A Missouri religious boarding school, Circle of Hope Girls Ranch, has been shut down after years of abuse allegations were shared widely on TikTok by the founders’ daughter, according to NBC News.
In March, Amanda, the daughter of the ranch’s operators, Boyd and Stephanie, received a Facebook message about the treatment of girls at the school. NBC News reports it came from Joseph, a friend and mentee of Boyd who had recently visited the ranch. Joseph told NBC News he witnessed Boyd strike a child and force girls to endure harsh punishments. He says he captured some of it on secret video.
Amanda said the footage disturbed her enough to speak out publicly. She began posting on TikTok, and former residents joined her. Their videos reportedly drew more than 33 million views and caught the attention of law enforcement.
According to parents and former residents who spoke to NBC News, girls spent most of their days doing chores and caring for animals, had limited access to clean clothes, and were given Christian homeschool workbooks that often did not count toward high school credit. They also described the use of physical restraints and withheld food as punishment. These are allegations, and no charges had been announced at the time of this report.
In August, the state removed two dozen girls from the ranch after an investigation by the Cedar County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri Department of Social Services. The school has been closed since. NBC News found that at least 15 people had reported abuse at the ranch to at least six local, state, and federal agencies since it opened in 2006, yet it kept operating with little oversight because it was a private religious school.
Cedar County Sheriff James McCrary confirmed his office had received multiple calls about the ranch over the years but would not detail them. Amanda says a deputy told her this year the office lacked enough evidence, and that a federal prosecutor declined the case in 2019. The state education department told one parent in 2008 it had no authority over a private school. Missouri’s Department of Social Services made a preliminary finding two years ago that Boyd physically abused a minor, though that case is still pending.
Stephanie denied the allegations against her and her husband, saying they come from girls who “have no credibility” and that the accusations will not withstand scrutiny. A lawyer for the couple declined to comment.
Made to order and shipped to your door.
