Facility profile Washington
Morning Star Boys Ranch
Morning Star Boys Ranch is a residential treatment center in Spokane, Washington. It has operated since 1956.
About Morning Star Boys Ranch
Murphy House is the residential RTC; non-residential programs added from 2015.source
Timeline
From the records: who ran it and the deals that moved it, its names, and the deaths, incidents, inspection findings, lawsuits and news stories on file. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.
1956
Opened in Spokane, Washington
1978
Investigation
A 1978 Child Protective Services report found director Joseph Weitensteiner admitted striking a boy in the face and pulling out a clump of hair; the ranch...
Investigation
A 1978 Child Protective Services report found director Joseph Weitensteiner admitted striking a boy in the face and pulling out a clump of hair; the ranch changed its discipline policy and later banned corporal punishment, and he was not disciplined.
Sexual abuse
Public records show reports of molestation and rape at Morning Star Boys Ranch beginning in 1978.
Sexual abuse
Death
On January 25, 1978 a roughly 15-year-old former resident who had run away from the ranch after being beaten and allegedly sexually abused by a priest shot...
Death January 25, 1978
On January 25, 1978 a roughly 15-year-old former resident who had run away from the ranch after being beaten and allegedly sexually abused by a priest shot himself when police came to return him.
2005
Lawsuit
In 2005 two former residents sued Morning Star Boys Ranch alleging sexual abuse by counselors, including forced posing for photographs that were circulated...
Lawsuit
In 2005 two former residents sued Morning Star Boys Ranch alleging sexual abuse by counselors, including forced posing for photographs that were circulated among staff and residents.
2006
Incident
Rev. Joseph Weitensteiner was removed from the ministry in 2006 amid abuse reports and reinstated in 2015 after the last four sexual abuse claims were rejected...
Incident
Rev. Joseph Weitensteiner was removed from the ministry in 2006 amid abuse reports and reinstated in 2015 after the last four sexual abuse claims were rejected by retired federal judge Michael Hogan.
2007
Lawsuit
By 2007 thirteen former residents had sued Morning Star Boys Ranch for physical and sexual abuse; lawsuits began in 2005.
Lawsuit
Lawsuit
In June 2007 four more men sued Morning Star Boys Ranch, bringing the total to 13 plaintiffs in three cases; two alleged abuse by Rev.
Lawsuit June 2007
In June 2007 four more men sued Morning Star Boys Ranch, bringing the total to 13 plaintiffs in three cases; two alleged abuse by Rev. Joseph Weitensteiner and two by counselor James Clarke.
2008
Lawsuit
In fall 2008 Morning Star paid an undisclosed settlement to a former resident who alleged a counselor repeatedly sexually assaulted him.
Lawsuit
Sexual abuse
HEAL reported that longtime director Rev.
Sexual abuse
HEAL reported that longtime director Rev. Joseph Weitensteiner was the subject of allegations of physical and sexual abuse and announced his retirement.
source
2009
Investigation
In 2009 the Spokane County Sheriff's Office opened a criminal investigation into a former counselor accused of molesting a boy at the ranch in 1993-1994.
Investigation
2010
Lawsuit
The first of 19 sex abuse lawsuits against the ranch went to trial in early 2010; on February 12 a jury ruled for Morning Star.
Lawsuit February 12, 2010
Nonprofit tax filings
The yearly returns (IRS Form 990) of the nonprofit this program operates under, from the IRS through ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer.
Morning Star Boys Ranch
EIN 91-0664709, Spokane, WA. Filed with the IRS as youth development, tax-exempt since 2010. Every filing on ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Paid to officers and directors | Assets at year end | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2023 | $2,382,539 | $3,158,328 | $238,461 | $5,032,359 | Form 990 |
| 2022 | $4,446,260 | $4,517,773 | $391,344 | $5,983,958 | Form 990 |
| 2021 | $6,036,768 | $3,911,436 | $314,363 | $6,548,402 | Form 990 |
| 2020 | $5,475,747 | $4,285,609 | $206,058 | $3,818,602 | Form 990 |
| 2019 | $4,943,472 | $3,907,301 | $197,584 | $2,661,529 | Form 990 |
| 2018 | $3,504,032 | $3,481,794 | $230,721 | $1,472,909 | Form 990 |
| 2017 | $2,822,128 | $2,608,468 | $133,726 | $1,403,628 | Form 990 |
| 2016 | $2,083,445 | $2,281,746 | $147,387 | $1,151,268 | Form 990 |
| 2015 | $2,291,041 | $2,125,831 | $132,460 | $1,362,174 | Form 990 |
Earlier years (6)
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Paid to officers and directors | Assets at year end | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | $2,266,655 | $2,129,575 | $130,038 | $1,205,187 | Form 990 |
| 2013 | $2,384,892 | $1,997,259 | $170,172 | $1,018,738 | Form 990 |
| 2012 | $2,439,374 | $2,443,019 | $156,922 | $677,766 | Form 990 |
| 2011 | $1,637,424 | $1,822,109 | $167,085 | $658,389 | Form 990 |
| 2010 | Form 990 | ||||
| 2009 | Form 990EZ |
Incidents on record
-
1978 Investigation
A 1978 Child Protective Services report found director Joseph Weitensteiner admitted striking a boy in the face and pulling out a clump of hair; the ranch changed its discipline policy and later banned corporal punishment, and he was not disciplined.source
-
1978 Sexual abuse
Public records show reports of molestation and rape at Morning Star Boys Ranch beginning in 1978.source
-
January 25, 1978 Death
On January 25, 1978 a roughly 15-year-old former resident who had run away from the ranch after being beaten and allegedly sexually abused by a priest shot himself when police came to return him.source
-
2005 Lawsuit
In 2005 two former residents sued Morning Star Boys Ranch alleging sexual abuse by counselors, including forced posing for photographs that were circulated among staff and residents.source
-
2006 Incident
Rev. Joseph Weitensteiner was removed from the ministry in 2006 amid abuse reports and reinstated in 2015 after the last four sexual abuse claims were rejected by retired federal judge Michael Hogan.source
-
2007 Lawsuit
By 2007 thirteen former residents had sued Morning Star Boys Ranch for physical and sexual abuse; lawsuits began in 2005.source
-
June 2007 Lawsuit
In June 2007 four more men sued Morning Star Boys Ranch, bringing the total to 13 plaintiffs in three cases; two alleged abuse by Rev. Joseph Weitensteiner and two by counselor James Clarke.source
-
2008 Lawsuit
In fall 2008 Morning Star paid an undisclosed settlement to a former resident who alleged a counselor repeatedly sexually assaulted him.source
-
2008 Sexual abuse
HEAL reported that longtime director Rev. Joseph Weitensteiner was the subject of allegations of physical and sexual abuse and announced his retirement.source
-
Sexual abuse
State DSHS records obtained by The Spokesman-Review showed multiple sexual abuse allegations at Morning Star Boys' Ranch stretching back more than 25 years, including five in the past decade.source
-
Sexual abuse
State records showed multiple allegations of sexual abuse over more than 25 years at the Morning Star Boys' Ranch, a Washington state home for troubled boys, including five in the past decade.source
-
2009 Investigation
In 2009 the Spokane County Sheriff's Office opened a criminal investigation into a former counselor accused of molesting a boy at the ranch in 1993-1994.source
-
February 12, 2010 Lawsuit
The first of 19 sex abuse lawsuits against the ranch went to trial in early 2010; on February 12 a jury ruled for Morning Star.source
-
Sexual abuse
Priest Patrick O'Donnell, who was involved with the ranch in the 1970s, has admitted to molesting over a dozen boys and is a convicted sex offender.source
Videos
Staff
Administration
-
John Hindman
Executive Director (2011, r/troubledteens wiki)source
-
Brian Barbour
Vice President-Programssource
-
Colene Warrick-Rubertt
Vice President-Developmentsource
-
Jenn Kantz
Vice President-Communicationssource
-
Joe Pickert
CEOsource
-
Thornton Murphy
Foundersource
Notable staff
-
Tim Horlacher
Presidentsource
-
Scott Cramer
Vice Presidentsource
-
Linda Devlin
Secretary on the Boardsource
-
Audrea Marhsall
Executive Directorsource
-
Micaela Cathey
COOsource
-
Kate McCloskey
Equine Program Directorsource
-
Rev. Joseph Weitensteiner
Former Directorsource
-
Dale A. Stearns
Counselor (1990, r/troubledteens wiki)source
-
Dan Kuhlmann
Assistant Director (1978, r/troubledteens wiki)source
-
James Clarke
Counselor (2007, r/troubledteens wiki)source
-
Patrick O'Donnell
Catholic priest overseeing boyssource
-
Ron Mulvey
Staff (1978, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Documents
From the Unsilenced archive
1 document about Morning Star Boys Ranch that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: Morning Star Boys Ranch.
Wiki entries
We have questions about Morning Star Boys Ranch
If you were there, worked there or sent your child there, you can help fill in what our records are missing. Each question takes a moment; skip anything you do not know.
Materials and links
External links
A program's own website is linked as an archived snapshot, so the page reads as it did when it was captured.
Survivor posts and discussion
Reference and research
1 of these from SCIAD NET.
Other links
- MINEHART II v. MORNING STAR BOYS RANCH INC (archived copy)
- Boys Ranch Sued over Abuse (archived copy)
- The Spokesman-Review (archived copy)
- Collection of Articles about MSBR by*The Spokesman-Review* (archived copy)
- “Parishes giving $1.5 million toward settling sex cases” & “Morning Star Boys’ Ranch” (archived copy)