LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — An investigation by the 8 Information Now Investigators has revealed main failures at a number of juvenile group houses in Las Vegas, together with lively warrants for 2 former workers, quite a few requires service to police for runaways and suicide makes an attempt, and a state audit that describes abuse and neglect.
Las Vegas Metro Police data reveal greater than 300 requires service on the 5 properties inside the previous 12 months and a half. The vast majority of calls are listed for reported runaways and suicide makes an attempt. Different calls are tied to alleged disturbances, assault and batteries, and extra.Court docket data reveal two lively warrants for 2 ladies who labored on the similar location the place Noah Blumenthal’s son stayed for alleged violence in opposition to a co-worker.
Police wrote in a report that employees claimed video, which can have proven what occurred, was purged, employees weren’t absolutely cooperative, and the enterprise ought to have saved the footage for one 12 months since it’s a psychological well being assisted dwelling house. The report additionally famous all concerned individuals within the incident had been terminated, together with the alleged sufferer.Clark County stopped putting juveniles within the houses.”We did have some youth [34] placed in Moriah Behavioral Health facilities from Dec. 2021 to Jan. 2025 at different locations for varying lengths of time,” a county spokesperson wrote in an e-mail to the 8 Information Now Investigators. “Their facilities were found to be unable to meet the needs of our clients. Due to state confidentiality laws regarding child welfare services, we are unable to provide further information.”Nevada’s Division of Public and Behavioral Well being suspended the license for one of many houses in March for failing to appropriate issues found final November, based on a state spokesperson.A state audit into amenities for youngsters, which examined two of the group houses managed by Ignite Teen Remedy, famous well being, security, welfare, and civil and different rights points, based on a December 2024 report.Auditors discovered:
Incomplete, inaccurate, and lacking remedy data
Lacking documentation of medical help after noting a baby’s harm
Restraints leading to accidents
Objects which could possibly be used for self-harm
Lacking documentation of obligatory reporting
Lacking background verify data
Damaged home windows and glass shards
Boarded-up home windows
Uncontrolled youngsters’s conduct
Hidden nicotine vapes
9 youngsters utilizing one toilet
Untreated swimming pools
An unsecured pool and scorching tub
A toddler climbing on a roof
Weak recordkeeping
Lacking denial of rights reporting documentation
The criticism course of not posted
Administration unable to find out if any complaints had been filed
Incomplete personnel data
Weak insurance policies and procedures
The state reported $94,000 in fines in opposition to Ignite Teen Remedy as of late 2024.State lawmakers reacted to the findings at a gathering in January.”These people get money to take care of these children. Let’s put that on the record. It is not like they’re doing it out of the goodness of their hearts,” Senator Marilyn Dondero Loop (D-Las Vegas) stated. “They’re getting money and then they’re not keeping good records, they’re not taking care of the children, they’re failing inspections after inspections.”The state reported a complete of $5.5 million paid to the group houses from Jan. 2023 to June 2025.
That is along with funds from non-public insurance coverage for teenagers like a 17-year-old who spoke with the 8 Information Now Investigators. His father, Noah Blumenthal, despatched his son there from New York as a result of he believed he would get the psychological well being remedy he wanted and the enterprise accepted his insurance coverage.
He offered documentation displaying Moriah Behavioral Well being billed insurance coverage $4,000 per day, whereas insurance coverage paid a reduced fee of $1400 per day more often than not. Blumenthal obtained a invoice for $280 per day co-pay the rest of the time, based on the documentation he offered.
“It’s terrifying that this continues to exist,” the teenager instructed the 8 Information Now Investigators.
The daddy and son stated they’re sharing their story to assist different households.
Blumenthal requested, “How can I let somebody else make the decision based on all the beautiful advertising and etcetera to send their child there when I know what the place is like?”
To achieve Investigative Reporter Vanessa Murphy, e-mail [email protected]
