Atlantis Leadership Academy

Incidents on record

1. 2020 Abuse

   A 2020 survivor testimony alleges residents were kicked and punched and threatened with a knife at the throat.source

2. Abuse

   A survivor reports punishments included reduced food, other residents being told to beat the boy, and a solitary confinement room called the box.source

3. Abuse

   Survivors report mental and emotional abuse, food deprivation, attack therapy, forced labor, physical abuse, violent restraints, communication restrictions and solitary confinement at Atlantis Leadership Academy.source

News coverage

• 

  Atlanta Black Star Sep 24, 2026 Expose

  Former Governor’s Adopted Son Claims Abuse at Jamaican Youth Facility

  Jonah Bevin, the adopted son of former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, alleges that he was subjected to physical beatings and waterboarding at the Atlantis Leadership Academy in Jamaica shortly after his arrival. The allegations were presented at a July hearing, and the case has involved legal actions over child support and protective orders. The facility has since closed, and the case remains pending in family court.

• 

  Up North Live Sep 11, 2024 Arrest

  Abandoned by parents in Jamaica, Traverse City teen finds hope in foster care

  Additional reading: Elijah, a survivor of Atlantis Leadership Academy in Jamaica, was scheduled to have a hearing in Grand Traverse County Family Court on September 11, 2024 Elijah was abandoned in Jamaica by his wealthy adoptive parents Dawn Post, Elijah’s attorney, has been staying with Elijah since he returned to the United States A circuit court referee went on the record to report that the hearing was waived and Elijah would be placed with Child Protective Services, followed by a foster care placement Post, Paris Hilton, and other child advocates had reportedly spent months reaching out to officials in Michigan on Elijah’s behalf, but they received no response “Sources UpNorthLive spoke to said the parents told them they were under the impression if they went to Jamaica they would be arrested.” More than a dozen people attended Elijah’s hearing, including TTI survivor and advocate Jenn Marie Newton Elijah’s parental abandonment has not been legally recognized by the court yet, but a pretrial will be scheduled

• 

  The Real Adoptea Moxie Blog Aug 9, 2024 Closure

  Matt Bevin’s Despicable Legacy: From White Savior Adoptive Parent to Child Abandoner

  The Times reported that Atlantis Leadership Academy in Jamaica was closed in April due to child abuse “Noah” Bevin, son of former KY Governor Matt Bevin, was among the children abandoned in Jamaica when the school was closed Two other Black boys were also abandoned at Atlantis Leadership Academy Adoptive parents sending their children to TTI facilities is a growing trend, particularly among white Christians “Adoption in the US has an estimated failure rate of up to 25 percent.” Atlantis Leadership Academy was an American facility with American operators When adopted children struggle with emotional or behavioral issues due to trauma, adoptive parents sometimes send them to TTI programs Some white Christian adoptive parents are preoccupied with their self-image as a “savior” and prioritize their reputations above their children’s needs Savior mindsets for adoptive parents are extremely damaging to developing children The Bevins were originally not allowed to be foster parents in the US because they already had five biological children. They adopted four children from Ethiopia instead International adoptees, especially children of color, often experience a great deal of pain due to being separated from their culture of origin Noah believes his father adopted him to benefit his “public image” Adoptees have their adoption trauma exacerbated by the TTI Adoptees are over-represented in TTI facilities Adoptees are four times more likely to die by suicide The blog author has created an organization called Adoptee Survivors of the Troubled Teen Industry

• 

  Kentucky Lantern Aug 4, 2024 Event

  Former KY Gov. Matt Bevin’s adopted son reportedly removed from abusive facility in Jamaica

  Matt Bevin is a conservative Christian and Republican who was governor of Kentucky from 2015-2019 Bevin claimed that his primary motivation to run was to fix the state’s foster care and adoption systems Bevin and his wife Glenna adopted 4 children from Ethiopia One of the Bevins’ adopted children, a 17 year-old boy given the pseudonym “Noah”, was just rescued from Atlantis Leadership Academy in Jamaica in February after authorities discovered extreme abuse and neglect at the facility The Bevins have 5 biological children, in addition to their adopted children Glenna Bevin field for divorce in May 2023 The Bevins did not pick up Noah from Jamaica and instead allowed him to become a ward of the Jamaican state Glenna Bevin obtained a court order in April 2024 because Matt Bevin kept entering her home without permission, despite having been separated for two years Only two of the Bevins’ 9 children are still minors A hearing held for the rescued boys was held in April and attended by Paris Hilton The Bevins adopted internationally after being denied a domestic adoption Noah attended a TTI facility in Florida before being transferred to Jamaica

• 

  The Times Jul 13, 2024 General

  ‘I’d rather die than go back’: Jamaica’s school for troubled US boys

Staff

Administration

• Aaron Pruitt

  Former Associate Program Director (2016, r/troubledteens wiki)source

• Randall Cook

  Former Founder (2014, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Core Solutions Operations Manager, Founder, 2007-2025

Notable staff

• Courtney Wiggan

  Former Staffsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Tranquility Bay Staff

Wiki entries

• Atlantis Leadership Academy Treasure Beach, Jamaica | 2014-2023

Materials and links

Archived pages

• Myles (WWASP Survivors)
• Timmy (WWASP Survivors)

Other links

• Anonymous (WWASP Survivors) (archived copy) live site
• Atlantis Leadership Academy - WWASP Survivors (archived copy) live site
• Atlantis Leadership Academy Website Homepage
• Atlantis Leadership Academy Marketing Brochure
• Atlantis Leadership Academy - Application
• Noah (WWASP Survivors) (archived copy) live site
• Tyler (WWASP Survivors) (archived copy) live site