News

Face Of Suicide

'My friend committed suicide as a result of the abuse at Kurn Hattin'

"My friend committed suicide as a result of the abuse at Kurn Hattin. I am his voice now and that of all the others who cannot speak for themselves." ... Vermont Senate Kurn Hattin Hearings Survivor Testimony

Face Of A Kurn Hattin Houseparent

'Mr. Miller was a physically abusive fuckin' douchbag!'

Autumn Hensley - Chris Grullon, Duane Miller was a child molester. Im glad that was the worst of it for you.

Chris Grullon - Autumn Hensley, I was never alone with him. He gave me really bad vibes.

Timothy Richards - I remember mr. Miller very well! He slapped me across the face so hard it dropped me to my knees for not doing something I was told.

Autumn Hensley - All of the complaints were defended by Tom Fahner, and with over 25yrs as the Director... I'm not convinced that Miller acted alone or that it was an isolated case. They're both dead now, so we won't hear their side and I really don't care to. I just hope something is done about it so it doesn't happen to anyone else.

Prudence Williams - Unfortunately, Mr. Miller was seen as an "untouchable" (ironic term) by many of the staff considering his very long history with Kurn Hattin. But he was, in fact, a weirdo.. and had many complaints against him that were always overlooked.

Autumn Hensley - However, as a sibling to a sexual assault victim whom was molested by Duane Miller in Ball cottage at KH, I'm disgusted by the administration! There were repeat complaints about Mr. Miller, but no formal investigation ever took place. Miller was a KH alumni, and I find it very telling of the the KH history. Sad & disgusting really. A place that was once called home to so many, is now forever tarnished by stories such as this. Duane Miller has met his maker, but I pray for the victims and hope that anyone reading the article or posts comes forth with their report in effort to prevent it from happening to any more innocent children.

Bruce Merrill - Autumn Hensley, Duane Miller was a terrible human being!! I'll never forget him telling me that I'll never amount to anything on graduation day. What a motivational message for an 8th grader! I hope he is rotting in Hell!

Theodore Nichols - Out of curiosity. Dwayne Miller as a great friend for me during my divorce and his too talked with me about a time he did a dorm party raid at the girls with some of the boys and how he was trying to keep things at school fun level. Is this part of what you folks are talking about. He did tell me he had to resign after that...

Randall Reed - Mr. Miller was a physically abusive fuckin' douchbag, but he's faced his ultimate judgment! He had hit me quite a few times when I was there. Yes! I was a really hyper kid that had adhd, but it wasn't his place to lay a hand on me in aggression. Favoritism was played a lot by staff members when I was there! ... Favored Kurn Hattin Prodigal Son and Former Resident Returns as Houseparent

Face Of Vermont Law Enforcement?

'Why didn‘t Vermont State Police fully investigate the reports of abuse?'

In addition, neither the Agency of Education, nor the Vermont State Police (VSP) did anything to hold KH accountable for enabling sexual assault and sodomizing of children at its school by its employee. Essentially Kurn Hattin and every Vermont state agency that could have helped and protected children, ultimately failed them and the abuse and assault continued for decades.

In Dec. 1989, the VT State Police first documented former houseparent, Mark Davis’ molestation.

In 2011, a male, who was 9 years old at the time, was placed in Morrison Cottage with male peers. He was the youngest member of the cottage while his peers were all 13-year-olds. In the few months he attended KH, his older roommate began sexually assaulting him at night, including forcibly anally raping him and forcing him to perform oral sex. The roommate had “special privileges” at the cottage and was subject to lax supervision. The roommate took advantage of this and locked the bedroom door at night to attacked him. He reported the abuse to the Vermont State Police in 2017.20

In 2014, VSP received three concerning reports relating to KH. DCF informed the VSP that a parent of a KH student threatened to kidnap his child from the school on August 23, 2014. VSP attempted to contact KH but was unable to reach any staff at the school. On July 1, 2014, VSP picked up a runaway from KH who said she fled because she was being bullied. The police advised the girl to report the bullying to her teachers and no further action was taken. On September 14, 2014, VSP reported that a female KH student was sexually assaulted by a male student on a chaperoned trip to Cape Cod. The female student was reprimanded and sent to her room by the KH chaperons after she kicked and punched the male student off her to get him to stop. On March 10, 2015, after receiving an email from the DCF, VSP investigated the sexual assault of a KH student who was forced to perform oral sex and engage in anal sex by a peer at the school. Despite these incidences known to both DCF and VSP, DCF renewed KH’s RTP license in 2013 and 2015. Current KH Executive Director, Stephen Harrison, took over Kurn Hattin in 2015. When DCF renewed the school’s RTP license in 2015 it noted that KH was not fully compliant with a DCF regulations. ... Vermont Pride Without Cause

Face Of Peer On Peer Child Sexual Abuse

'She threatened to kill her with a knife'

Beginning in 2017, a 9-year-old female was sexually abused by another resident at Woodhull Cottage. The abuse continued for 2 years as the perpetrator resident regularly assaulted her and other cottage residents in the bathroom of the cottage. At one point the perpetrator penetrated the child’s vagina with a toothbrush and encouraged other residents to do the same. She was initially fearful to report the abuse because the perpetrator threatened to “kill [her] with a knife” if she did, and the Woodhull Cottage House Parent, “Mrs. Cook”, was physically abusive, grabbing and shaking the girl if the she frustrated her. The girl’s mother found out and reported the abuse to DCF and the VSP in 2019. During the Department for Children and Families investigation, it was revealed Kurn Hattin Residential Director Nancy Richardson was aware of the toothbrush incident but didn’t report it because she thought that was “what children do.” ... Terrified to Sleep or Take a Shower

Pay No Attention to the Ass Behind the Curtain

'Take Kurn Hattin's word for it'

It all started, so Kurn Hattin informs us, in 2020 when “a number of former students… raised allegations of abuse.” The incidents “included physical and sexual abuse.” They occurred between the late 1950s and 2020. “Some of the abuses were known to Kurn Hattin.”

Vermont media reported the statement on September 8, but it was posted on Kurn Hattin’s website at least two weeks earlier without notice. I’m sure that Kurn Hattin would very much like us to accept this statement at face value and turn our attention elsewhere. Any elsewhere will do. HEY, LOOK! SQUIRREL!

... this had better not be the last word on the subject. Kurn Hattin needs to be held accountable. Department of Education? Agency of Human Services? Attorney General’s office? Legislature? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

The deliberate fog of Kurn Hattin’s statement must be blown away and the truth revealed in all its messy particulars. We need to know the nature of the abuses, how widespread they were, how many former students were abused under Kurn Hattin’s care, and how many staffers were involved. Only then can an informed decision be made on appropriate penalties and Kurn Hattin’s future... Kurn Hattin’s Sordid Past

Kurn Hattin Hires Principal Criminally Charged: Failure to Report Child Abuse

'The law is clear and Noyes appears to have run afoul of it.'

The Danville School principal ... is facing criminal charges after being accused of failing to report an allegation of inappropriate contact between a male teacher and a female student at Danville High School.

Noah Noyes, principal of grades 7-12 at the Danville School, was cited Monday on charges of failure to report child abuse and neglect of duty by a public officer.

Kurn Hattin Homes for Children has announced the appointment of Noah D. Noyes, M. Ed to the position of school principal. Following an extensive search process involving a committee of highly-respected faculty, staff, and administrators; Mr. Noyes, a native of Hyde Park, Vermont, emerged as the outstanding choice to lead Kurn Hattin's academic department.

School officials and employees are known as “mandatory reporter,” required by law to report suspicions or allegations of child abuse to the Department for Children and Families (DCF) within 24 hours.... DCF Learned of Allegation from Student Parents

Kurn Hattin Homes for Children has a new principal and Noah Noyes has worked his way into the independent school system. Connie Sanderson, who is Kurn Hattin's executive director, said Noyes was undoubtedly the best pick from an initial pool of 20 viable applicants.

"We're thrilled to have Noah here. He's been with us since July and the transition is going very smoothly. It's great in the summer to have time to get acclimated to the school, culture and staff," she said. "This is exciting news for Kurn Hattin. Noyes is passionate about education and addressing students' needs. He has lot of great ideas for technology and incorporating that into the school."

Stephen Harrison will take over as executive director in September and Sanderson will become adjunct executive director.... Noah Noyes Takes Over