Thread by @SarahUnsicker

I knew things were bad at Agape. Even with that knowledge, it was suggested last week that I not read the allegations put forward in the lawsuit when it was initially filed last week.

But an amended pleading was filed this week - less than 2 weeks after the initial pleading, so-

https://twitter.com/ericgarland/status/1713380418047631367

I had to look. I first saw that it was amended from @kclaurab and @judylthomas's reporting on the amended lawsuit today.

Those two have done great work at the @KCStar in bringing these issues to light and keeping them in the public eye. kansascity.com/news/state/mis…

@kclaurab @judylthomas @KCStar I first noticed that there were two "related" lawsuits listed. So besides Jason Britt, there were lawsuits filed against Agape by Darian Shelton and by David Gawargious. They have the same lawyers and the same judge (Judge Harpool).

@kclaurab @judylthomas @KCStar Agape's lawyer, John Schultz, has even been profiled in Missouri Lawyer's Weekly for his work defending Agape! molawyersmedia.com/2023/02/08/mis…

I'm not sure either of these other two cases will move. Agape argues that they are beyond the Statute of Limitations, and the Plaintiffs were supposed to respond by today.

But the one today ...

Right off the bat, paragraph 1 compares Agape to a "concentration camp or a torture colony cloaked in the guise of religion."

Mentions forced labor and trafficking. And talks about how Agape deceived the parents into believing there would be no abuse, regular supervision, and someone available at all times for him to talk to.

zip ties?

He tried to stay out of trouble - and for that, he was refused promotions.

Mom, who was law enforcement, was suspicious about her child being "subdued" during the phone call - and went to visit.

Agape resisted mom taking the child home. It took years to get the full story out of him after he was out of the traumatic situation.

Jason worked hard to protect himself from being further traumatized.

No child should have to work this hard out of fear.

He died of multiple organ failure. At 29.

Agape is a religious school that uses violence to force silence on the children under their care.

Whatever god they worship seems to be OK with using abuse to force obedience.

Things that are illegal to do to prisoners of war were done to children in Missouri. And the sheriff looked the other way.

The complaint alleges labor trafficking under 18 USC 1581. (I've been told there really isn't labor trafficking in Missouri.) It also alleges sex trafficking.

Sheriff's employees not only failed to protect, but they also violated the child. While they were "acting as an employee of Cedar County Sheriff's Department."

Overall, these are terrible allegations.

These are not criminal allegations, but civil. Which means the rights of the defendants are not the same. The Star didn't publish the defendants' names because they were not criminally charged - but the same names come up over and over.