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SCARRED FOR LIFE
Ivy Ridge victims protest at disgraced academy for 1st time since ‘predator’ Amy Ritchie named in mass call for justice
Victims called for punishment in exclusive interviews with The U.S. Sun
IVY Ridge victims sent a clear message to their abusers on Saturday as they returned to the disgraced academy for the first time since the release of a bombshell documentary about the horror they endured there.
The survivors comforted each other outside the school at a protest that came five weeks after four students alleged that they were groomed and molested by Amy Ritchie, the former director of the girl's program.
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On Saturday afternoon, over 50 survivors gathered in Ogdensburg, New York, which is about two hours north of Syracuse, pictures exclusively obtained by The U.S. Sun reveal.
Demonstrators could be seen hugging and holding each other close as they brandished signs with defiant messages like, "Treatment shouldn't leave a community of survivors."
One victim wore an Ivy Ridge Academy sweatshirt with "survivor" written on tape slapped over the school name and another held a poster in the shape of a tombstone.
A different survivor created a "Student Grievance Form" on her poster, which detailed sick allegations of psychological abuse, PTSD, and abandonment.
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After talking to one another and exchanging hugs, the crew came together to scream "F**k you Ivy Ridge," and hold up their middle fingers before dismissing to a private event.
Earlier that day, up to 100 people had organized outside Ogdensburg City Hall.
Former student Rob Pedersen gave a speech to the crowd and stressed the importance of unearthing other unregulated behavior modification facilities, North Country Now reported.
He mourned the students who died by suicide after leaving the school.
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Former students previously spoke with The U.S. Sun about the tragic loss of their classmates.
"There's probably less than 1% of people who went to Ivy Ridge that left unaffected or who at least did OK," said Eddie Curley, 39.
Amy Ritchie is seen for first time after Ivy Ridge students accuse her of sexual abuse & she wears 'life is good' hoodie
"I would say more than 20% are either dead from suicide or addictions and overdoses, and I would say the remaining 79% are all dead on the inside."
HAUNTING HISTORY
Established in 2001, Ivy Ridge attracted hundreds of students by marketing itself as a "boarding school" where troubled teens would learn better behaviors.
The institution's brochure promised hiking, team sports, horseback riding, and group-based learning, which would help teens realize their true potential.
However, in various lawsuits filed against the institution, former students claim they suffered sexual and physical abuse, unauthorized medical procedures, violent punishments, and more while living there.
Ivy Ridge was affiliated with the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS), which is a scandal-ridden group founded by Mormon Robert Lichfield in 1998.
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The facility hired faculty members who weren't even qualified to teach and handed out fake diplomas, all while raking in over $20 million per year at its peak.
Though the school has been shuttered since 2009, many students were left wondering whether justice would ever be served.
A renewed hope came in the form of the Netflix docuseries The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnappings, which aired heartwrenching interviews with former students.
Ivy Ridge closed after it was denied accreditation by the state's education department as parents decided against enrolling their kids in the school.
Despite its closure, the academy and its staff have had a lifelong effect on dozens of students.
One point of contention for multiple former students who exclusively spoke with The U.S. Sun is Ritchie, who ran the girl's program from 2001 to 2008.
In the docuseries, students accused an unnamed female staff member of serial sexual abuse and called her a pedophile.
Five Ivy Ridge alumni named that alleged abuser as Ritchie in an exclusive investigation published by The U.S. Sun.
One former student said Ritchie continued to send them Facebook messages after they escaped the school.
Another alumnus shared a heart wrenching diary entry that showed she blamed herself as a teen for the sick abuse.
Every student who spoke with The U.S. Sun wishes for Ritchie to face charges for her alleged crimes.
They also voiced their fears over the safety of others as Ritchie has been allowed to work at another WWASPS facility and a psychiatric center.
Ritchie is not facing charges, nor has she been accused by law enforcement of committing any crimes.
However, at least three of The U.S. Sun's sources named in that investigation say they have recently reported Ritchie to the District Attorney's Office for sexual abuse.
Attempts by The U.S. Sun to approach Ritchie for comment have gone unanswered.
Timeline of events: Academy at Ivy Ridge
- 2001: Academy at Ivy Ridge is opened by Jason Finlinson in Ogdensburg, New York
- 2003: Congressman Rep. George Miller urges the US Attorney General to investigate Ivy Ridge and the 10 other WWASP facilities in the US and aboard over allegations of "an ongoing practice of physical and emotional abuse of children"
- 2004: Attorney General declines to investigate WWASP, citing a lack of jurisdiction
- 2005: Male students plan and carry out a riot at the school to protest inhumane living conditions; 12 were arrested and numerous others escaped but were later caught
- 2006: New York's Education Department writes to Finlinson and voices concerns over "serious deficiencies" in Ivy Ridge's education practices and health and safety protocol
- 2006: The state determined Ivy Ridge to be a behavior modification center, not a school, thus barring the facility from issuing student diplomas. The school was later fined
- 2009: Ivy Ridge closes its doors for good, following years of bad press which caused enrollment numbers to plummet
- 2024 (March 5): A three-part documentary series made by Ivy Ridge alumn Katherine Kubler is released on Netflix, exposing countless claims of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse
- 2024 (March 7): Jason Finlinson loses his job as a safety operations manager at a Utah-based construction facility
- 2024 (March 9): Ivy Ridge's abandoned campus is listed for sale for $850k
- 2024 (March 11): St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary M. Pasqua announces dozens of physical and sexual abuse claims at Ivy Ridge are under investigation
INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED
Following the release of the docuseries, former Ivy Ridge director Jason Finlinson was fired from his job as a safety operations manager in Utah.
Days later, the abandoned Ivy Ridge campus was listed for sale.
Also after the airing of the documentary, St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary M. Pasqua said dozens of physical and sexual abuse claims at Ivy Ridge are under investigation.
"Any time a child is abused – whether that’s physically or sexually – we are going to take that seriously and do everything we can to get justice for that child – anything within our powers," Pasqua told The U.S. Sun in a statement.
"But we are dealing with some instances here that are two decades old at this point. We aren't sure what we are going to be able today, but if students come forward and there is something we can do, we will do it and nothing will deter us from doing it.
"We want to get justice for them if we can to the best of our ability and hold anyone responsible to the full extent of the law.
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"I hope we are able to do that.
"We’re not there yet, we have a lot of work to do, but eventually we hope to do something."
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