How Could You? Hall of Shame-Anthony Zarro and Christopher Allen and Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch UPDATED
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From Springfield, Missouri, Lives Under Construction, a 186-acre ranch /RTC in Lampe near the Missouri-Arkansas border, was suspended for the fifth time after residents Anthony Zarro, 17, and Christopher Allen, 16 escaped and were accused of “fatally beating and stabbing a Michigan couple [Margaret and Paul Brian Brooks, ages 69 and 70] in a botched robbery at a vacation cabin. ” The judge has decided to try them as adults. “They are charged with two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, one count of felony robbery and one count of felony burglary.”
Lives Under Construction was “first suspended in 2001 when a 14-year-old was killed while trying to run away. Records obtained by the News-Leader showed that the boy was returning to camp with four other youths after doing odd jobs in the community when a staff member struck him over the head with a crowbar. The staff member managed to steer the truck he was driving to the side of the road. The boy jumped out and was killed when he ran into traffic.Under a suspension that lasted for 34 days after the teen’s death, no new campers were allowed to come to the ranch, but the boys already there were allowed to stay. The ranch was required to rewrite its policies demonstrating actions to be taken “to minimize the chance of another crisis occurring.” Other changes included purchasing a walkie-talkie system to enhance communication among staff and increasing staff numbers to ensure proper supervision.The state also investigated the facility in 2004, 2008 and 2011, the News-Leader learned through a records request. Issues included sexual contact among residents and failure to immediately seek medical help for a boy with a broken leg.
The News-Leader reported that the latest suspension ended Monday. For the time being, the 18 boys who were on the ranch when Zarro and Allen ran away remain as the only campers.”
Southwest Missouri group home suspended after teen escapees are accused of murder
[The Kansas City Star 4/29/13 by Associated Press]
Lives Under Construction is a faith-based RTC that boasts “Through the use of Biblical counseling and applying Christian principles in their lives, we are re-building broken homes and family relationships.” They offer a 15-18 month residential program at a rate of $3,800 per month and a “Survival of the Meekest” summer camp for boys aged 10 to 14. They offer Christian counseling, family counseling, animal therapy, education and trades training.
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Update:”Rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court have thrown uncertainty into how two juveniles charged with first degree murder in Stone County can be punished.
Anthony Zarro and Christopher Allen face murder charges as adults.
Zarro was 16 years old and Allen 15 years old when they ran away from the Lives Under Construction Ranch for at-risk youth and allegedly killed their victims.
Even though they will stand trial as adults, their ages at the time of crime will impact the possible sentences they can face.
Stone County Prosecutor Matt Selby charged both juveniles with first degree murder for the killings. This is where the Stone County case runs into trouble.
“From our perspective, as prosecutors, there are just some crimes that are more deserving of 30 years in prison and that is, of course, where we will make the argument to legislators,” says Lamb.
Carlyle says because of the Supreme Court rulings the law will have to work toward compromise.
Punishment Uncertain for Teens Accused of Double Murder[Ozarks First 12/12/13]
“In January of 2013, Brian and Susan Brooks were found bludgeoned and stabbed to death inside the lakefront home. Two teenagers, Anthony Zarro and Christopher Allen, who escaped from the Lives Under Construction boys ranch, are facing first-degree murder charges in the couples deaths.
Zarro’s trial was scheduled to begin next month, but his attorney Tom Jacquinot asked Judge John Sweeney for a continuance last week. That motion was granted and the trial is now scheduled to begin on June 22, 2015 in Newton County where the case was moved on a change of venue.
Jacquinot cited a heavy case load and the amount of time needed to gather evidence in this case, “which will be handled like a death penalty case.”
Stone County prosecutor Matt Selby and Jacquinot are seeking some sort of guidance on both Zarro, who was 17 at the time of the double homicide, and Allen ‘s (who was 16,) cases because both were juveniles at the time the murders were committed.
Currently the law states that juveniles convicted of first-degree murder are not subject to a life without parole sentence or the death penalty.”
Murder Trial postponed for 1 year[CrimeScene investigations.blogspot.com 5/14 by Kathee Baird]
I spent 2 month at the luc wilcox boys ranch in the fall of 1997. I was repeatedly assaulted numerous times, malnourished, worked to death but the worst was the psychological manipulation and religious abuse. At the time, the place was ran by a narcissistic greedy asshole who only cared about his own ego and pocketbook. I loaded a backpack with granola bars and left on foot at 5am one morning into the ozark wilderness. As soon as I found help, I called the Missouri state department of health and reported that shithole.