Aspen Education Group Isn't Flying Under the Radar

With endorsements from Dr. Phil and and rapid expansion all while the negative attention has been focused on the WWASPS group of Programs, Aspen Education Group was trying to give itself the reputation of the "kinder, gentler group of teen "help" programs." Well, even Aspen Education Group with all of it's marketing efforts isn't going unnoticed.

10/27/2007 - Emily Graeber, a 15 year old Missouri girl, goes 'missing' on the way back to Aspen Education Group-owned program Island View RTC. (and she is still missing as of today 11/09/2007)

06/28/2007 - Brendan James Blum, a 14 year old California boy, died of a bowel obstruction after complaining of pain, losing bowel control and vomiting but only being given over-the-counter medicine and being told to go to bed. He was enrolled in Aspen Education Group-owned Youth Care RTC in Draper Utah.

04/2007 - Unidentified 16 year old attempted to hang himself from a a tree at the ranch with a shoelace. After some time the staff found him unconscious and revived him, but he died in the helicopter transporting him to the hospital. This took place as Aspen Education Group-owned Aspen Achievement Academy in Loa, Utah.

07/02/2004 - Unidentified 16 year old from Pennsylvania hung himself in a bathroom. After some time, staff found him and tried to revive him, but were unsuccessful. The program was Island View Academy in Syracuse, Utah. -- The same program Emily has disappeared from.

Emily Graeber, 15, Escapee/Survivor or Victim of Foul Play?

The Deseret Morning News's Rebecca Palmer has reported that Emily Graeber, 15, disappeared as she was was headed to the Island View Residential Treatment Center in Syracuse, Utah. She had been on a home visit from the program but was supposed to be returning. "Island View is part of the Aspen Education Group, which owns and operates facilities throughout Utah and in other Western states. Graeber's disappearance is the latest in a series of problems for the company," per Rebecca Palmer. As I have said before, Aspen Education Group, the one that Dr. Phil endorses, is just as bad as the rest of the programs. I hope the girl has just escaped and has not been kidnapped. Although if she has escaped I feel very badly for her. Once you've been in the program and you know program people aren't always what they claim to be you want to run and since the program people enlist the police's help and your parents think they are doing what is best for you, you (or in this case Emily) feel like you are running from everyone just to survive. You have to run from good guys and bad guys alike. Good Luck Emily, I hope you are safe!