Interview with Michael Carter 

Facility: Logan River Academy

Years: 2001-2002


Here at Safe Teen Schools we had the pleasure to interview an amazing
survivor of horrific abuse from Logan River Academy.

In 2001 Michael was awaken at 4:00am but 2 large men. He was handcuffed 
to one of them and taken out of his home. He has no idea what was going
on or where he was going. Micheal was not a troubled child. He did ok 
in school and never got into any trouble with the law. So when he was
taken by these men a 4 o'clock in the morning to say it was a shock to
his system is an understatement. 

Michael arrived at the facility known as Logan River Academy, not 
knowing what was going on or why he was placed in a "theraputic
boarding facility for troubled youth. He was asked a list of 
questions about his health along with any medication he was on.
He was strip searched, completely nude. At the age of 15 years old
Michael was forced to stand naked in from of a few strange men, was
given a change of clothes and taken deeper into the facility. 

Durring Micheals time at the facility he was constantly abused.
He was refused food from staff members as a form of punishment,
he was emotionally abused, was socially isolated and completely
isolated at times. The physical abuse was horrible, and he described
that there were many times where he had his head slammed into a wall
by staff members for no real reason, other than them just trying to
size him up and prove they were in charge. At 15 years old, these staff
felt the need to size him up as if he was a threat. Michaels condition 
to get out of the facility was to finish his school work. So that was 
his main focus.

During Michael's stay at Logan River Academy he witness many children 
who really needed theraputc help and did not receive it what so ever.
He saw a very frale boy get thrown into a wall and intimidated. it was
well known that this child had some form of mental disorder. But that
didnt matter to the staff, they did not care that this child could not
even defend himself. Michael also spoke to us about another child he
witnessed getting abused and harassed. An over weight student was
forced to run until he threw up. 

Michael also witnessed extreme forced religion regaurding the Mormon
faith. Students were punished for saying thing negitive about the LDS
religion, or for even saything anything positive about a different 
religion. If a child had a different religion than the LDS they were
made a target by the staff.

Michael claims that the staff went out of their way to make fun of the
children. It was extremely common for staff members who were having 
bad days to take it out on these helpless children. Staff who were not
formally trained what so ever, only in their Mid 20's either with only
a high school diploma or still in college. Staff were constantly trying 
to size up the childrenand lash out agaisnt them. It was clear who was
in charge in the facility.

During his stay, Michael befriended a teacher at the facility. An 
elderly woman who got fired after 4 months for standing up for the
children against the other staff at the facility. In her attempt
to protect the children she lost her job and was forced out.

After michael got out of the program he had a hard time adjusting
back to normal give all the abuse he endured and witnessed. His father
did not want him back and Michael spent a few years homeless with an addiction problem to try and cover up the nightmares and the 
flashbacks. Michael does not have a realtionship with his father still to this day. He hold alot of hatred towards his father for sending him
away with the money that was suppose to be his from a wrongful death
suit from his mother. Once Michael was sent to utah his father had full
access to these funds. Michael has a large problem with authority and
has some trust issues. He hates Logan River for what they did to him 
and the others that were there with him. He knows that abuse is still
going on behind the walls of the facility and is constantly fighting
to expose the true nature of this program to the public and to parents.


We at Safe Teen Schools would like to thank Michael Carter for sharing
his story, you are an inspiration.

Lillian Speerbrecker

Safe Teen Schools.