n t i a l re s i d e n t s,
a nd t a k e t h e m t o h i s p l a c e i n t h e w o o d s . P eo pl e w e r e s w a y e d b y Jo e' s ch a r i s m a , a nd l i k e d t h e
w a y h e t a l k e d a b ou t E l a n w h i c h h e c a l l e d " t h e R o l l s R o y c e o f a do l e s c e n t t r e a t m e n t c e n t e r s . "

…….

O n Ju l y 2 2 ,1 97 5 a t e a m o f f i v e i nv e s t i g a t o rs - - a ps y ch i a t r i s t a nd f o u r so c i a l wo rk e r s f r o m t h e
I l l i n o i s D e p a r t m e n t o f C h i l d a nd F a m i l y S er v i c e s ( D C F S ) - - v i s i t e d E l a n fo r a r ou t i n e e v a l u a t i on .
E l e v e n o f i t s s t a t e w a rd s h a d b e en p l a c e d a t E l a n . T h e t e a m s t a y e d fo r t w o d ay s , t a l k i ng w i t h

s t a f f e rs a n d r e s i d en t s a bo u t t h e pr og r a m , t r a v e l i n g t h e g ro un ds o bs e r v i ng gr ou ps a n d t h e d a i l y

act iv iti es . A n d a f t e r sp e nd i n g n e ar l y 4 8 ho ur s o n t h e pr e m i s e s , t he y w e r e aghas t at t he fl agr ant ch i l d abus e, an d vi ol at i on of ci vi l r i g ht s t hey wi t nes s ed . T h e y c a l l e d t h e i r s up e r i o r, M a r y L e e L e a h y, w h o h e ad e d t h e I l l i no i s D C F S , a n d r e c e i v e d a u th o r i z a t i on t o i m m e d i a t e l y r e m o v e th e c h i l d r en f r o m I l l i no i s .

Th e f o l l o w i n g M o n d a y m o r n i n g , J u l y 28 t h , M a r y L e e L e a h y s en t a t e l e g r a m t o t h en M a i n e
go v er no r, J a m e s L o n g l e y , i n f o r m i n g h i m o f t h e s e r i ou s a l l e g a t i on s c on c e r n i ng E l a n . Sh e
r eq u e s t e d h e im m ed ia te ly c on du c t a f u l l s c a l e i nv e s t i g a t i on i n t o i t s op e r a t i o n .

Th a t s a m e d a y, D o n S ch l o s s e r , a sp ok e s m a n f or t h e I l l i n o i s D C F S t o l d t he As s o c i a t e d Pr e s s t h a t
t h e d ep a r t m e n t ' s e v a l u a t i on t e a m h ad " n e v er s e e n a n y th i n g q u i t e s o b i z a r r e a nd d e gr a d i ng . " H e

s a i d " T h e w h o l e c on c e p t o f t h i s p r o g r a m s e em s t o b e a b r a i n w as h in g te c h n i q u e . "

Th e n ex t d a y L e a h y f o l l o w e d u p h e r t e l e gr a m t o G o v e r n o r L o n g l e y w i t h a l e t t e r s u m m a r i z i n g
so m e o f t h e f i nd i n g s o f h er r e v i e w t e a m . S h e w a s a p p a l l e d b y i n s t a n c e s o f p h y s i c a l a b u s e a n d
f o r c ed la b o r w h i ch in cl u d e d s p an k i n g s , p u n ch in g o n e a n o th er in a b o x in g r in g , an d

s en s e l e s s d i t c h d i g g i n g . S h e a l s o c i t e d in s tan ces o f h an d cu f f in g a c h i ld t o a tab le an d th e

p o u r in g o f a m i x t u r e o f f o o d an d human feces over a child's head , d en i a l o f f o o d a n d r ec r e a ti o n , i m p r o p er m ed i ca l car e, an d a tot al lack of pri vacy . S h e s u m m a r i z e d h er l e t t e r b y w r i t i n g :

" I n s ho r t , ou r I l l i no i s t e a m m e m b e r s f o u n d t h e E l a n p r o g r a m a bh or r e n t t o a l l a c c e p t e d s t a n d a rd s

o f c h i l d c a r e . T h e t r e a t m e n t m o d e l s e e m s pr e d i c a t e d o n su s p en s i o n o f e a c h c h i l d ' s l i b e r t i e s ; t h e y

b e co m e a u to m a t o n s w h o c o n f o r m t o ac c ep ta b l e b eh av i o r p a tt e r n s a f t er th ey f in d i t

h o p e le s s to r es is t th e w i l l o f th ei r ' m a s t er s ' ."

E l a n ' s po pu l a t i on a t t h e t i m e w a s 2 1 7 r e s i d e n t s , m a k i n g e a c h d ir e c t or r e sp on s i b l e fo r

a pp ro x i m a t e l y 4 5 c h i l d r e n . T h e ev a l u a t i o n t e a m e xp l a i n ed th at all five resi dent direct ors were form er drug addicts, all graduates themselves of the Elan program, and none possessed a college degree or had any prior experience in child care . O n e r e s i d e n t d i r e c t o r w h o w a s i n c h a rg e o f a h ou s e wh e r e s e v e n
o f t h e I l l i n o i s r e s i d e n t s l i v ed t o l d t h e t e a m t h a t h e h a d a h i s t o r y o f a s s a u l t i v e b e h a v i o r t o w a r d
f em ales . H i s th i r d a s s a u l t r e s u l t e d i n s e r i o us i n j u r y t o t h e w o m a n , w h i c h h a d b e en t h e r e a so n f or
h i s a d m i s s i o n t o E l a n . T h i s s t a f f m e m b e r s a i d t h a t h e s t i l l h a d d if f i c u l t i e s r e l a t i ng t o w o m e n a nd
t h a t h i s p ro gr e s s w a s b e i ng m on i t or e d b y o th e r E l a n e mp l o y e e s .

Th e r ep or t ou t l i n ed f ur t h e r s t a f f i n g s t ru c t u r e s a t E l a n , e x p l a i n i n g t h a t i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e f iv e

r e s i d en t d ir e c t or s t h e r e were 20 coordinators who conducted most of t he therapy groups. All thes e staff coordinat ors were also form er Elan resi dent s, a n d s o m e w e r e re c e n t E l a n g r a d u a t e s w h o s e n am e s in f a ct s t ill a p p e ar ed o n

t h e pr e s e n t r e s i d e n t p o p u l a t i o n sh e e t

Th e I l l i n o i s e v a l u a t o r s e xp l a i n ed t h e v ar i o u s b i z a r r e f o r m s o f p un i sh m e n t f or r es id en ts w h ic h
i n c l ud e d ' t h e r in g ' , ' e l e c t r i c s a u c e , ' d i t c h d ig g in g , h a nd c uf fs , s t r a i g h t j a c k e t s , a nd s p an k i ng s .
Th e r i n g w a s mo d e l e d a f t e r a r eg u l a r b o x i n g r i ng . A r e s i d en t t o b e d i s c i p l i n ed w a s p l a c e d i n t h e

c e n t e r o f a c i r c l e f o r m e d b y o t h e r r e s i d en t s , g i v en 1 6 o un c e b ox i ng g l ov e s a n d h e ad g e a r. T h e
r e s i d en t w a s t h en c o nf ro n t e d w i t h a n o pp on e n t c h os e n b y t h e i n d i v id u a l w h o h e h ad a l l e g e d l y

v i c t i m i z e d , a n d fo r c e d t o pu t i n a ro un d w h i c h u su a l l y l a s t e d a m i n u t e . If the resi dent being punished was not beat en he or she had to fight subsequent opponents until defeat ed .
I l l i n o i s i n v e st i g a t or s s t a t e d t h a t s i x r es id en ts f r o m I l lin o is t o l d t h e m a bo u t t h e r in g , r e po r t i n g
t h a t t h o s e p l a c e d i n t h e r i ng t o d e f e a t t h e p e r so n b e in g pu n i sh e d w e r e m o s t l y l a r g e w e l l bu i l t
bo ys a n d t h a t b oy s w er e us e d t o d ef e a t bo th m a l e a nd f e m a l e r e s i d e nt s . T w o r es id en ts

i nd e p e nd e n t l y t o l d o f a y o u n g f e m a l e b e i ng f or c e d i n t o t h e r i ng . W h e n sh e r e s i s t e d sh e w a s h e l d
d o w n a n d a n a t t e m p t w a s m ad e t o t i e b o x i n g g l ov e s o n h er h a nd s . W h e n th at w as n o t
a c c o m p l i s h e d , sh e w a s s u b j e c t e d t o t h e r i n g b a r e f i s t e d a n d w i t h o u t h e a r d g e a r. O f

p ar t i c u l a r c o n c e rn t o t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r s w a s t h e i n c i d e n t o f o n e o f t h e i r D C F S r e s i d en t s , who had been determi ned to be pregnant, but subsequent to her physical exam was put in the rin g and defeated.
S o m e o f t h e r e a s o n s fo r t h i s f o r m o f pu ni s h m e n t i n c l ud e d r e f r a i n i ng f r o m d i s cu s s i n g pr ob l e m s i n
t h e r ap y, or r ef u s i ng t o c h e e r o n a n o th e r ' s f ig h t i n t h e r in g .

E l e c t r i c s au c e w a s t h e n a m e g iv e n t o a m i x t ur e o f ga rb a g e , k e t c hu p , mu s t a r d , c i g a r e t t e b u t t s e t c .

t h a t w a s p ou r ed o v er r e s i d e n t s ' h e a d s a s a no t h e r f o r m o f p un i s h m en t . T h e r e po r t s t a t e d t h a t s o m e
r e s i d en t s e v en i n d i c a t e d t h a t h u m a n f e c e s w a s so m e t i m e s in c l ud e d i n t h i s ' s a u c e . '

D i g g i n g d i t c h e s w a s a pp a r en t l y s t i l l a no t h e r f o r m o f p un i sh m e n t . M a n y r e s i d e n t s r e po r t e d t h a t a

d ay o f d i gg i n g d i t c h e s u nd e r su rv e i l l a n c e w a s a c o m m o n p r a c t i c e . A f t e r e a c h d i t c h w a s du g t h e
r e s i d en t b e in g pu n i sh e d w o u l d b e r eq u i r e d t o f i l l i t b a ck u p ag a i n , a nd r e p e a t t h e pr o c e s s fo r t h e
du r a t i o n o f t h e p un i s hm e n t .

Th e us e o f h a nd c uf f s w a s a l s o a l l e g ed . O n e r e s i d e n t e x p l a i n e d t h a t h e h a d b e e n c u f f e d f o r
a b o u t f i v e h o u r s f o r s t r i k i n g so m e on e . h a d b e e n o r d e r e d b y a s t a f f m e m b e r t o h a n d c u f f a
g i r l t o a t a b l e b y p l a c i n g t h e c uf f s a r o u n d h e r a n k l e s .
In v e s t i g a t o r s r ep or t e d t h a t t h e y h ad p e r so n a l l y w i t n e s s e d a r e s i d en t p l e a d i ng n o t t o b e p l a c e d i n a
s t r a i gh t j a c k e t a g a i n . A n o t h e r r e s i d e n t r e c a l l e d t h a t h e h ad b e e n a w ak e n e d a t 2 : 3 0 a m a n d or d er e d
t o p l a c e o n e o f h i s p e er s i n a s t r a i gh t j a c k e t .

Th e r ep or t c on t e n d ed t h a t b o th E l a n s t a f f m e m b e r s a n d r e s i d en t s g av e s p an k i ng s t o t h o s e gu i l t y
o f ' a c t i ng l i k e b a b i e s . ' A n d on e o f th e r e s i d en t d i r e c t or s w h o h a d pr e v i ou s l y i d en t i f i e d h i m s e l f a s
h av i ng a h i s t or y o f s e r i ou s a s s a u l t s o n w o m e n a d m i t t e d t o t h i s t e a m t h a t h e h ad a l s o s p a n k ed a
f e m a l e r e s i d e n t f r o m I l l i no i s .

E lan f un c t i on e d a s a s e p a r a t e so c i e t y w i t h i t s o w n d i c t i o n a ry o f t e r m s . A ' g en e r a l m ee t i n g ' w as

cal led af te r a r e s i d en t f a i le d t o c o m p l y w it h p r o g r a m r eq u i r e m e n t s . A t th is m e e t in g
e v e r y o n e i n t h e ho us e g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r a n d v e r b a l l y a s s a u l t e d t h e p e r s o n . I f t h i s r e s i d e n t
d id n o t v o lu n ta r i l y s u b m i t to th is v er b a l as s au lt f r o m p eer s , h e o r s h e w a s t h en f o r c ib ly

d r ag g ed b ef o r e th e g r o u p . At these meetings it was represented that 'anything goes,' and the use of obscene, degrading and vile language was condoned.
So m e t i m e s t h e po s s e m en t a l i t y of t h e s e m e e t i n gs r e a c h e d a c r e s c e nd o a nd t h e r e s i d e n t s c h a rg e d
a t t h e su b j e c t , s t r i k i n g , k i c k i n g a nd t h r o w i n g t h i ng s . O n e r e s i d en t r ep or t e d t h a t h e o n c e h ad
t ro ub l e p us h i ng h i s w a y i n t o t h e g ro up t o g e t c l o s e e n o u g h t o p er s on a l l y a t t a c k t h e su b j e c t , a n d

was afraid that he might be disciplined for not enthusiastically participating i n this dis ci pl ini ng procedure.
Th e I l l i n o i s i n v e s t i g a t o r s wr o t e t h a t t h ey h a d h e ar d a bo u t a n a do l e s c e n t w h o h a d b e en t i e d t o a
po l e an d g ag g ed w i t h a r ag . T h e y a l s o wr o t e a b ou t a p i t c h e r o f c ho c o l a t e m i l k w h i c h h ad b e e n
d u m p e d o v e r a n o th e r b oy ' s h e ad . O th e r f o r m s o f pu n i s h m en t i n c l ud e d t h e s c ru bb i n g o f a f l oo r

w i t h a to o t h br us h , a n d t h e c l e a n i n g o f t o i l e t b ow l s w i t h b a r e h an ds .

T h o u g h t h e p o o r qu a l i f i c a t i on s o f E l a n p er s on n e l a nd a b us i v e m e t ho d s o f pu n i sh m e n t w e r e gr av e

c on c e r n t o t h e t e a m , t h e y d i d n o t c on f i n e t h e i r o u tr a g e t o j u s t t ho s e a r e a s . In their report they stated that they were also appalled by violations of privacy at Elan .
" Ex p e d i t o r s " w er e c on s t a nt l y a t w o r k k e e p i ng a wr i t t e n r e c o rd o f ne g a t i v e b eh a v i o r, a c t i ng " lik e

a s e c r e t p o l i c e fo r c e . " A l l i ncomi ng m ail for residents no matter whom it was from was intercept ed, opened and read by the Elan st aff . I f i t w a s d e t e r m i n ed i n a pp r op r i a t e f or t h e r e s i d en t t o r e a d i t w a s c on f i s c a t e d o r t h e ob j e c t i on a b l e m a t e r i a l

d eleted . Al l outgoing m ail to parents and others was censored, and new residents could not write letters, make or receive phone call s. Thes e act ivi ties were considered privileges to be earned through elevation on the hierarchy. O n e r e s i d e n t r e po r t e d t h a t h e h ad l e t t e r w r i t i n g pr i v i l e g e s , bu t c h os e no t t o w r i t e l e t t e r s b e c a u s e h e d i d no t w a n t t h e m r e a d b y s t a f f m e mb e r s . Those who were permitted to make phone cal ls als o had their call s monitored by a st aff member, and the evaluation team reported that even their own phone convers ations at El an had been monitored

by a st affer who inform ed them afterwards that he had list ened to their call s .
D u r i n g t h e i r t w o d a y s t a y a t E l a n , m e m b e r s o f t h e e v a l u a t i on t e a m s t a t e d t h a t t h e y ob s e rv e d

group therapy sessions where personal insults, and attacks on individual famil y members were common. Verbal attacks from the staffers to the residents overheard included: "You mother fucking whore"... "You cock sucking, titty sucking, mother fucking asshole"..."You mother fucking dog"... Each tirade lasted ten minutes or more.
T e a m m e mb e r s f ur t h e r r ep or t e d t h a t E l a n ' s r e s i d en t nu rs e t o l d t h e m t h a t a l l n e w re s i d e n t s w er e
su b j e c t e d t o a s t r i p s e a r c h . T h e y s t a t e d t h a t E l a n' s n ur s e t o l d t h e m t h a t s h e g o t v ag i n a l s m e a r s a nd
d id r e c t a l e x a m s o n n e w f e m a l e r e s i d en t s a nd s e c u r e d s e m e n sp e c i m e n s f r o m n e w m a l e r e s i d e n t s

t o t e s t fo r a ny v e n er e a l d i s e a s e . S h e r ep or t e d ly s t a t e d t h a t t h e s e m e n sp e c i m e n w a s ob t a i n e d f r o m
e a c h n e w m a l e r e s i d e n t b y g i v i n g h i m a sm a l l c u p a n d d ir e c t i n g h i m t o a pr i v a t e r o o m t o
m a s t ur b a t e a nd r e t u rn w i t h t h e s a m p l e . T h e e v a l u a t i o n t e a m s t a t e d t h a t t h e y su b s eq u e n t l y
c on t a c t e d p hy s i c i a ns i n c h a rg e o f bo t h pu b l i c a n d p r iv a t e f a c i l i t i e s t o d e t e r m i n e i f m a s t u rb a t i o n
w a s a n a c c e p t a b l e p ro c e du r e f or o b t a i n i ng a s e m e n sp e c i m e n . E a c h p hy s i c i a n c o n t a c t e d w a s
sh o ck e d b y s u ch a pr o c ed u r e a nd s t a t e d i t w a s n o t m ed i c a l l y a c c e p t a b l e . D u r i n g t h e t e a m ' s

d i s cu s s i o n w i t h E l a n ' s r eg i s t e r e d nu rs e t h ey w e r e a l s o d i s t r a ug h t t o f i n d t h a t s h e d i s p en s e d m a n y
m ed i c a t i on s . D i s cu s s i n g t h e sp e c i f i c d ru gs , t h ey f ou nd a bo u t a d o z en w e r e c o n t ro l l e d
p h ar m a c e u t i c a l s t h a t r eq u i r e d a p r e s c r ip t i on . T h e nu rs e a l s o r ep or t e d ly t o l d t h e m t h a t g ir l s
l e a v i n g E l a n w e r e g iv e n b ir t h c o n t ro l p i l l s u p o n r e qu e s t , w i t h o u t h a v in g a p hy s i c a l e x a m
p e rf o rm e d p r io r t o t h e i r g e t t i ng t h e m .

D ep r i v at i o n of food as pu ni s hm en t , l ack of ad equat e r ecr eat i on f aci l it i es , t ra i n ed k i t c h en pe rs onnel , and cl ot hi ng fo r r es i dent s wer e ot her conc erns exp res s ed i n t hi s r ep or t . T h e ev alu ato r s to ld o f on e o f t h e i r w ar d s w h o h ad h i s sh o e s t a k e n a w a y. H e s aid t h a t du r in g h i s s i x w e e ks a t E l a n , h e h ad m a d e r ep e a t e d r eq u e s t s fo r sh o e s , b u t t h e r e qu e s t s

w er e d e n i e d b e c a us e he was t ol d t h at i f he had shoes he m i gh t r u n aw ay . W h e n t h i s c h i l d w a s br ou gh t b a c k t o C h i c a g o , i t w a s f o u n d t h a t he h a d b lo od po i s on i n g i n on e f oo t .

Th e e v a l u a t i o n t e a m ' s r e po r t co n c l ud e d f r o m i t s i n v e s t i g a t i on o f E l a n t h a t t h e r e w a s a b so l u t e l y
n o j u s t i f i c a t i o n f or t h e ou t r a g e ou s t r e a t m e n t o f a do l e s c e n t s w h i c h t h ey w i t n e s s e d , w r i t i n g

" E l a n w i l l a r gu e t h a t t h e e v a l u a t i on t e a m h a s t a k e n o c cu r r en c e s ou t o f c o n t e x t , a n d t h a t c o n t r a ry
t o t h e f in d i ng s o f t h e ev a l u a t i o n t e a m , t h e i n c i d e n t s w e r e i n th e b es t i n t e r e s t s o f t h e c h i l d .
R e g a rd l e s s o f t h e r e a s o ns g i v en b y E l a n e x c u s i ng o r j u s t i f y i n g t h e i n c i d e n t s e a c h a n d e v er y
i n c i d e n t r e po r t e d i s d ir e c t l y c o n t r a ry t o I l l i n o i s l a w a n d r eg u l a t i on s , a n d un d er n o c i r c u m s t a n c e s

c a n t h e a g e n c y p er m i t a n y o f i t s w a rd s t o r e s i d e a t a n i n s t i t u t i o n wh e r e s u ch e v e n t s o c c u r. In addition these practices violate the child's civil rights and liberties and deprive him of his self respect and dignity. Under no circumstances can the

Department of Children and Family Services permit any child to be subjected to Elan ."
Jo e R i c c i , t h e t h en 2 9 y e ar o l d m i l l i on a i r e fo un d er a n d e x e c u t i v e t h e r ap e u t i c d i r e c t o r o f E l a n w a s

l i v i d w h e n I l l i no i s pu l l e d i t s w a rd s , b u t h e so on l a un c h e d h i s o w n a t t a c k . A source who was close to Joe at the tim e said he was told by his lawyers to downplay the controvers y, t ry t o keep a cap on it. But Joe decided t o be on the offensive and came out fighting, threateni n g l aw sui ts for defamation of character and breach of cont ract s.
A n e mb a r r a s s e d s t a t e g o v e r n m e n t i n M a i n e i m m e d i a t e l y l a u n c h ed a n i n qu i r y i n t o I l l i n o i s
all eg atio n s in an at tem p t to ex p lain h o w s u ch t h i ng s c o u ld b e a l l o w e d t o h a pp e n r i gh t un d er i t s
no s e . I t s e n t a s i x m e m b e r e v a l u a t i on t e a m o f i t s o w n to E l a n o n Ju l y 3 1s t a nd A u g u s t 1s t , a nd
Go v er no r L o n g l e y a nd D a v i d Sm i t h , t h e c om m i s s i on e r f o r H u m a n S e rv i c e s , m a d e a m u c h
h er a l d e d t r i p t o P o l a nd S pr i n g .

W h e n L o n g l e y r e c e i v ed t h e o ff i c i a l 7 0 p a g e r e po r t f r o m t h e I l l i n o i s e v a l u a t i on t e a m o n A u g u s t
5 th , h e h a d M a i n e ' s D e p a r t m e n t o f H u m a n S e rv i c e s i s s u e a n i n t e r i m r e po r t o n i t s i n d ep e n d en t
f in d i ng s . M a i n e s t a t e d t h a t I l l i no i s ' s f i nd i n g s w er e un fo un d ed . I t r e po r t e d t h a t i t s i n v e s t i g a t i on

r ev e a l e d : " N o e v id e n c e o f u nj u s t i f i a b l e d e n i a l s o f c i v i l l i b e r t i e s o r o f m i s t r e a t m e n t b ru t a l i t y or
a ny t h i ng t h a t c o u ld be c o ns i d e r e d a b ho rr e n t t o a l l a c c e p t a b l e s t a n d a rd s o f ch i l d c a r e . " T h i s r e po r t
a s s e r t e d t h a t : " T h e r e s i d en t s (o f E l a n ) i n t e r v i e w e d us u a l l y e x pr e s s e d n e w f ou nd f e e l i n g s o f
d ig n i t y, s e l f - a s su r a n c e , a n d m en t a l w e l l b e i ng , a nd t h ey a t t r i bu t e d t h e s e f e e l i n g s t o t h e t r e a t m e n t
t h ey r e c e i v ed a t E l a n . "

R e s po nd i n g t o t h e c h a rg e s o f t h e r i ng , sp a nk i n g s a nd p hy s i c a l a b us e M a i n e w r o t e : " O n e o f t h e
c a rd i n a l r u l e s o f t h e E l a n p r o g r a m i s t h a t t h e u s e o f ph ys i c a l v io l e n c e , b y e i t h e r a s t a ff m e m b e r,

or a r e s i d en t i s s t r i c t l y o u t l a w e d . " Y e t i t d ef en d ed th e u s e o f th e r in g s ta t i n g : " O n ly acts o f

r e p e a t e d p h y s i c a l v i o l e n c e ( o n th e p a r t o f r e s i d e n t s ) r e s u l t i n a p e r s o n b e i n g p l a c e d i n t h e

r i n g w h e r e r o u n d s l a s t a b o u t o n e m i n u t e a n d t h e p ar t i c i p a n t s a r e e v e n l y m a t c h ed . "

R e s po nd i n g t o t h e I l l i no i s c h ar g e s o f E l a n sp a nk i n g i t s r e s i d e n t s t h e M a i n e ev a l u a t or s a g a i n
c ho s e t o j u s t i f y t h i s b eh a v i o r, t h o u g h i t w a s i n d i r e c t c on t r a d i c t i on t o E l a n 's s t a t e d p o l i c y o f n o
c or po r a l pu n i sh m e n t .

R e g a rd i n g sp a nk i n g s t h ey w ro t e : " I t i s r e c o gn i z e d a n d a c c e p t e d b y re s i d e n t s a s a n " u l t i m a t e "

t e c h n i qu e f or d e a l i ng w i t h r ar e a nd u nu su a l b e h av i o r, " a dd i n g : " Th e r e w a s , ho w ev e r , a n i s o l a t e d
in cid en t w h ic h w as r e c og n i z e d a s e x c e s s i v e b y o th e r s taf f m em b er s an d w h i ch t h e r e fo r e
r e su l t e d i n t h e t e m p o r ar y su s p en s i o n o f t h e s t a f f m e m b e r r e s po n s ib l e . "

Th e M a i n e t e a m ( c o mp r i s e d o f fo ur l a w y er s , a P h .D . , a nd a ps y ch i a t r i s t ) a l s o s t a t e d t h a t i t f o u n d
" n o e v i d e n c e t o su pp or t t h e c h ar g e t h a t r e s i d en t s w e r e fo r c e d t o d ig d i t c h e s " wr i t i ng : "Th e w o r k
a s s i gn m e n t s p e rf o rm e d b y th e r e si d e n t s a r e b e n ef i c i a l a n d i n t e g r a l p ar t o f t h e E l a n t r e a t m en t
pr og r a m a nd t h a t su c h w o r k a s s i g n m en t s c o n t r i bu t e s i gn i f i c a n t l y i n t h e d e v e l op m e n t o f
r e sp on s i b i l i t y , s e l f - r e s p e c t , a nd pr i d e . "
R e s po nd i n g t o I l l i no i s ' s o t h e r c h ar g e s r e g a r d i ng l a c k o f pr i v a c y a nd v i o l a t i on o f c i v i l r i g h t s t h e
M a i n e c on t i n g e n t w r o t e i n p a r t : " W e f o u n d t h a t t h e d eg r e e o f p r iv a c y a f fo rd e d E l a n r e s i d e n t s i s
a c c e p t a b l e w i t h i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e e n t i r e pr og r a m . "

F in a l l y, a ns w e r i ng t h e a l l e g a t i o n s o f s c r e a m e d ob s c e n i t i e s t h e y wr o t e : " P er s on s e xp e r i e n c e d i n
d e a l i n g w i t h t ro ub l e a d o l e s c e n t s w i l l r e a d i l y a g r e e t h a t ob s c e n e w o r d s a r e an e v e ry d a y
o c cu r r en c e i n t h e a do l e s c e n t w o r l d , a n d a l t h ou gh w e d o no t c o nd on e t h i s t yp e o f v o c ab u l a r y, w e
f e e l t h e u s e o f s u ch w o r d s w o u l d i n n o w a y su pp or t a c h a rg e o f m i s t r e a t m e n t or o f b i z a r r e or
d eg r ad i n g t r e a t m e n t . "

………..

" O u r p r i m a r y p ur po s e t h e n , " D e v i n e n o w r e c a l l s " . . w a s j u s t t o g e t ou r k i d s ou t o f t h a t p l a c e , a nd

pr e v en t t h e m f r o m e v er g o in g b a ck . " He notes that some of those sent to Elan were not even delinquent, but merely orphans. Now, even fi ft een years later, he remembers the i ncident wi th intensity and is s urpris ed that Elan is stil l
operati ng.

Th e pu b l i c i t y g en e r a t e d f r o m I l l i n o i s ' s c l a i m s o f a b us e , c a u s e d o th er s tat es t o s e nd t h e i r o w n
i nv e s t i g a t o rs t o d e t e r m i n e h o w t h e i r w a rd s w e r e b e i ng t r e a t e d . D u r i n g t h e s a m e p e r i od t h a t
M a i n e ' s e v a l u a t i on t e a m w a s a s s e s s i ng E l a n , s o w e r e t h r e e e v a l u a t o r s f o r m C on n e c t i c u t , f o u r
f r o m R ho d e I s l a nd , a nd f ou r f r o m M a s s a c hu s e t t s .

…….

K e n Z a r e t s k y, n o w a 3 4 y e a r o l d e n t r e p r e n eu r l i v in g i n C h i c a go , w a s a t e e n ag e s taf f m e m b e r at
E l a n d ur i ng t h e s e s t a t e i n v e s t i g a t i on s . L o o k i n g b a ck o n t h a t t i m e f r a m e h e r ev e a l s t h a t a f t e r

th e I ll i n o i s in v es tig ato r s ar r iv ed , everything was covered up . " W e l i e d t h r o ug h o ur t e e t h , " h e s a y s , e x p l a i n i n g t h a t h e a n d o th e r s t a f f m e m b e r s d id a g o o d j o b

o f so f t e n i ng t h e p ro gr a m f or t h e su b s eq u e n t i nv e s t i g a t i o n s . " W h a t we couldn' t cover u p we a dm i t t e d to as th e exception ra t h e r t h an the ru le . Th e r e s i d e n t s w e r e t h r i l l e d w h e n t h e p l a c e w a s o v er ru n w i t h i n v e s t i g a t o r s , b e c a u s e t h ey h a d a r e a l fu n

t i m e . W e l a i d o f f ev e r yb od y t h en . But everything the Illi nois investigators said was true, every l as t word of i t " , h e d eclar es .

K en w o u l d b e c o n s i d e r ed on e of E l a n ' s s u c c e s s s t o r i e s . H e w a s i n t h e p ro gr a m i n 1 9 7 1 f r o m th e
t i m e h e w a s 15 , g r ad u a t e d , an d b e c a m e a s e n i o r s t a f f m e m b e r , sp e nd i n g a t o t a l o f f iv e y e a r s a t
E l a n . H e b e l i e v ed i n E l a n a nd J o e R i c c i w h o m h e s a y s " W e a l l t h ou gh t w a s G o d . " B u t n e a r l y
f i f t e e n y e a r s l a t e r h e r ep or t s h is s c a r s f r o m El a n s t i l l ru n de e p , a n d t h a t t h e a f t e r sh o c k s o f all th e
hu m i l i a t i on a r e st i l l f e l t i n hi s r e l a t i on s h i p w i t h h i m s e l f a n d o th e r s . A n d h e r e gr e t s t h e a b us e h e

p e rp e t r a t e d o n t h e r e s i d e n t s w h e n h e b e c a m e a s t a f f m e mb e r. " But I was brainwashed, " he says in his own defense. "I might have abused someone else, but I was a

victim too. It can be compared to a mother in the concent ration camps pushing the buttons on her children in the ovens. How can you fault her for that?"
K en c a m e f r o m I l l i no i s , t h o u gh h e w a s no t a w a r d o f t h e s t a t e. H e w a s on e o f E l a n ' s p r iv a t e

r ef e r r a l s f r o m a d o c to r b y t h e n a m e o f M a r v i n S chwa rt z. " M a r vi n was known as M r. Adolescent Il l i noi s, " recall s Ken indicati ng that he was probably si ngle handedl y res pons ibl e for buil di ng El an wi t h his pri vat e referral s.

" I think he and Gerry Davidson went back a long way. I didn't realize it at the time, but found out later when I work ed at Elan that he

woul d get a kickback for ev ery ki d he sent there and that's clearly why he did it " , s ay s K e n

K e n s ay s t h a t h e a n d m a n y o th e r s w h o w e r e p l a c e d a t E l a n i n t h e e a r l y a nd m i d 7 0' s w e r e no t t h e
h ar d c or e d e v i a n t k i d s p eo p l e i m a g i n e d . H e s ay s h e d i dn ' t use h er o i n or a ny h a rd d ru gs . " I w a s a
n o r m a l k i d , g iv e n t h e t i m e i n o ur c ou n t ry ' s h i s t or y t h a t I w a s b e in g a k i d i n , " h e o bs e r v e s . .

… …

Th r e e m o n t h s a f t e r t h e m u l t i - s t a t e i nv e s t i g a t i o n o f E l a n , M a i n e ' s D e p a r t m e n t o f H u m a n S e rv i c e s
i s s u ed w h a t i t c a l l e d i t s F i n a l R e po r t C o n c e rn i n g t h e A l l e g e d M i s t r e a t m e n t o f Ju v en i l e s b y E l a n

C or po r a t i on . T h e s i x p a g e s , pr e p a r ed b y M a i n e ' s O f f i c e o f A l c o h o l i s m a n d D r u g P r ev e n t i on
( O DA P) , s u m m a r i z e d t h e f in d i ng s o f C on n e c t i c u t , R h o d e I s l a nd a n d M a s s a c h u s e t t s r eg a r d i ng
t h e i r i n v e s t i g a t i on s o f E l a n . T h e O D A P s u m m ar i e s w e r e s t r i k i n g l y s i m i l a r t o t h e i n t e r i m r e po r t
i s s u ed e a r l i e r b y M a i n e w h i c h h ad b e e n r ev i e w e d b y t h e o t h e r s ta t es . I t r e a d i n p ar t :
" B a s e d o n a r e a s on a b l e i n t e r pr e t a t i o n o f t h e r e su l t s o f i nv e s t i g a t i o n s b y s t a t e of f i c i a l s f o r m
C on n e c t i c u t , M a i n e , M a s s a c hu s e t t s a n d R h o d e I s l a n d t h e M a i n e D e p a r t m e n t o f H u m a n S e rv i c e s

h as c o n c l ud e d t h a t t h e r e w a s i n s uf f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o j u s t i f y t h e I l l i no i s c h a rg e s . . . A s a r e s u l t o f
t h e s e i n v e s t i g a t i on s , t h e f o u r s t a t e s h av e r e v i e w e d t h e i r p o l i c i e s r eg a r d i ng p l a c e m e n t a nd r e f e rr a l
o f s t a t e yo u th s a t E l a n fa c i l i t i e s a nd a l l h a v e d e t e r m i n ed t h a t E l a n h a s c on s i s t e n t l y p ro v id e d a n d
w i l l c on t i n u e t o pr ov i d e i n no v a t i v e , a p pr op r i a t e , a n d b en e f i c i a l t r e a t m e n t t o j u v en i l e s w i t h

s e r i ou s b eh a v i or a l pr ob l e m s . None of the four investigating states has withdrawn any of their state wards from Elan and every state intends to continue their present policy of encouraging the placem ent of youths at Elan facilities."

I n p r ep a r i n g i t s f in a l r ep or t , h ow e v e r, Maine's ODAP did not include a summary of the actual investigative report done by evaluators from Massachusetts

who visited Elan in July. Their report, filed August 6th, had findings similar to the Illinois team, yet these went unreported .

Sp e nd i n g 4 8 ho ur s a t E l a n f a c i l i t i e s i n P o l a nd S pr i n g , a nd P a r so n f i e l d , t h e M a s s a c hu s e t t s

e v a l u a t o r s sp ok e w i t h r e s i d en t s i n d i v i d u a l l y i n s e p a r a t e r oo m s , a s s u r in g e a c h o f c on f i d e n t i a l i t y.
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e M a s s a c hu s e t t s t e a m , s p an k i ng s o c c ur r e d a t E l a n i n t h e c ou r s e o f a g e n er a l
m e e t i ng h e l d fo r d i s c i p l i n a r y r e a so n s a n d w e r e a t t e nd e d b y a l l t h e r e s i d e n t s o f a p ar t i c u l a r h ou s e .
T h e y d e s c r i b e d t h a t r es i d e n t s (r e c e i v i ng s p an k i ng s ) w e r e r eq u i r e d t o b en d o v e r a ch a i r, a nd i f
t h ey r e fu s e d , t w o o r mo r e r e s i d e n t s an d s t a f f w o u l d f or c i b l y r e s t r a i n t h e m b y h o ld i n g a r m s a nd
leg s .

Th e M a s s a c h u s e t t s e v a l u a t o rs d es cr ib ed a s im i lar b o x in g r in g f or m a t s i m i l a r t o t h a t d e s c r i b e d b y
I l l i n o i s a n d s t a t e d t h a t i n j ur i e s f r o m t h e r i ng r a ng e d f r o m n e gl i g i b l e e f f e c t s , t o b l a c k e y e s b lo o d y
no s e s , s p l i t l i p s a n d sp r a i n e d a nk l e s .

T h e y a l s o r e c e i v e d r ep or t s o f ' e l e c t r i c s a u c e ' po ur e d o v e r r e s i d e n t ' s h e a d s . S i t t i ng i n a c or n e r w a s

s t i l l a n o th e r f o r m o f d i s c i p l i n e r ep or t e d . T h e y w r o t e t h at t he l engt h of t i m e a dis ci pl i nee m us t r e m a i n i n t he co rner vari ed f r o m t wo

days t o s ev eral m ont hs . During this time residents had to have all meals i n the corner and were allowed to leave only to go to the bathroom. One resident report ed to the evaluators that another resident forced to sit in a corner for two solid months, began to talk to hers elf, and as a result of talking to hers elf was given a spanking by the entire house.
I n s u m m ar i z in g th eir i n v e s t i g a t i on , t h e M a s s a c hu s e t t s t e a m w ro t e :

"I t i s t h e op i n i on i f t h e e v a l u a t i on t e a m t h a t t h e r e i s su f f i c i e n t c o rr ob o r a t i o n a m o n g y ou t h i n t h e
E l a n p ro gr a m to c o ns i d e r c e r t a i n f o r m s o f be h a v io r c o n t ro l e m p l o y e d t o c on s t i t u t e a b us i v e

tr eatm en t o f cli en ts . Us e o f s uc h fo rm s o f be h av i o r co nt ro l w o u l d s e em t o c on s t i t u t e s ys t em at i c l egal vi ol a t i on o f cl i ent s ' ri gh t s ( s u ch as ass ault and as saul t and bat t ery ) r egardl es s o f a ny t her apeut i c rat i onal e i n w h i c h t h ey m a y be i n co rp o r at e d .

I t sh ou l d a l s o b e n o t ed t h a t u s e o f a bu s i v e b eh a v i or c on t r o l s w o u l d s e e m t o b e i n d i r e c t v io l a t i o n
o f D ep a r t m e n t o f Yo u t h S e rv i c e s s t a n d a rd s r e g a rd i n g t h e t r e a t m e n t o f y ou t h un d er t h e
d ep a r t m e n t ' s c a r e . Th e n e t e ff e c t o f s u ch p r a c t i c e s , w h i l e i n d i r e c t c on t r a d i c t i on t o t h e p ro gr a m ' s
s t a t e d po s i t i o n w a s r e po r t e d b y m o s t c l i e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d t o b e o n e o f s ev e r e hu m i l i a t i on a s w e l l
as i n m a n y i n s t a n c e s , p hy s i c a l l y p a in f u l .

I n l i gh t o f t h e i n fo r m a t i o n r e c e i v ed i t i s t h e e v a l u a t i o n t e a m ' s o p i n i o n t h a t t h e i s s u e o f pl a c e m e n t

o f w ar d s o f t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h o f M a s s a c h u s e t t s i n t h e c a r e o f D Y S a t E l a n b e s e r i o us l y
r e co n s i d e r ed . S ub s e qu e n t l y i t i s f e l t t h a t a d e c i s i o n m u s t be r e a c h e d r eg a r d i ng t h e p r e s en t
c on t r a c t u a l a g r e e m e n t s b e t w e e n t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h an d E l a n pu rs u an t t o t h e b es t i n t e r e s t s o f t h e
yo u th i n t h e pr og r a m . "

Ins t ead o f ex pl ai ni ng thes e fi n d i ngs o f t he f o u r M as s a chus et t s i nves t i gat ors , M a i n e' s O D A P s ubst i t ut ed a s ubs equent r ep or t wr i t t e n b y R ob e rt Wa t s on, Di r ec t o r I nt en s i ve C ar e f o r t he D i v i s i o n o f Yo u t h S ervi c es that s up po s e dl y s um m ar i z ed t he abov e fi nd i n gs o f t he t eam . I t c on c l u d ed i n p ar t :

" B o x i n g i s a t h e r a p e u t i c t oo l u t i l i z e d b y t h e c o m m u n i t y t o s t op r e s i d e n t s f r o m b u l l y i n g o n e
a no t h e r. T h i s i s c a r e f u l l y s up e r v i s e d t o i n su r e t h a t n o o ne i s h ur t . T h e p ur po s e i s t o s h o w t h a t

a ny a n d a l l r e s i d en t s c a nn o t b u l l y o n e a no t h e r. Th i s i s t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i on ' s d e f i n i t i o n . "
Wa t s o n a l s o wr o t e : " E l e c t r i c s au c e i s n o t , h as n o t b e en a n d n ev e r w i l l b e a p r a c t i c e o r t o o l o f t h e
E l a n a d m i n i s t r a t i on . " a d d in g : " O f a l l t h e r e s id e n t s i n t e r v i e w e d o n l y on e s a i d h e h a d e l e c t r i c
s au c e t h r o w n a t h i m . T w o s a i d t h ey s a w i t , a nd a l m o s t a l l o th e r s h a d h e ar d a bo u t i t . A s t a ff

m e m b e r a t E l a n h ad us e d t h i s p r a c t i c e a p pr ox i m a t e l y e i gh t mo n t h s a go . As soon as the adm ini st rati on learned t hat this pract ice had taken place, it was immediately stopped, and this st aff member was t ermi nated. This pract ice has not taken place since . S u m m a r i z i n g M a s s a c hu s e t t s po s i t i o n Wa t s o n
wr o t e :
" I fe e l w i t h fu r th e r d e f i n i t i o n th e E l an p r o g r am w il l c o n t i nu e t o a c h i e v e o ur p ur po s e i n
t r e a t m e n t o f t h e yo u th w e s e n t t o t h e m . "

Wa t s o n k n e w w h a t h e w a s w r i t i n g w h e n he u s ed p a s t t e n s e s en t i n th e a bo v e s t a t e m e n t , b e c a us e

Massachus etts stopped placi ng its youth at Elan foll owing its investigation
M a i n e ' s O D A P r e pr e s e n t e d i n i t s f in a l r ep or t s u m m a r y t h a t E l a n h ad r e c e i v ed a un a n i mo u s

su pp or t f r o m i t s o th e r e v a l u a t i on s , b u t t h i s w a s n' t t r u e . The omis sions in the OD A P s um m ary rai se ques ti ons about the s pin pl aced on it s 1975 report concerning chil d abuse at Elan

J e rr y Do c h e r ty w h o i s n o w d e pu t y d ir e c t or f or F a m i l y C o n t i n u i t y P ro gr a m s i n M a s s a c h u s e t t s
r e m e mb e r s v i s i t i ng E l a n du r in g t h i s p e r i od w h e n h e w a s w i t h t h e M a s s a c hu s e t t s D e p a r t m e n t o f
Yo u t h S e rv i c e s . H e w a s no t a m e m b e r o f t h e e v a l u a t i on t e a m , b u t m a d e a s e p a r a t e t r i p t o E l a n
c on c e r n i ng o n e o f t h e M a s s a c h u s e t t s ' w ar d s . H e r e c a l l s h a v in g s e r i ou s do ub t s a b ou t t h e

th er ap eu tic e ff e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e pr og r a m , b u t s a y s h e w a s i m p r e s s e d w i t h t h e e du c a t i o n a l a sp e c t w h i c h s e e m e d t o f un c t i on s e p a r a t e l y. D u r i n g h i s v i s i t he asked to see the boxing ring,

and asked about ot her allegations and says "What was presented to me was cert ainly far less cont rovers ial than what I read in the papers. I n ev e r
s a w a ny o f i t , b u t I h a d s o m e g u t l e v e l c on c e r n s t h a t t h e y w er e n ' t s h o w i n g m e t h i ng s . " . . . . . I a l s o
h ad a s t ro ng f e e l i n g t h a t t h e s t a t e p ro gr a m w a s s e p a r a t e d f r o m th e p r iv a t e pa y p r o g r a m a nd
t h e r e w a s a q u a l i t a t i v e d if f e r e n t f e e l t o i t . "

He never realized that Elan was run for profit. Learning that the Joe and Gerry made more than $300,000 a year from the program, he says "That is sick."
……..

T af t t r a v e l e d t o M a i n e t o v i s i t E l a n , a n d a l s o s po k e w i t h s o c i a l w or k er s , l a w e nf o r c e m e n t o ff i c i a l s
a nd o t h e r s r e sp on s i b l e fo r r ef e r r i ng c l i e n t s t h e r e .

H e d e s c r i b e d s o m e u nu su a l i m pr e s s i o n s : " There is a rai n of curses and shouts amidst a confusing chaos of teenagers. Some give commands, others furi ousl y scrub floors, dressed i n bizarre costumes- diapers and ti n foi l and rags. Some have huge signs around their necks. Others s cribbl e on note pads. They are intent on something: jus t what is uncertain. And no one is smiling. No one. " T af t wr o t e : " R e s i d e n t s a r e m a d e t o w e a r c o s t u m e s t h a t i l l u s t r a t e t h e i r un a c c e p t a b l e b e h av i o r . Fo r
e x a mp l e on e b o y w h o s e su p e rv i s o r t ho ug h t t h e s un r os e a nd s e t o n h i m w a s m a d e t o d r e s s l i k e

C a e s a r. A n o t h e r ' ' c r y b ab y' ' w a s g i v en a d i a p e r a nd b o t t l e , a n d o th e r s c a r r i e d s ig n s l i k e " H E L P ! I

a m a n e mo t i on a l l y c r i pp l e d m on s t e r. "

T af t m e n t i o ns t h e s p an k i ng s , an d d es c r i b e s t h e r i ng : " W i t h h e a vy 1 6 ou nc e g lo v e s , h e a dg e a r, a nd

su r ro un d ed b y r e s i d e n t s , b u l l i e s a nd pr ov ok e r s m u s t f a c e a d i ff e r e n t bo x er ea ch m i n u t e to th e
s c r e a m s o f d e l i gh t , a n d d er i s i o n f r o m t h e i r p e er s . "

T af t qu o t e s a n e x E l a n e m p l o y e e w h o s t a t e d : " T he y be at an e m o t i o na l l y s l o w k i d i n t he s now, i t was a w fu l . H e was j us t bl ac k

and b l u e f o r we ek s . "
A f o r m e r E l a n e m p l o y e e , D o n n a P i z z i , t o l d T a f t " W h e n I l e f t t h e r e i t w a s l i k e ' ph e w ' , I ' m o u t . I t
w a s l i k e t h e y h ad p o w e r o v er m e , I w e n t t h ro ug h a l o t o f p sy c ho l o g i c a l pu sh i n g a nd p u l l i n g. "

P i z z i s a i d sh e f ou nd h er s e l f w o n d e r i n g a bo u t the "bl ank l ooks " on the faces of bot h staff and resi dent s. " Th e r e ' s a l o t o f r o t e r e p e t i t i o n o f c r e e d s a nd p h i l o so ph i e s w i t ho u t m u c h th i n k i ng . " S h e s a i d the st aff themselves were so young, most of them only i n their teens, and themselves graduates of the program. "They are barely developed. It' s as i f they depend on the place , li ke they had no other place to turn to except (work) at

El an , " s h e d e c l a r e d .
T af t r ep o r t e d t h a t t h e r e w a s a so r t o f c u l t s p e a k vo c a bu l a r y a t E l a n . H e e xp l a i n ed b a d b e ha v io r

fo r e x a mp l e w a s " c or ru p t n e s s , " a n d " j u s t i c e " i s g a i n e d f o r t h o s e w h o h a v e b e en a b us e d i n th e

sy s t e m . H i s a r t i c l e d r e w a t t e n t i o n t o t h e p ro l i f e r a t i on o f " p i t h y s ay i n g s " t a c k e d t o e v er y w a l l o f
e v er y r e s i d en c e .

Perhaps most reveali ng about Taft 's art icle were his convers ations wit h Gerry Davidson and Joe Ri cci . " We ' r e a c o m m u n i t y o f s e l f h e lp l i k e t h e M o r m o n s . " D a v i d s o n t o l d T a f t w h e n h e v i s i t e d E l a n n e a r l y 1 1 y e a r s a go . H e

a p a s s i on e d o bs e r v e r o f gr ou p p h en om e n a . He then
s a i d h e h ad a l w a y s b e e n compared El an t o the Nazi concentrati on camps of Worl d W ar I I:
"I' ve al ways been fas ci nated wi t h the phenomenon of identificati on wi t h the aggress or," he s ai d recall ing how som e Jews after thei r rel eas e from the camps t ook on t he leat her dress of t heir guards. Davi ds on stat ed: " A t El an I want t o provi de a good aggressor, a res pons ibl e , good rol e m odel. And t hat rol e model is Joe Ri c ci . "
Ou t l i n i ng t h e p ro gr a m p h i l o so ph y fo r t h e r ep or t e r Jo e t o l d T a f t : " W e a l l o w n o s ex , n o dr ug s , n o

ph ys i c a l v io l e n c e . Yo u a r e r e s po n s ib l e f or y ou rs e l f a nd s o a r e w e . " W h e n q ue s t i on e d a bo u t t h e
c h ar g e o f E l a n fo s t e r i n g d ep e nd e n c y, Jo e g ru mb l e d , c a l l i n g i t " A c r o ck o f s h i t . . . " He d eclar ed
" Yo u ' v e g o t t a b e S p ar t a n a n d M a c h i a v e l l i a n w i t h y o u r s t a f f . "

T a l k i n g t o T a f t a b ou t t h a t s u m m e r o f 1 9 7 5 w h e n I l l i no i s m a d e i t s a l l e g a t i on s , J o e a n gr i l y t o l d
h i m : "I t wa s a r a i d f r o m t h e s t a r t . . . " H e cla im ed t h a t t he m e mb e r s o f t h e I l l i n o i s t e a m : "...w er e
v er y un pr of e s s i o n a l . " H e s a i d " T h e y go t d r u n k a t o ne m e a l , a n d t h en c a m e b a c k t o E l a n t o w o r k .

I d i dn ' t l i k e t h a t . . . I n r e t r o sp e c t I l l i no i s w a s t h e w or s t a n d t h e b es t t h i ng t o h a pp e n t o us. .. We had 120 kids before that. Now we have twice as many." (This wasn't true. At the time of the investigations i n 1975 the Elan population was recorded as 217)
B o t h Jo e a n d G e r r y r e fu s e d t o d i s c l o s e t h e i r s a l a r i e s , bu t t o l d T a f t t h a t t h e pr of i t m a r g i n t h e n i n
1 9 7 9 w a s a bo u t t e n t o f i f t e e n pe r c e n t o f t h e $ 4 0 p er s t u d e n t p er d a y ($ 1 ,2 00 p e r m o n t h ) t u i t i on .

Using those fi gures Taft estimated that of the $4.3 mi lli o n in fees from the previous year, the annual profi t spl it between them in 1979 was between $350,000 and $547,500
Ju s t h o w su c c e s s f u l E l a n w a s d es p i t e i t s o v e r w h e l m i n g f in a n c i a l s u c c e s s w a s h ar d t o d e t e r m i n e .

Taft revealed that Elan itself, though operating for eig ht years, had never done any follow up on former residents unt i l a b ou t a y e ar a n d a h a l f e a r l i e r. O f t h e 1 2 s t a t e s t h a t r ef e r r e d c h i l d r en t o E l a n , o n l y f o u r h a d e v er d on e a n y f o l l o w u p ,

a nd w h a t h a d b e en d on e w a s l i m i t e d a nd i n fo r m a l . Ju s t M a r y l a n d , R h od e I s l a n d , O r e g o n a nd

Ve r m o n t su rv e y e d a t o t a l o f 71 form er El an res idents finding 12 of them wer e i n j ai l, 17 we re worki ng or i n school and 42 we re i n the words of one offi ci al "li vi ng m argi nal li ves " that included some pet ty cri m e, frequent unempl oyment, and overuse of al cohol and drugs. Thes e stat e st at i s t i cs cert ai nl y di ff e r ed f ro m El an ' s 80 % success r at e t h a t i t b o as t e d i n i t s p ro mo t i on a l l i t e r a t u r e w er e " l i v i n g h e a l t hy p ro du c t i v e l i v e s . "

S ix m o n t h s l a t e r i n S e p t e m b e r o f 1 9 7 9 J oe sa t d o w n w i t h a n o t he r r ep or t e r, P e t e r D a a m a n f r o m
M A I N E T I M E S . W h e n t h e su b j e c t of t h e I l l i n o i s I nv e s t i g a t i o n c a m e u p Jo e t o l d h i m : "I l l i n o i s

d id a t a p d an c e o n us f or a y e a r. " He said the evaluation team was a 'hit squad' sent out by governor Dan Walker to get headlines and secure Walker's reelection. "
…….

( N o m en t io n w as m ad e th at E l a n sp e nt a gr e a t de a l o f m o n e y e m p l o y i n g t h e serv ice s o f a C h i c a g o p u b l i c r e l a t i on s f i r m t o po l i sh i ts i m ag e , o r th at th e D ep a r t m e n t o f C h i l d r e n & F a m i l y S er v i c e s c h os e n ev e r t o p l a c e a n y m o r e o f i t s c h i l d r en a t E l a n )

……..

In e a r l y 19 81 , n e ar l y s ix y e a r s a f t e r t he e x p lo s i v e I l l i n o i s i n v e s t i g a t i on of E l a n , an d t h e h a s t y
su b s eq u e n t i n v e s t i g a t i on s b y M a s s a c hu s e t t s , R h o d e Is l a nd , M a i n e a n d C on n e c t i c u t , t h e R h o d e
Is l a nd O f f i c e o f t h e C h i l d A d v o c a t e w a s a sk e d t o c o nd u c t a n o th e r, m o r e i n d ep t h s t u dy o f t h e
E l a n f a c i l i t y. T h i s r eq u e st w a s m ad e b y R h o d e I s l a n d j ud g e , E d w a r d H e a l e y, b e c a us e o f
a l l e g a t i o n s o f a bu s e a n d n eg l e c t w h i c h s ur f a c e d d u r i n g a f a m i l y c o ur t j uv e n i l e p ro c e e d i n g . T h i s
i nv e s t i g a t i o n w a s p er h ap s t h e m o s t c om p r eh e n s i v e o f a l l . I t i n v o l v e d s ev e n h e a l t h c a r e
p ro f e s s i on a l s i n c l ud i n g t w o p sy c h i a t r i s t s , a ps y ch i a t r i c nu rs e , a s o c i o l og i s t a n d t w o a t t o rn e y s

f r o m t h e C h i l d A dv o c a t e ' s Off i c e . T h e e v a l u a t i o n t e a m s t ud i e d t h e r ev i e w s o f E l a n b y ot h e r
st a t es , i n c l u d i ng R h o d e I s l a n d , r e ad e x t e n s i v e m ag a z i n e a r t i c l e s a nd pr of e s s i o n a l wr i t i ng s

c on c e r n i ng t h e p ro gr a m , a nd c o nd u c t e d a n on -s i t e v i s i t o n F e br u a ry 2 7 t h a nd 2 8 th . Duri ng thi s vis it res earchers reviewed each of the fil es relati ng t o 130 Rhode Is land chil dren that had been placed at Elan from the time the state first utili zed the program .

Th i s e x t e n s i v e e ff or t r e su l t e d i n a fort y page report t hat cited extensive abuses at Elan which constituted a fl agrant viol at io n of individual civil ri ghts . The Rhode Isl and investigators were seriously concerned about the l ack of checks and balances for the exercise of authority by Ri cci. They were disturbed that there was no board of directors or any effect ive ins tit uti onal review m echanis m. The e v a l u a t o rs m e t w i t h bo t h Jo e
a nd G e rr y, bu t f ou nd G e r r y l e s s i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e d a i l y op e r a t i o n , a n d o n o c c a s i on u n a b l e t o

r e s p o n d a c c u r a t e l y r e g a r d i n g t h e p r o g r a m ' s us e of t h e r i n g , a n d i s o l a t i on c e l l s a t t h e f a c i l i t y

i n P ar s on f i e l d . Ad d i t i o n a l l y , t h e y l e a r n e d t h a t many of the Rhode Isl and residents interviewed were unable to i denti fy Davidson as even being a member of the Elan staff, though his res pons ibi liti es supposedly i ncluded psychiatri c and m edical care for residents i n al l the Elan facil iti es .
Th e e v a l u a t o r s w er e e qu a l l y c on c e r n ed a bo u t t h e l a c k o f p ro f e ss i o n a l s t a f f . D u r i n g t h e i r v i s i t t he
t e a m w a s i n t ro du c e d t o t h r e e M . A . ps y ch o l og i s t s , b u t e a c h h a d b e en w i t h E l a n fo r a b r i e f t i m e ,

a nd l i k e D a v i d s o n s e e m e d p er i p h e r a l t o t h e d a y t o d ay o p er a t i on . Residents i ntervi ewed showed no awareness of even the existence of professional st aff. T h e s o le

r e sp on s i b i l i t y fo r clinical treatment at Elan seemed to rest with former graduates who had undergone "in-service" staff training conducted by Joe Ricci .

Th e Ev a l u a t i o n t e a m b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e l a c k o f pr of e s s i o n a l s t a ff i n g w a s r e sp on s i b l e fo r t h e f a c t
t h a t E l a n d i d n o t p e r f o r m a t h or ou gh c l i n i c a l a s s e s s m e n t o f e a c h c h i l d u p o n a d m i s s i o n o r du r in g

r e s i d en c e . The t eam concluded: "Upon arri v al no thorough i ntake as sess ment i s performed as ide fr om educati onal ass es sm ent... Writt en indi viduali zed treat ment pl ans are not devel oped as part of the i ntake process.

Placement within the program is based solely upon age and education "

T h e y c i t e d on e i n s t a n c e wh e r e a c a s e r e co r d s r e v i e w f a i l e d t o a d dr e s s a s e r i ou s m e d i c a l p r o b l e m
o f on e o f th e R h o d e I s l a n d r e s i d en t s w h o c l e a r l y r e qu i r e d a n eu ro l o g i c a l e x a m . T h e t e a m r ep or t e d
t h a t a n e v a l u a t i on w a s f i n a l l y a rr a n g ed b y E l a n s t a ff j u s t pr i o r t o t h e t e a m ' s on - s i t e v i s i t , b u t
no t e d t h a t t h e c h i l d h a d b e en i n t h e p ro gr a m f o r s ev e r a l m on t h s . T h e t e a m w a s v e r y c r i t i c a l o f
E lan ' s o n e t r e a t m e n t f or a l l a pp ro a c h t o t h e r a py a n d s t a t e d : " A c h i l d c a n be d a m a g ed b y

e xp os u r e t o r e l e n t l e s s c on fr on t a t i o n , c r i t i c i s m , a nd c o n t ro l t h a t m a r k s t h e E l a n a p pr o a c h . "

Final ly, the team came to much the same conclusion as di d the Illi nois and Massachusetts investigators
" Th e c l i m a t e o f E l a n i s c on fr on t a t i o n , " t h ey w ro t e , r ep or t i ng t h a t t h e e m ph a s i s i s c on t r o l a n d
c on t a i n m en t i n a n a t m o s ph e r e t h a t w a s d es c r i b e d t o t h e m b y G e r r y D a v i d s o n as b e i ng
"p a r a m i l i t a ry " a n d " l i k e t h e m oo n i e s . " T h e y s t a t e d t h a t k e y f e a t ur e s o f l i f e a t E l a n w e r e : " g r o u p
l i v i n g , s en s o ry o v e r l o a d , a n d c on s t a n t s e l f a n d g r o u p c r i t i c i s m , w i t h l i t t l e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r
so l i t ud e o r i n d e p e n d e n c e .

A ft e r r e vi ew i n g ext ens i ve cas e fi l es r eg a rd i n g i t s R ho de I s l an d res i dent s , t he ev al uat ors c on c l u de d t hat El an' s p ro c l a m a t i on o f i t s success r at e was " gr os s l y
exagg erat ed. " T h e y a sk e d E l a n t o pr ov i d e i nf o rm a t i o n r eg a r d i ng s p e c i f i c s t a nd a r d s b y w h i c h i t d e t e r m i n ed t h e s u c c e s s r a t e i t a dv e r t i s e d . A n s w e r i n g t h i s r eq u e s t G e r r y D a v i d s o n

r e sp on d ed " W e f e e l w e h av e b e e n su c c e s sf u l w h e n a gr ad u a t e i s c o m p ar a t i v e l y s e l f
su pp or t i ng ( or i s a t t e n d i ng s c ho o l ) a n d d o es n o t g e t i n t o t ro ub l e w i t h t h e a u th o r i t i e s . T h e sp e c i f i c
r a t e o f s u c c e s s f or R h o d e Is l a nd c h i l d r e n i s 7 5 % . "

W h e n pr e s s e d f or a d ef i n i t i on o f i t s t e r m 'g r a du a t e ' D r. D a v i d s o n r e sp on d ed t h a t r e s i d e n t s a r e
gr a du a t e d w h e n t h e y d e mo n s t r a t e :
1 . T h a t t h e y c a n b e r e a so n a b l y c on s i s t e n t i n s ch oo l a n d /o r w o r k p er fo r m a n c e .
2 . T h a t t h e y k n o w h o w t o f o r m r e l a t i on s h i ps b a s e d o n mu t u a l r e sp e c t a n d , i n p a r t i c u l a r, a r e no t

e xp l o i t i v e i n r e l a t i o n sh i p s w i t h t h e op po s i t e s ex .
3 . T h a t t h e y c a n a c c e p t t h e n o r m a l m i s fo r t un e s o f l i f e w i t h o u t us i n g t h e m a s e x c u s e s fo r
m i s b eh a v i o r.
4 . T h a t t h e y c a n u s e t h e t oo l s f o r r e l a t i n g w e h av e g i v en t h e m . I f t h e y e xp e r i e n c e a nx i e t y or
d ep r e s s i on t h e y c a n t a l k t o p e op l e a nd g e t t h e m s e l v e s ou t o f t ro ub l e so m e s i t u a t i on s . "

Yet despite it s cl ai m of an overal l 80 % success rate, Elan could not provide the evaluators wit h any s ci enti fi c data to substantiate it , or the cl ai m of 75% success wit h the Rhode Isl and residents.
Becau s e o f th is , t h e ev al u a t io n t e am p r o c e e d e d t o e v a l u a t e t h e s u c c e s s r a t e f o r t h e i r w a r d s.

E a c h f i l e w a s r e v i e w e d o f t h e 1 30 R h o d e I s l a n d er s . T h e n a m e o f e a c h c h i l d w a s t h e n r u n
t h r o u g h t h e B u r e a u o f C r i m i n a l I d e n t i f i c a t i o n ( B C I ) i n o rd e r t o ob t a i n e x i s t i n g do c um e n t a t i o n
o f c r i m i n a l of f en s e s t h a t m a y h av e b e en c o m m i t t e d a f t e r r e t ur n i ng t o R ho d e I s l a nd f r o m E l a n .

( a l t h ou gh s o m e t h en a du l t s , m a y no t h a v e r e t u rn e d t o t h e s t a t e ) O f th e 1 3 0 c h i ld r en o r ig i n a l ly

p l a c e d a t E l a n , 1 3 w e r e s t i l l t h e r e . O f t h e r e m a i n i n g 117 c h i l d r e n , 70 of them (60%) had been arrested for criminal violations according to the BCI . ( T h e e v a l u a t o rs f ou nd t h i s 6 0 % ar r e s t r a t e v e r y c o ns e r v a t i v e m e a s ur e o f f a i l u r e f or t h e f o r m e r E l a n r e s i d e n t s s i n c e B C I

r e co r d s d i d n o t r ef l e c t i n s t a n c e s o f n eg l e c t o r ab u s e o f c h i l d r e n , m e n t a l h e a l t h
i n s t i t u t i on a l i z a t i o n , o r o t h e r i n d i c a t o r s o f so c i a l o r f a m i l y d i s r u p t i o n . T h e B C I als o o n ly
r ef l e c t e d a d u l t c r i m i n a l v io l a t i o n s . S o i f y o u t h s w h o h a d n o t y e t r e a c h e d 1 8 y e a r s o f a g e h a d
co m m i t t ed a cr im e , th at w o u ld n o t b e l is te d . T h ey w o u l d b e r e f e rr e d t o f a m i l y c ou r t ) .

I n l i gh t o f t h e s e s t a t i s t i c s t h e e v a l u a t o rs c o n c l ud e d : "El an's claim s for success wit h Rhode Isl and chi ldren seems more self-s ervi ng than scient ific and refl ects advers ely on the credi bi lit y of the Elan admi nis trat ion."
…….

Des pi t e r eques t s t o J oe R i cci and his l awy ers f or E l a n success s t ori es t o be i n cl ud ed i n t hi s book, none w e r e furni s h ed.. .
F o r m e r r e s i d en t s a nd s t a f f m e m b e r s co n s eq u e n t l y w e r e t r a c k e d d o w n t hr ou gh n e w sp a p e r

a d v er t i s e m e n t s a n d b y w o r d o f m o u t h . Conversations wit h nearl y two dozen people who were at Elan at di fferent int erval s between the years 1971-1988 reveal st ri ki ng si mil arit ies, though thes e people come from five different states, and vari ed economic and social circumstance. In mos t cases they have not talked to each other since leaving the program. A ll
c on t a c t e d w e r e w i l l i n g t o d i s c u s s t h e i r e xp e r i e n c e s , t ho ug h s o m e d i d no t w a n t t h e i r n am e s us e d

fo r f e a r o f r ep r i s a l .

[ w a r n i n g : t he f o l l o w i n g s t o r y is h a r d t o r e a d a n d c o u l d po s s i bl y s c a r y o u f o r l i f e, o u t o f r e s p e ct f o r t h e v i c t i m , n o h i g h l i g ht i n g w i l l b e d o n e ]

S t e ph e n S m i t h n o w 2 9 w a s 1 5 y e ar s o l d w h e n h e w a s s e n t t o E l a n b y a so c i a l w o r k e r i n
C on n e c t i c u t . H e ha d b e e n a w a r d o f t h a t s t a t e s i n c e t h e a g e o f s i x w h e n hi s f a t h e r s i g n ed o v er
c us t o dy o f S t e ph e n a nd h i s s i s t e r s a f t e r t h e i r m o t h e r h ad b e e n s e n t t o pr i s on f or r ob b er y.
A t f i f t e e n he w a s s en s i t i v e an d w i t h d r a w n , r e ad bo ok s a l l t h e t i m e , a n d h a t e d s ch oo l b e c a u s e t h e

o th e r k i d s s e e m e d c h i l d i s h , a nd h a d p er f e c t f a m i l i e s . H e e xp l a i n s t h a t t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e t h a t l e d
t o h i s go i ng t o E l a n i n v o l v e d a n a l t e r c a t i on w i t h a n e ig hb o r w h o m h e " s ho t i n t h e bu t t " w i t h a b b .
gu n a f t e r t h e n e ig hb o r k i c k e d h i s do g . S t e ph e n s ay s h i s s o c i a l w o r k e r ga v e h i m t h e c ho i c e o f
e i t h e r go in g t o j a i l o r E l a n . " I c h os e E l a n b ecau s e s h e to ld m e i t w as lik e a s u m m er c am p i n th e

M a i n e w oo ds , " h e r e c a l l e d w i t h i r on y f r o m t h e w a rd e n ' s of f i c e o f M a i n e S t a t e P r i so n wh e r e h e
w as s e rv i n g a t e n y e a r t e r m f or b ur g l a r y.

S t e ph e n i s b o y i s h l o ok i n g , s m a l l bo n ed w i t h h on ey b l o n d h a i r pu l l e d b a c k i n a po ny t a i l . H i s

e y e s po r t r ay a s ad n e s s , w h i c h h i s s t o ry s up po r t s . T h e i m a g e s f r o m h i s t e e n y e ar s a r e s t i l l a l i v e
fo r h i m , e no ug h fo r h i s vo i c e t o c r a c k w h e n h e t a l k s ab ou t b e in g r a p ed b y a n o th e r E l a n r e s i d en t
w h e n h e a nd t h r e e o t h e r bo ys a n d t w o g ir l s w e r e l e f t i n a s e m i i so l a t i o n r o o m f o r a p er i o d o f
m o r e th an a w e e k . H e i s a r t i c ul a t e a n d c a nd i d a b ou t h i s l i f e b ef or e , dur i ng an d s i n c e h i s y e a rs a t
Po l a n d Sp r i ng a n d P a r so n f i e l d . " I d on ' t c a r e h o w p er s on a l y o u ge t , " h e s ay s . " T h e mo s t i mp or t a n t
t h i ng i s t h a t t h e t ru t h c o m e s o u t a bo u t R i c c i . H e h as n o bu s i n e s s s c r ew i n g u p k id s , a n d m a k i n g a

fo r t un e d o in g i t . T h e s t a t e t a k e s k i d s f r o m m e s s e d u p f a m i l i e s , b u t t h e y pu t t h e m i n p l a c e s wo rs e .
I f I w a s n o t m e s s e d u p b ef o r e I g o t t o E l a n , I c e r t a i n l y w a s a f t e r w a rd s . . . "

H e s ay s : " W h e n I f i r s t g o t t h e r e , I c o u ld n ' t b e l i e v e i t . E v e r y b o d y w a s s c r e a m i n g a nd b e a t i ng o n

e a c h o t h e r. I ha d t o s i t i n t h e s e gr ou ps , a nd I d i dn ' t w a n t t o t a l k t o a ny bo d y. I f e e l t h a t I w a s
m i s d i a gn o s ed . Fo r on e t h i n g I d id n ' t h a v e a d ru g p ro b l e m . M o s t o f th e k i d s t h a t w e r e i n t h e r e
w er e I gu e s s t h e r e f or dr ug s b e c a us e I' d b e s i t t i ng i n t h e gr ou ps a n d t h ey ' d w a n t m e t o t a l k a b ou t
w h a t dr ug s I w as d o in g ' , w h a t I w a s h o o k e d on . A n d I s a i d , ' l i s t e n I do n' t h av e a n y o f t h a t , ' a nd
t h ey ' d a l l s ay ' O h y e ah ? su r e ! ' a s I f I w a s d e ny i ng i t . T h e n t h ey ' d a sk m e i f I h a t e d m y m o t h e r.
Th e y ' d t a k e o u t m y f i l e a n d r e ad i n f ro n t o f e v e ry on e i n t h e gr ou p , t h i ng s a b ou t m y m o th e r a n d
h er c r i m i n a l r e c o rd . I d i dn ' t di g t h a t , so I j us t d i dn ' t s ay a ny t h i ng . A n d t h en w h e n I s hu t up , t h e y
a c c u s e d m e o f i n t i m i d a t i ng t h e gr ou p , s a i d I w a s do i ng s o m e v io l e n t a c t a g a i n s t t h e g r o u p

m e mb e r s f or n o t op e n i ng up . I w a s m a k i n g p e op l e ho s t i l e a t m e . S o e v er yo n e o n c e i n a w h i l e
t h ey ' d s e t u p a g en e r a l m e e t i ng , a n d t h en t h r o w m e i n t h e b o x i n g r i ng u n t i l I l o s t . S o I j u s t u s ed t o
t ry t o r un a w a y a l l t h e t i m e . I t s t h e o n l y t h i ng I e v e r d id ; t ry t o r un a w a y e v er y c h an c e I g o t . I
t r i e d a b ou t s e v e n t i m e s , bu t t h e y a l w a y s c a u gh t m e b e c a us e t h ey h ad t h i s po s s e t h a t w o u l d g o ou t .
I f t h e y c a ug h t s o m eo n e t h e y 'd b e r e w a rd e d b y R i c c i . . . "

" Th e f i r s t t i m e I m e t Jo e R i c c i . . . " h e c on t i n u e s , h i s v o i c e g e t t i ng s of t e r, a nd m o r e s e r i ou s , " . . . w a s

a t a g en e r a l m e e t i ng t h a t w a s c a l l e d b y a g u y n am e d J e f f Go t t l i e b . I h a d t r i e d t o r un a w a y a g a i n ,
a nd J o e R i c c i c a m e i n . I ' l l n ev e r f or g e t i t , b e c a u s e h e m a d e m e fe e l r e a l l y wo r th l e s s , y o u k n o w
l i k e I w a s a n a bs o l u t e no t h i ng . H e c a m e i n a nd I w a s c a l l e d u p a l o ng w i t h a g ir l n a m e d N a n c y ,
a nd a n o th e r g ir l n a m e d M a r i e , t w o g u y s n a m e d R a y , a nd J oh nn y, a nd a n o t h er k i d n a m e d S e a n .
So w h e n J o e R i c c i c a m e i n t o t h e h ou se w e w e r e a l l s i t t i ng d o w n a r ou nd a t a b l e , a nd h e
a nn ou n c e d : ' W e h av e so m e c a n c e r i n t h i s h ou s e , a nd a n y g o o d s ur g e on k n o w s t h e b e s t w a y t o
g e t r id o f c a n c e r i s t o c u t i t o u t , b ef or e i t sp r e a d s . ' T h e n h e c a l l e d a l l o f u s u p i n f ro n t o f t h e

ho us e , a nd a s k e d e v e r y b o d y e l s e i f t h e y h ad a n y f e e l i n g s f o r u s , so w e a l l g o t s c r e a m e d a t . T h e n
t h ey pu t u s i n t h e b o x i n g r in g y o u k n o w . T h e n a t t h e e n d o f t h e m e e t i ng J o e R i c c i s ay s ' N o w
w e 'r e g on n a pu t y o u u ps t a i r s i n on e o f t h e r oo m s . I t w a s a r o o m a b ou t t h e s i z e o f t h i s . ( 6 x 1 0 ) a n d
t h ey b o ar d ed u p t h e w i n d o w s , a n d bo a rd e d u p t h e d o o r a n d l o ck e d i t . A n d h e s a i d ' Wh a t e v e r go e s
o n i n t h e r e g oe s o n .' I t w a s i n Ju l y . . . I k n o w i t w a s i n J u l y, b e c a us e i t w a s m y 1 6t h b ir t h d a y t h e
n ex t da y. . . I t wa s h or r i b l e . S ix o f us a l l s t u ck i n t h e r e t og e t h e r. T h e gu ys - R a y an d J oh nn y w o u l d

t a k e t ur n s b e a t i ng e a c h o th e r . R a y w o u l d p o u n d h i s h e a d un t i l h e g o t t i r e d . A n d t h ey ' d t a k e t u rn s
h av i ng s e x w i t h t h e t w o g i r l s . O n e o f t h e m d i dn ' t c a r e , bu t t h e o th e r g i r l d i dn ' t w a n t t o , b u t t h ey
m a d e h e r. S e a n a n d R a y w o u l d k e e p h er f oo d , a nd t h a t ' s h o w t h ey g o t t o h e r. T h e d a y I t u rn e d 1 6
I w a s s i t t i ng i n t h e c o rn e r a n d I m e n t i o n e d t h a t i t w a s m y b i r t hd a y, a nd S e a n p i c k e d m e u p a nd
s a i d ' O h i t ' s yo u' r e b i r t hd a y, I ha v e s o m e t h i ng t o g i v e yo u . . . ' H e s t a r t e d t o h i t m e i n t h e f a c e a n d

s t uf f , a n d t h en , w e l l he r a p ed m e i n t h e r e , " h e s ay s , h i s vo i c e t r e m b l i n g .

" A f t e r S e a n d i d t h a t s t u ff w i t h m e , h e m a d e m e d o i t w i t h t h e o t h e r s . . . " S t e p h en c o n t i nu e d , t a k i n g
a b r e a t h a nd ob s er v i ng : " B e t we e n t h a t t i m e , a nd o n e o th e r t i m e I t h i nk i t h a d a l o t t o d o w i t h m e

no t h a v i ng n o r m a l r e l a t i on s hi p s w i t h g i r l s . I t ' s r e a l l y s c r e w e d m e up , a n d du r in g t h e pa s t y e a r s
I' v e g on e f r o m b l a m i n g m y mo t h e r , o r m y so c i a l w o r k e r M r s . D a l e y , f or w h a t h a pp e n e d t o m e a t
E l a n . B u t I r e a l i z e i t w a s re a l l y J o e R i c c i ' s f au l t . H e di dn ' t c a r e w h a t ha pp e n e d t o us i n th e
ro om , o r a ny wh e r e e l s e . H e w a s j u s t i n i t fo r t h e m o n e y, a n d h e d id n ' t c a r e a bo u t k id s . H e w a s
ru nn i ng a bu s i ne s s an d th at' s a ll i t w as ."

O th e r p un i s h m en t s S t e ph e n d e t a i l e d i n c l u d e d c l e a n i n g t o i l e t s w i t h b a r e h an ds , w e a r in g s i gn s ,
a nd d o in g m e a n i ng l e s s c ho r e s j u s t t o b e t a u gh t a l e s s on : " I ' d h av e t o p us h t h i s w h e e l b a r ro w
d o w n t o t h e l a k e i n t h e s u m m e r, a bo u t a m i l e w h i l e w e a r i ng a w in t e r c o a t , " he s a y s . " A n d I 'd
h av e t o g e t r o ck s o u t o f t h e w a t e r , a n d f i l l u p t h e wh e e l b a r ro w, a nd b r in g i t b a ck u p a g a i n , t h e n
e m p t y t h e m ou t , an d t h e n f i l l t h e w h e e l b a r r o w u p , a nd g o b a c k d o w n t o t h e w a t e r. O t h e r t i m e s
I' d d ig d i t c h e s a nd f i l l t h e m u p a g a i n . T h e w h o l e t i m e th e y ' d b e on e o r t w o p e op l e w a t c h i ng , a nd
ho l l e r i n g t o h u r r y u p . I t w a s t o t a l l y m e a n i n g l e s s . . . a nd t h i s w a s a l l j u s t b e c a us e I w o u l d n ' t t a l k i n
gr ou ps , or I 'd t r y t o ru n a w a y. . . S o m e t i m e s I 'd g e t a c o w b o y a ss k i c k t oo , " h e r e c a l l e d . " O n e tim e

Jo e R i c c i w a s t h e r e a n d h e s a i d h e w a s s i c k o f m y s h i t , t ry i n g t o ru n a w a y a nd s t u ff . I t r i e d t o t a l k
t o so m e p e op l e w h o c a m e u p f r o m C h i c a g o t o d o s o m e k i n d o f i nv e s t i g a t i o n , a n d I t h i n k t h a t ' s
w h a t h e w a s a l l p i s s e d o f f a t . I n e v er t a l k e d t o t h e m t ho ug h . A n y h o w I g o t a c o w b o y ass k i c k
t h en . T h a t w a s w h e n t h ey t oo k y o u a nd t h r e w y o u f r o m r o o m t o r o o m b ou nc i ng y o u u p a g a i n s t
t h e w a l l s . A l l th e r e s i d e n t s w o u l d d r ag y o u a r ou nd d i gg i n g y o u w i t h th e i r h a nd s , p u n c h i n g yo u ,
a nd s p i t t i ng i n y o u r fa c e . I t w a s a l o t wo rs e t h an t h e r in g . I t w a s r e a l l y v i c i o u s . "

S t e ph e n d o es n ' t h e s i t a t e t o c om p a r e E l a n w i t h t h e m a x i m u m s e c ur i t y pr i s on w h e r e h e w a s
in car cer ated . " E l a n ' s m u c h m u c h w or s e . . . H e r e t h e r e ' s a l o t o f sh i t . B u t I g e t a c h a n c e f or s o m e
so l i t ud e , t o r e a d , a nd I ' m g o i n g t o c o l l e g e . I ' v e a l s o g o t t e n t o l e a rn w o o d w o r k i n g , a n d m a k e so m e

m o n e y i n t h e pr i s on s t o r e . A t E l a n , t h e r e w a s no t h i ng p os i t i v e , i t w a s p ur e h e l l , " h e c on c l u d ed .
" Yo u k n o w t h e w or s t t h i n g i s t h e j ud g e t h a t s en t e n c e d m e h er e ( f o r 1 0 y e ar s ) l e c t ur e d t o m e
s ay i n g I b l e w t h e op po r tu n i t y I h a d a t E l a n . . . I do n' t un d er s t a n d h o w t h e co u r t s c a n l e g i t i m i z e a
g u y l i k e R i c c i w h o h a s h ar m e d so m a n y m i x e d u p k i d s . "

** *

C or r i n e L o w e r y w h o l i v e s i n a C h i c a g o s ub ur b w a s r ef e r r e d t o E l a n i n 1 9 7 9 w h e n s h e w a s
fo ur t e e n y e ar s o l d . Th a t w a s f o u r y e ar s a f t e r t h e I l l i n o i s r e po r t c i t i n g c h i l d a bu s e , a n d w a rd s o f

t h e I l l i no i s w e r e n o l on g e r b e in g r e f e rr e d t o E l a n . But Corrine was a private placement from an upper middl e class fam ily, who happened to have Gerry Davidson's fri end, Marvin Schwartz, for a doctor. D u r i n g h er v i s i t t o M a i n e t o t a l k ab ou t h e r p as t , s h e w a s n i n e m on t h s p r eg n an t , a p r e t t y, w e l l

dr e s s e d a nd i n t e l l i g en t w o m a n o f 2 4 a l r e a dy t h e m o t h e r o f a t w o y e a r o l d d au gh t e r. S h e s a i d sh e
w an t e d t o t a l k a b ou t h e r t e e n a g e y e a r s a t E l a n t o " S e t t h e r e co r d s t r a i g h t . "

Sh e ex p l a i n e d t h a t s h e w a s a 1 2 y e ar o ld , n e ar l y a n a l l A s t u de n t , w h e n sh e e xp e r i e n c e d s e r i o u s

c on f l i c t s w i t h h e r mo t h e r ' s bo yf r i e nd w h o l i v e d i n h e r ho us e . " M y d ad d i e d i n 19 75 , " s h e

e xp l a i n s , " a n d m y mo t h e r w a s c o nf u s ed . Sh e h a d t hr e e k i ds , a nd n o r e a l i n c o m e . T h i s g u y w a s
h e lp i n g h er o u t- a n d w e l l , h e w a s a c h i l d a b us e r. M y m o m h a d k i c k e d h i m o u t o f t h e ho us e fo r a
wh i l e , a n d t h i ng s w e r e f i n e b e t w e e n u s , b u t t h en s h e t o o k h i m b a c k i n , a n d t h a t ' s w h e n a l l h e l l

br ok e l o o s e . . . T h e y m a d e m e o u t t o b e a l i a r a t s ch oo l b e c a us e o f w h a t I s a i d a b ou t h i m . A n y w a y ,
h e w a s ou t f or r e v en g e . I w a s t o l d I w as g ro un d ed f o r a y e a r o r I c ou l d l e a v e t h e h ou s e , s o I l e f t
a nd s t a y e d w i t h a f r i e nd o f m i n e . Th e n t h ey c a l l e d m e a t m y f r i e nd ' s h ou s e a nd a s k e d i f I t ho ug h t
s ch oo l w a s i m po r t a n t t o m e b e c a u s e I h a d s t op p ed go i ng a f t e r I l e f t h om e . I w a s p er s u ad e d t o g o

ho m e , s up po s e d l y t o t a l k t o s o m eo n e f r o m s ch oo l w h o w o u l d b e a t m y m o m ' s h ou s e . . . We l l ,
w h e n I g o t t o t h e h ou s e , t h e r e w a s D r. S c hw a r t z ' s a s so c i a t e , D r. A n d r ew s , a n d I w a s j u s t g r ab b ed
a nd t a k e n t o C h i c a g o L a k e S ho r e Ho sp i t a l . "

Sh e s t a y e d i n t h e m e n t a l w a r d a t t h e ho s p i t a l f or f o u r o f f i v e mo n t h s . " I w a s g i v en n o t h e r a p y,
no t h i ng , " sh e s ay s , e xp l a i n i ng t h a t S ch w a r t z w o u l d o c c a s i on a l l y c o m e i n t o se e h e r a nd f a l l

a s l e e p i n a c h a i r b y he r b ed . "Dr. Schwartz was weird," she recalled, observing that every troubled kid who had Dr. Schwartz for a doctor was sent to Elan. "I was drugged and, locked up for nearly fi ve months..." she declared "I wasn't a ki d who did drugs. I never even touched drugs. I have a heart problem too, but there they were shooting me up with thorazine, I think. Aft er a whi le I couldn't even see or walk straight. " Ev en tu al l y sh e s a y s t h a t D r . S ch w a r t z c a l l e d h er m o t h e r a n d t o l d h er s h e w a sn ' t " r e a l l y r e ad y y e t f o r t h e r e a l w o r l d . "

" Th e i n su r a n c e r a n ou t a t t h e h os p i t a l , s o t h e y h ad t o d o so m e t h i ng e l s e w i t h m e . D r . S ch w a r t z
to ld m y m o m I ne e d e d s t r u c t u r e i n m y l i f e , a nd h e k n e w o f t h i s s c ho o l i n M a i n e , th a t w a s n' t t oo

s t r i c t , b u t w a s j u s t w h a t I n e ed e d . I t h i n k h e t o l d h er I ' d b e m u c h b e t t e r i n j u s t e i g h t o r n i n e
mo n t h s . "

C or r i n e s a y s t h a t s h e a nd h e r mo t h e r t h e n f l e w t o M a i n e . " When I first got there I was off all the medication then. The first two days my mom was there for the orientation, so they made it look real good. The first day we went down to the lake, and I really didn't think it was that bad. I actually thought wow this might be great . .For m e i t w a s a r e l i e f j u s t t o b e o u t o f t h e h os p i t a l , b e a t a p l a c e t h a t d i dn ' t

h av e b a r s o n t h e w i n d o w s , w h er e t h e r e w a sn ' t a qu i e t r o o m w i t h p ad d ed w a l l s , a n d ho sp i t a l b e ds .

B u t I h ad n o id ea w h at w as ah ead . I had absolutely no idea. I would have taken the bars on the windows and the Thorazine...There was so much screwing around with my mind. T h e y y e l l e d a t m e t h e w h o l e t i m e a bo u t m y f a t h e r d y in g , a nd a b ou t
b e in g i n t o dr ug s . A n d I w a sn ' t i n to d ru gs . I m e a n I' d s t a n d t he r e an d l i s t e n t o t h e m s a y i ng ' Yo u
d id t h i s b e c a us e y o u r f a t h e r d i ed a n d y o u f e e l i t ' s y o u r f au l t . ' A n d I w a s t h i nk i n g t h a t m y d ad h a d

a h e a r t a t t a c k i n h i s s l e e p a n d I d on ' t s e e h o w I h ad a n y th i n g t o d o w i t h t h a t . I m e a n t h e s t uf f , i t j u s t w a s n' t a ny t h i n g t h a t a pp l i e d t o m e a t a l l . It was just bizarre, and for a young mind it was really confusing."

C or r i n e r e c ou n t e d h e r o w n e xp e r i e n c e s w i t h Jo e : " I u s ed t o h a v e n ig h t g u ar d d u t y a t t h e t r a i l e r
wh e r e h e a n d D r . D a v i d s o n h ad t h e i r of f i c e s . I w o u l d g o o v er w i t h a n o th e r g i r l , a nd h e 'd t e l l us t o
w a t c h ou t f or w h a t h e c a l l e d ' go r i l l a s , ' p e op l e t h a t w e r e o u t t o g e t h i m . H e t o l d us t o w a t c h ou t f or
a ny on e w a l k i n g o n t op o f t h e t r a i l e r a n d l i s t e n fo r a n y s t r a ng e n o i s e s w h i l e h e w a s i n s i d e

s l e e p i n g o n a p u l l o u t c ou c h . I t w a s v e r y un us u a l - t h e r e w e w e r e t w o f i f t e e n y e a r o ld g i r l s

gu a rd i n g h i m . O n e n i gh t w e h e ar d a no i s e , a n d h e j u m p e d u p a nd r a n ou t w i t h a s ho t g un . H e
sw or e u p a nd d o w n s o m eo n e w a s g o i n g t o g e t h i m . "

C or r i n e e x p l a i n s t h a t E l a n wa s a v i o l e n t p l a c e , t h ou gh sh e e s c a p e d r e a l p hy s i c a l a b us e . " I n ev e r

h ad t o g o i n t o t h e r in g , b u t I s a w m a n y m a n y p e op l e g o i n t o t h e r in g fo r r e a so n s o th e r t h a n
v io l e n c e . " S h e s a y s : " T h e y c a l l e d o n e g ir l ' a h oo k e r. ' T h e y c l a i m e d sh e w a s v e r y s ed u c t i v e , a n d
t h ey t hr e w h e r i n t h e r in g f or i t . I m e a n t h a t m ak e s n o s e n s e . Yo u j u s t d on ' t g o b e a t p eo p l e u p f or
t h a t so r t o f th i n g . W h a t w o u l d be t h e n ex t , l o g i c a l s t e p - g o o u t a nd m u r d e r t h e r e a l h oo k er s o f
th e w o r ld ?"

" Jo e w a s c o ns t a n t l y qu i z z i ng m e . . I t h i n k h e r e a l l y w a n t e d m e ou t o f t h e r e " . . .

" I g o t a l on g w i t h m o s t e v e ry on e . I'd actual ly try to talk to people because there were a lot of kids I knew from Lakeshore Hospital who had been sent there by Dr. Schwart z . I'd t a l k t o t h e m l i k e fr i e n d s a nd s a y 'I s n ' t t h i s b u l l s h it?' B u t y o u w e r e n' t su pp o s e t o t a l k t o p eo p l e , y o u w er e su pp o s ed t o c on fr on t t h e m , a n d Jo e

no t i c e d t h a t I d i dn ' t d o t h a t , a nd h e d id n ' t l i k e i t . . . "

" M o s t o f t h e t i m e t ho ug h I p l a y e d a l on g , j u s t so I co u l d g e t a l o ng . I was l i k e an act res s, and I had t o a ct a r o l e t h e y w an t e d s o I c o u ld g e t t h e pr i v i l e g e o f w e a r in g l on g p an t s , a nd b l o w d r y i n g m y h a i r. O th e r w i s e p e op l e w h o w e r e sh o t d o w n c ou l dn ' t

e v en w e a r s ho e s . I j u s t p l ay e d a l o ng , bu t I t r i e d n o t t o b e s i c k a bo u t i t . I f I h ad t o g i v e so m e on e a
h a i r cu t ( ve r b a l r e pr i m a n d ) m o s t of t h e t i m e w h a t I w a s s a y i ng w ou l dn ' t m a k e m u c h s e n s e , s o I
wo u ld n ' t b e r e a l l y hu r t i ng t h e m . B u t I t h i n k J o e k n e w. H e c o ns t a n t l y a s k ed m e w h y I d i dn ' t
c on fo r m , w h a t I w a n t e d ou t o f l i f e , w h e t h er I w a n t e d t o b e l i k e t h a t fo r ev e r ? I w as n ' t a b ad

p er s on . I w a s a n A s t ud e n t b ef or e I c a m e . B u t t ha t d i dn ' t m a t t e r, w e w e r e a l l s t e r e o t yp e d . No matter what the reas on was for being there, it was assumed everyone was on drugs . Al l the gi rl s were viewed as provocati ve li t t l e sluts , a n d t h e b o y s w e r e k i n d o f p e rv e r t e d , t h o u g h h e d id n ' t s e e m t o p i c k o n t h e b oy s a s m u c h . S o m e g i r l s h e s i n g l e d ou t , a n d g av e t h e m s p e c i a l t r e a t m e n t . T h o u g h I

do n' t k n o w t h e e x a c t r e l a t i on s h ip s h e h a d w i t h t h e m , t h e r e w e r e a l o t o f r um o rs . I e v en h e a rd t h a t
h e d id d ru gs w i t h s o m e o f t h e m . "

C or r i n e r e c a l l s t h a t sh e a n d a no t h e r g i r l n a m e d M a r y w e r e on c e a l l ow e d t o h a v e f r e e d i nn e r a nd
a c o up l e o f dr i nk s a t S c a r bo ro u g h D o w n s . ( t ho ug h a t 1 6 t h e y w er e un d er a g e ) a s a s p e c i a l t r e a t
fo r d o g s i t t i ng a t h i s h ou s e . O n t h e w a y h o m e t h ey a sk e d t h e d r iv e r o f t h e E l a n v a n t o s to p at a

S to p ' n G o wh e r e t h e y b o u g h t s o m e c a nd y. W h e n t h ey g o t b a c k to E l a n , J o e w a s l i v i d a n d c a l l e d
a g e n er a l m e e t i n g . " W e d i dn ' t k n o w w h a t w e h ad d on e . . . . " A t f i rs t w e t ho ug h t i t w a s b e c a u s e w e
or d er e d m o r e t h an o n e dr i nk a t S c a rb or ou gh D o w n s . B u t e v e n t u a l l y w e r e a l i z e d i t w a s b e c a u s e
w e a sk e d t h e d r iv e r t o s t o p o n t h e w a y ho m e . J o e s c r e a m e d a t u s , a nd c a l l e d u s un gr a t e f u l ,
m an i p u l a t i v e l i t t l e b i t c h e s , so w e h ad t o ' h i t t h e p an ( do d i sh e s ) fo r a l o n g lo ng t i m e a f t e r t h a t . "
C or r i n e e x p l a i n e d t h a t sh e w a s a s t a f f c oo r d in a t or a t E l a n , a s t e p aw a y f r o m g r ad u a t i o n , b u t go t

sh o t d o w n b e c a u s e s h e w a s i nf l u e n c i n g o t h e r s. . . ' c o rr up t i ng t h e m . ' Sh e s a y s sh e w a s e v e n t u a l l y
s en t t o P ar s on f i e l d , a n d t h en t o l d t o l e a v e , g i v en 2 4 h ou rs no t i c e t h e da y b ef or e E a s t e r o f 1 98 4 .
Sh e w a s n o t a l l o w e d t o e v en s a y go od -b y e t o a ny on e .

T a l k i n g a b ou t h e r l i f e du r in g t h e p as t e i gh t y e ar s s i n c e l e a v i n g E l a n , s h e i s q u i e t a n d t ho ug h t fu l ,

c ho os i n g h er w o r d s c a r e f u l l y .

"When you get out of Elan, it's so amazing not to have anyone foll ow you around. It's freedom for the first time, and you just don't want to take any responsibility, becaus e you're just not ready for it. You're back to the stage where you're a litt le kid. You want to go outside and play all day l on g. You e a t
t w i c e a s m u ch , s l e e p t w i c e a s mu c h , w a n t t o d o e v er y t h i ng you c ou l d n ' t d o t h e r e . . . " S h e s a i d sh e
r eg r e t t e d l o s i ng h e r a do l e s c e n c e . " I wa n t e d t o g o t o c o l l e g e , a n d b e so m e t h i n g . I a l w a y s w an te d
t o b e a d o c to r , a n d I l ov e d s c i e n c e . I pr ob a b l y c ou l d h av e d on e i t t o o , bu t I w a s j u s t l o ck e d u p f or
so l o ng . I w an t e d t o m a k e u p fo r l o s t t i m e , a nd c o u ld n ' t s t a n d a n y mo r e d i s c i p l i n e . " s h e r e v e a l e d . ,

a dd i ng " I d on ' t d w e l l o n m y t i m e a t E l a n , bu t i t ' s a l w a y s t h e r e a s a f l a s hb a c k . "

E mp h a t i c a l l y, h er v o i c e q u iv e r i n g " I ' d n e v e r s e n d m y k i d s t o a n y p l a c e l i k e t h a t . . . If I e v e r

f e l t I c o u l d n ' t c o n t r o l m y d a u g h t e r, I' d f e e l b e t t e r j u s t l o c k i n g h e r u p i n a c l o s e t a n d

to s s in g h er a m ea l o n c e in a w h i le . I t w o u ld r e a l l y b e l e s s a b u s i v e . P eo p l e n e e d t o s t a y a w a y
f r o m p eo p l e l i k e J o e R i c c i . H e i s m e n t a l l y i l l , p o w e r hu ng ry, a nd h e w i l l s t o p a t n o t h i ng t o g e t
w h a t h e w an t s . M a y b e h e d id n ' t h a v e a g o o d c h i l d ho od o r w h a t e v e r, bu t h e w a n t s w h a t h e w a n t s ,

a nd d o es n ' t c a r e w h o h e pu sh e s a r ou nd o r s t e p s o n t o g e t i t . . I f i r s t r e a l i z e d w h a t h e w a s r e a l l y l i k e
w h e n I s t a r t e d go i ng o v e r t o h i s t r a i l e r, a n d t o h i s ho us e . H e ' d b e s o c ru e l , r e a dy t o d o a n y th i n g t o
g e t h i s w a y. A n d i f p e op l e w er e i n h i s w a y, h e 'd b u y t h e m of f . I s a w t h e w a y h e' d t h r o w h i s
m o n e y a ro un d . W h e n I w a s a t h i s h ou s e , h e 'd h a v e w or ds w i t h h i s g i r l f r i e nd , t h en t e l l h er t o g o

sh op p i ng . Jo e R i c c i i s s c u m . A n y o n e w h o c a n u s e p e o p l e t h e w a y h e d i d - a n d i t s n o t j u s t

p eo p le a t E l a n - i t ' s e v er y b o d y .. . "

S i t t i ng u pr i gh t i n h er c h a i r f r o m th e k i c k o f t h e b a b y i n h e r w o m b , C o rr i n e t o o k a d e e p br e a t h
b e fo r e s h e c on t i n u e d t a l k i n g f er v e n t l y " T h e r e a r e p eo p l e w h o a r e h on e s t l y s t r ug g l i n g t o m a k e i t i n
l i f e , y o u k n o w - g o o d p e op l e . A n d t h en y o u h av e a j e r k l i k e J o e R i c c i k i c k i n g e v er yb od y a ro un d t o

g e t w h a t h e' s g o t , a n d ru i n i ng k i d s ' l i v e s . I t ' s d i sg u s t i ng . I ' m j u s t o n e p er s on , h o w m a n y k i d s h av e

b e en t h e r e s i n c e E l a n o p en e d ? I've been in touch with some of the kids that were there with me, and they were all wors e off after going to Elan. Some were really brainwashed, and totally unable to function afterwards. I d on ' t k n o w w h a t
e v er h a pp e n e d t o a r e a l l y g o o d f r i e nd o f m i n e . I t r i e d t o h e lp h e r, bu t s h e j u s t s e e m e d t o g o
b er s e r k a f t e r w a rd s . I n ev e r b e l i e v e d i n t h e p l a c e . I ' m r e a l l y s t u bb or n a nd m a n a g ed n o t t o g e t
b r a i nw a s h e d . I t h i n k t h a t ' s w h y I su rv i v e d . I ne v e r b e l i e v e d i n Jo e R i c c i . "

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K e n Z a r e t s k y, t h e C h i c a go e n t r e p r en e u r w h o a d m i t t e d h e h e lp e d c o v er u p s o m e o f t h e a b us e s a t

E l a n d ur i ng t h e s t a t e i nv e s t i g a t i o n s i n 1 9 7 5 s a i d " It' s frightening to realize how many casualties there are from that place ." H e c i t e d t w o s u i c i d e s b y r e s i d e n t s w h o gr a du a t e d
a nd b e c a m e s t a f f m e mb e r s , a nd f e a r s t h a t " J o e p l a c e d a t i m e b o m b i n a l l o f u s . " H e s h ar e d t he
s t or y o f h i s b es t fr i e n d N e i l S ax n e r, a l s o a f o r m e r r e s i d e n t . A f t e r g r ad u a t i n g a nd w o r k i n g a t E l a n ,
h e a nd N e i l t ho ug h t t h e y w o u l d ru n a s i m i l a r p ro gr a m t o E l a n i n t h e C h i c a g o a r e a , b u t N e i l w a s
c i t e d fo r c h i l d a bu s e . " N e i l t h ou gh t h e w a s Jo e R i c c i . . . . . . H e t a l k e d a nd w a l k e d l i k e h i m . H e e v e n
m a rr i e d a w o m a n n a m e d S h er r y. B u t w h e n h e r e a l i z e d h e c ou l dn ' t b e Jo e , t h e pr e s s ur e b e c a m e
t oo g r e a t , a nd h e k i l l e d h i m s e l f . "

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