Two girls fell in love at a camp for ‘troubled teens’ and made an audacious escape. Their captors weren’t far behind

Author: Arielle Domb

Summary:
Re-Creation Retreat (RCR), a residential program for teen girls in Arizona, is facing renewed scrutiny as survivors speak out about systemic abuse and coercive practices. Former residents, including Cassia Cilento and Ashley Ciciliano, described a highly controlled environment where girls were stripped of autonomy and punished for expressing emotion, speaking without permission, or reporting mistreatment. Survivors reported being subjected to physical restraints for minor infractions, denied basic hygiene and medical care, and forced into degrading therapy exercises. LGBTQ+ youth were especially targeted: punished for same-gender affection and pressured to reject their identities.

Cassia and Ashley met while confined at RCR and eventually fell in love. After being forcibly separated, Ashley helped Cassia escape during a swim meet in 2012, sparking a cross-state effort to stay hidden while living on the road. Cassia was eventually recaptured and returned to RCR, where she was punished with extended silence, surveillance, and emotional manipulation. Despite marketing itself as a therapeutic program, survivors describe RCR as isolating, punitive, and traumatizing.

The facility is owned by Randy and Toni Soderquist, whose children also worked at RCR, sometimes with authority over residents. Multiple survivors reported sexually inappropriate behavior by staff and alleged exploitative labor, such as unpaid work in high heat and at a neighboring restaurant. Although RCR remains licensed and accredited, a growing number of former residents are demanding accountability. Survivors returned in November 2024 to protest outside the facility, calling for justice, reform, and an end to the troubled teen industry’s unchecked power.

Survivors or clients named or quoted:

• Cassia Cilento (pseudonym used in article, publicly identified)
• Ashley Ciciliano
• Carissa Reyes
• Delaney Migues
• Sophie Olsen
• Siobhan Kelly Fogarty
• Ariana Morales (quoted at protest)