Authorities have charged the proprietors of a Christian boys boarding school in Missouri with first-degree kidnapping. This happened after they conducted a thorough investigation into a report. Afterward, Wayne County Sheriff Dean Finch revealed that deputies apprehended 57-year-old Larry Musgraves Jr.
The apprehension occurred at the ABM Ministries Lighthouse Christian Academy campus in Piedmont, Missouri, a small town approximately 130 miles south of St. Louis. Carmen Musgraves, 64, was also taken into custody when she visited the jail to ask about her husband.
Currently, both individuals face detention without bond. ABM Ministries Lighthouse Christian Academy is a private boarding school catering to boys aged 10 to 13. Located on a secluded 25-acre property in the Ozarks, the 25,000-square-foot campus houses approximately 40 students annually.
In an official statement, Sheriff Dean Finch disclosed that the sheriff’s department investigated several months ago after communicating with a former student. Finch personally traveled to Alabama to interview the initial complaint. Subsequently, he extended the inquiry to include interviews with former and current students.
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Furthermore, Finch noted that the office had received numerous reports of students attempting to escape from the facility. The news further raised concerns about the situation at the ABM Ministries Lighthouse Christian Academy in Missouri.
Finch foresees the prospect of additional charges as the investigation continues, with a growing number of purported victims coming forward. This development is due to a report by the Kansas City Star. Notably, almost two weeks before, they knew about the alarming trends of boys fleeing the school environment since the outset of January.
In another incident shared by the Kansas City Star, a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old went beyond the facility environment, trekking for miles without coats in the biting cold. The boys’ journey led them to flag down a passing driver for help.
“They were screaming, hands up in the air, trying to get me to stop,” 20-year-old Cierra Osborn shared with the Star. The older boy urgently informed Osborn, “Ma’am, we need you to call 911/” Osborn then shared with the outlet that the boys appeared “terrified.”
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Moreover, the boys shared unsettling details about staff members hitting and berating them for minor infractions. This included not completing their chores on time. According to the Star’s report, the Missouri Highway Patrol has actively collaborated with Wayne County authorities multiple times since January 13, 2024.
They worked together to respond to reports of several missing boys from the ABM Ministries Lighthouse Christian Academy. Highway Patrol Sgt. Public information officer Clark Parrott said, “ I don’t remember seeing this many runaways so close together.”
Finch acknowledged the mounting community concern regarding the increase in recent runaways in his statement. He appealed to the public for patience, reassuring them that all crimes are still under investigation.
Additionally, Sheriff Finch emphasizes his commitment to thoroughly addressing cases involving children. He stated, “When it comes to children, Sheriff Finch will leave no stone unturned until all victims are interviewed. We know the citizens are concerned as well that nothing was done. However, we can’t disclose what we are doing on cases.”
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