Few details emerge 10 days after Louisa County camp searched

WASHINGTON — After state and local officials brought 88 kids into protective custody from a Christian rehab-focused camp in Louisa County June 12 and 13, rumors ran rampant.

Some locals on social media claimed the camp in question — known as Shekinah Glory Camp or Victoria Camp Ministry USA — was a cult, while others alleged that its properties were involved in human trafficking, or guilty of neglect. Others have fought back in Facebook comment sections, claiming the camp had personally helped them or their loved ones overcome addictions and arguing the recent search stemmed from a lone disgruntled camp-goer.

A handful of state and regional news outlets have found a variety of explanations in the days since. The Des Moines Register quoted a representative from the Iowa Chin Community, who said the camp was largely sought out by refugees from Myanmar’s Chin State and claimed the raid was prompted by a call from a 15-year-old boy from Texas, who “just wanted to leave.”

Another camp volunteer repeated the same claims to WQAD last week, while the Quad City Times found city officials in Fredonia had long debated concerns the camp’s grounds lacked sufficient staff or space. Fredonia Mayor R. Samuel Braden told the publication that racism against Burmese people had “clouded a lot of discussion” on the matter in the small town neighboring Columbus Junction. A family member of the property’s owners told KCRG-TV9 June 17 that police were investigating human trafficking there, but also denied any wrongdoing.

Officially, few details have been confirmed since the incident, and authorities declined to comment on what specific abuse or danger they believed children at the religious camp faced to warrant the placement of 88 kids in protective custody. No arrest has yet been announced as of Monday morning, 10 days after the fact, and The Union remains unable to find any court records related to the incident.

The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release June 16 that the operation was “based upon information and reports regarding child abuse and endangerment.”

State law offers about nine distinct offenses under its definition of “child endangerment,” including any action where an adult knowingly “creates a substantial risk to a … minor’s physical, mental or emotional health or safety.” Iowa Code’s definition of “child abuse” is similarly broad, encompassing most intentional harm done to children, as well as almost any failure by a caregiver to provide things “necessary for (a) child’s health and welfare” like food, shelter, water and medical treatment.

Sheriff Brandon Marquardt replied to a public records request from The Union June 17, saying the local department had complied with state transparency laws despite lingering questions about the operation. He added that an investigation would continue “as fast as possible,” and clarified that no federal agencies were involved in the June 12-13 raid, which was coordinated with his agency as well as the Iowa Department of Health Human Services, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and Columbus Junction Police Department.

Iowa Health and Human Services Director of Communications Alex Murphy said in a June 18 email that the state was “prohibited from commenting further” on the incident, citing Iowa Code Section 235A.15, a section of state law protecting child abuse-related information from public disclosure.

Victoria Camp Ministry USA resumed posting on Facebook over the weekend, though it didn’t issue any formal statement about the controversy. One post Sunday evening appeared to show videos of two campers answering a question about what they enjoyed during their experience there, captioned with the words, “we miss you.”

A representative from the camp’s social media page replied to a request for an interview last week, but not to The Union’s follow-up questions to arrange said interview.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com