179. Elan School

The facility opened around 1970. For more than 30 years teenagers suffered at this so-called school. Teenagers were thrown into a boxing ring where they had to defend themselves against not only one opponent but as many who could fit into the ring. They were severely beaten. Confessions were forced and often untrue. A man even had to go to jail due to a murder he was forced to confess and only got freed after a lengthy legal battle.

Words cannot describe slightly how awful it was to be teenager forced to live at this place.

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Sources:

• Moxley case puts school’s methods on trial (Martha Moxley website)
• KENNEDY TEMPTRESS GIVES SKAKEL BOOST (Associated Press)
• Skeletons in the Classroom (The New York Times)
• Elan School closing due to low numbers, negative Web campaign (Lewiston-Auburn Sun Journal)
• The Dark History and Demise of Élan School (Dark Downeast Podcast)

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Update 2016:

Late 2016 authorities reopened the investigation of the death of Phil Williams Jr. who died shortly after one of the “boxing matches”. It is not clear how the authorities will conduct the investigation because purposely mismanagement of his treatment and death was allowed by people in the public system back in 1982 where Elan School enjoyed political backing

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Source:

Maine police are looking into a claim that a 15-year-old boy who died three decades ago had been forced to participate in a boxing match at a now-closed school for troubled youth (USnews)