Teenage sisters, 15 and 12, missing from ranch for 'troubled youth' just days after it declared bank
Two teenage sisters have been reported missing from a ranch for 'troubled youths' days after it declared for bankruptcy.
Jennehl Curry, 15, and Jaiylah Curry, 12, were last seen at Timothy Hill Children's Ranch in Riverhead, New York, on February 8.
The two were last seen wearing gray sweatshirts and black sweatpants, with Jennehl wearing flip flops and her sister wearing one orange and one blue sneaker.
The ranch, which has operated residency programs since 1980, filed for voluntary bankruptcy last month with debts totaling $4.8 million.
The facility is also dealing with as-yet unknown liabilities due to five lawsuits currently pending against it, four of them under New York's Child Victims Act.
Jennehl Curry, seen here, was described by officers as being 5-foot-6, 313 pounds and having brown eyes and black hair, and was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt, black sweatpants, black flip-flops, and a red bonnet
Jaiylah Curry is described as being 5-foot-3 and 178 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair, and was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and one orange and one blue sneaker
According to a report by Riverhead Local, the suits allege, among other things, negligence by the ranch which resulted in alleged physical and sexual abuse.
The suits, filed by Andres Ramos, John Gubitosi, John Barci and Jayme Thode, claim that during the 1980s and 1990s they were physically and sexually abused or assaulted by other residents at the facility.
According to Riverhead News Review, Gubitosi reported the physical and sexual abuse but was forced to do so in front of other residents whom he had accused.
After several attempts to run away, Gubitosi went to his grandmother's house and refused to return.
Ramos, who was 12 at the time, stated there was 'virtually no supervision' after 'lights out' and that he was 'repeatedly beaten, tortured, and threatened into obedience.'
Barci claimed that he was placed in a house with older residents at the age of 12 who would beat him and sexually assault him.
Thode says in his complaint that 'negligent and inadequate supervision created a culture of lawlessness', which resulted in him being sexually assaulted.
Another lawsuit was filed last year by Isaura Estevez, whos daughter was a passenger in the vehicle of a carb being operated by a ranch employee.
The suit alleges that the employee 'drove negligently, recklessly and/or carelessly' and caused her daughter to 'fall out' from the vehicle causing injury.
The ranch, which has operated residency programs since 1980, filed for voluntary bankruptcy last month with debts totaling $4.8 million
Thaddaeus Hill, pictured here, is the Executive Director of Timothy Hill Children's Ranch
The company stated in their petition that they had assets totaling more than $13.6 million, most of which came from real estate holdings.
According to their website, the mission has been to transform the lives of 'troubled youth and young adults' through 'Christian-centered values' and life skills.'
Outside of New York, the company also operates residential campuses in Tennessee, Arkansas, Massachusetts and Tennessee.
In a statement issued by the Executive Director Thaddaeus Hill, he said: 'The board and staff of Timothy Hill Ranch have been actively seeking and expect to achieve a resolution to civil lawsuits filed against our not-for-profit organization soon.
'The lawsuits are related to incidents that occurred between program residents over 35 years ago. No staff members were involved or accused in any way.'
The disappearance of the sisters comes just a week after a 12-year-old died less than 24 hours after he was sent to a camp for troubled youths in North Carolina.
The unnamed pre-teen was transported with his parent's consent by two men from New York to the camp on Friday, February 2.
Shortly after 8 am, police said they were called to the boy not breathing with rescue efforts being initiated on the scene.
Former participants who went to the camp in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, had described conditions as 'not humane'
17-year-old Alec Lansing, seen here, ran away from his group on an excursion in November 2014 and died from hypothermia
In a statement, Transylvania County Sheriffs' Office said: 'The child was sent for autopsy to Winston Salem as his death appeared suspicious since he had arrived at the camp less than 24 hours prior to his death.'
A spokesperson for Trails Carolina said: 'We are shattered by the tragic loss of a young life and our deepest sympathies are with the student's family and loved ones.'
Previous participants at the camp have described the conditions they face while at the facility, with one describing them as cruel.
It also hit headlines in 2014 when 17-year-old Alec Lansing died of hypothermia after running away from the camp.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Timothy Hill Children's Ranch for comment on the disappearance of Jennehl and Jaiylah.
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