Couple who owned a boarding school in Missouri have been charged with more than 100 cases of abuse

Boyd and Stephanie Householder are facing more than 100 allegations of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse alleged to have taken place at their faith-based boarding school in Missouri.

Officials charged Boyd Householder with 80 violations, including multiple counts of second-degree legal rape and sodomy. The charges against his wife range from assault to endangering a child’s well-being.

“With 16 victims to date, we think this is one of the most common cases of sexual, physical and mental abuse patterns against young girls and women in Missouri history,” said Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt. “As a father of two young girls, it’s just unthinkable to me.”

Since 2006, the Householders owned and operated the Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in Cedar County, a Christian school they believe could reform rebellious teens.

Authorities removed all girls from the facility last year and the facility has since been closed. Several girls have since described their alleged abuse on social media.

Householders’ daughter, Amanda, said she believes the victims.

“I kept getting messages from random girls I don’t even know telling me the same thing,” she said. “I really believe them.”

In a recent interview with the Kansas City Star, the Householders described the allegations against them as “all lies” and called their accusers “angry” and “bitter.”

The farm is closed in September.