Founder Of Greenbrier School For Girls Admits He Is Responsible For Teens Death

This is just one example of the hypocrisy of those who claim to believe so firmly in the precious lives of children. These "tough love" treatment camps exist all over the country, and this is by no means the only death reported in one of them.

"Right to Life" is not about life. It is about sex. Women must give birth to the babies who are the result of illicit sex. Once the child is born, it is no longer a subject of moral interest.

Founder Of Greenbrier School For Girls Admits He Is Responsible For Teens Death | Huntington News

Almost immediately, the director of the Academy, Lionel Jay (L.Jay) Mitchell took the approach that Ryan had not intentionally tried to kill himself. In fact, he told WV News recently that his opinion was Ryan wasn’t suicidal, and that the boy was just seeking attention because he wanted out of the program. Mitchell stated that neither himself, staff nor Alldredge Academy were negligent in the death. It was just a tragic accident.

Paul Nusbaum, then director of the Department Of Health & Human Resources (DHHR) disagreed with Mitchells contentions and filed an ORDER to cease and desist the operation of Alldredge and close it down because their investigation found numerous violations in the day to day operation of the Academy. The DHHR wanted to close it down because of the likelihood other teens were in immanent danger if Alldredge remained open.

Tucker County prosecutor, “Mont” Miller investigated Mitchell and staff as well for neglect that resulted in the death of Ryan Lewis. Mitchell and camp counselor John Weston White were indicted on felony charges by way of the county grand jury. Shortly thereafter, Mitchell hired an attorney and was able to get Kanawha County Judge Duke Bloom to throw out the DHHR’s closure order and not only allowed Alldredge to remain open and operating, he also allowed Mitchell to change the name of the facility.

Ironically, according to documents we located from the Government Accountability Office, both Kanawha and Tucker County authorities overlooked the fact that Alldredge was also illegally operating the facility on US Forrest property without paid permits or usage forms.
Not long after Judge Blooms ruling, the Tucker County prosecutor decided to drop the felony charge of neglect against both Mitchell and White if the company, Alldredge, would entertain a plea bargain against the actual corporation for neglect and pay a $5,000 fine.

Mitchell agreed to that offer, which kept him out of jail and not convicted personally for Ryans death. According to WV law, no one convicted of a crime of neglect resulting in death can have a permit from DHHR to operate a facility like Alldredge. Being a former attorney, Mitchell knew this when he agreed to pleading out the corporation instead of himself personally.

Sources report that dismissing the felony charges against Mitchell, and subsequent plea agreement, were also supported and approved by Tucker County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Frye.