Reign of Terror at Colorado Boys and Girls Ranch Finally Stopped Years After Abuse First Reported

When Lisa Mitchell contacted Health Impact News in 2016 about the medical kidnapping of her son Samuel, she recounted horrific acts of abuse that her son suffered at the hand of El Pueblo Boys and Girls Ranch, where he was forced to stay by Child Protective Services for 6 years. Now, that facility has been shut down by the state of Colorado - permanently. It is a measure of vindication for the Mitchells and other families who suffered at El Pueblo, but the years that they lost can never be replaced. Lisa reports that the children were drugged, abused, and starved - "treated like guinea pigs for profit." Children got into trouble for sneaking food, but they were hungry. Children were put into restraints and illegal holds. While several news reports about El Pueblo allude to fights between the residents, Lisa said that it went much deeper than that. She alleged that the staff would drug the kids, then pit them against each other to fight - much like cock fights or dog fights, only with children. While Samuel was in the facility, Lisa says that they broke his arm, his foot, and his leg. Her son was already on 6 psychotropic medications at age 6. The private, non-profit organization has been in operation for 57 years. Among its board members are a police chief, a judge, pharmaceutical reps, bankers, and realtors. Lisa Mitchell is asking the questions of how deep the conflicts of interests run among those involved with El Pueblo. Who made money at the children's expense? She says that her son’s Guardian ad Litem (GAL) once told Samuel: "You’re worth a lot of money." Lisa Mitchell is very thankful that the facility which caused such harm to her son has finally been permanently shut down. She says that the Child Protective System and the health care system is "trafficking children." Now, she wants to see the people who are responsible for the rampant abuse shut down.