Trial date set for Missouri's “most prolific female abuser”
Statement by David Clohessy of SNAP (314 566 9790, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)
No plea deal has been reached between Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Missouri's most prolific female abuser and the case against her has a new trial date. We're pleased by this news but very disappointed but she no longer wears an ankle monitor and that her bond was stunningly low ($10,000).
Stephanie Householder will go to trial next September on nearly two dozen charges of child abuse and neglect stemming from her decades working in two now-shuttered Christian boarding schools in rural Missouri: Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in Humansville and Agape Boarding School in Stockton).
On one hand, we're glad there's a good chance that Householder will be forced to swear an oath and answer tough questions in open court about who helped her conceal her criminal behavior. On the other hand, given the extensive and serious charges she faces, we're shocked and worried that she's apparently free to come and go however and wherever she pleases.
We know many survivors will be relieved that a trial is scheduled but upset that it won't happen for almost a year. In the months ahead, we hope that anyone who saw, suspected or suffered any crimes by Householder will contact law enforcement and strengthen the already strong case against her.
We also hope they will find the strength to report what they know or endured to someone they trust: a close friend, a family member, a good therapist or a support group like ours.
Accused serial abuser faces hearing on Thursday
The former head of a Christian boarding school for 'troubled' kids will be in court on Thursday facing nearly two dozen charges of child abuse and neglect.
Stephanie Householder, who ran the now-shuttered Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in Humansville (along with her recently-deceased husband Boyd), is being prosecuted by staffers in the office of Attorney General Andrew Bailey.
“She’s Missouri's most prolific female abuser,” said David Clohessy of St. Louis. He's the Missouri volunteer director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
"Nothing can of course magically, easily and totally restore the trust and the childhoods stolen by the Householders," Clohessy said. "But they deserve their day in court and the public deserves a full accounting of how these two were able to keep assaulting kids for decades with no one intervening.."
"I join with victims in hoping that Householder will finally face her victims and tough questions in open court, be convicted, and spend many years behind bars so she'll never hurt another child," said Kansas City attorney Rebecca Randles, who represents several of Householder's victims.
The Householders also worked at Agape Boarding School (a.k.a. Agape Baptist Academy) in Cedar County.
Cara Richelle Rose (417 863 0400) has been Circle of Hope’s lawyer. Agape has been represented by two Kansas City lawyers, John G. Schultz (jschultz@fsmlawfirm.com, 816 421 7100) and Sean Sturdivan (s.sturdivan@swrllp.com). Ty Gaither is the Cedar County DA (417 276 6700 ext. 235, cedarcopa@windstream.net).