# Columbus Junction, Iowa: 88 children taken from "church camp" (reported 6/16/2025) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 16, 2025, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730 "2025-06-16T23:19:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/41 "2025-06-18T18:57:42Z")
And another article: > **[Removal of 88 children from Iowa Bible camp highlights struggles in refugee...](https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2025/06/18/shekinah-glory-camp-iowa-where-88-kids-removed-had-good-intention-columbus-junction/84242458007/)** > > A child welfare raid that removed 88 minors from Shekinah Glory Camp sheds light on deep service gaps in the Chin community, an Iowa researcher says. But again, neither this one nor the one Czarcasm mentions discuss what type of abuse occurred. If anyone is interested in the Chin people in the Columbus Junction area, part of this PhD dissertation discusses them: Cristina Ortiz. Making Meatville: Belonging and Migration in a Midwest Meatpacking Town [where Meatville refers to Columbus Junction which has a major meat-packing plant] Online at: > **[Making%20Meatville%3A%20belonging%20and%20migration%20in%20a%20Midwest%20meatpackin.pdf](https://s3.amazonaws.com/na-st01.ext.exlibrisgroup.com/01IOWA_INST/upload/1750272997849/Making%20Meatville%3A%20belonging%20and%20migration%20in%20a%20Midwest%20meatpackin.pdf?response-content-disposition=attachment%3B%20filename%3D%22Making%2520Meatville%253A%2520belonging%2520and%2520migration%2520in%2520a%2520Midwest%2520meatpackin.pdf%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Making%2520Meatville%253A%2520belonging%2520and%2520migration%2520in%2520a%2520Midwest%2520meatpackin.pdf&response-content-type=application%2Fpdf&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Date=20250618T185638Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=119&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAJN6NPMNGJALPPWAQ%2F20250618%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Signature=50d696d707718809aaaea9648973c32836a6de55cf6d08f4682e1eab390ea62c)** ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/42 "2025-06-29T01:23:15Z")
I can’t find a link, but when I do, I will post it. My local newspaper gave an update, which basically said, simply, “No arrests have been made, yet.” ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/43 "2025-06-29T15:03:20Z")
There is one article at: > **[No charges, but investigation still ongoing at Louisa County religious camp](https://qctimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_282d9871-9efd-4240-952e-3ab10fcf0d03.html)** > > No individuals have yet been charged in connection with Shekinah Glory Camp, where 88 children were taken in protective custody two weeks ago. The investigation remains ongoing. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/44 "2025-06-29T21:37:25Z")
That’s the link I was going to use, but it wasn’t online yet (that I could find) when I last posted. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/45 "2025-06-30T02:45:30Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > My Daddy sent me to a camp for diabetic tweens. > I was there exactly 11 hours. I called his office and told them to tell him I was catching the first ride outta there if he didn’t come to get me. > > Man oh man, I had the horror stories. I regaled my siblings with them for months. It sure was a busy 11 hours… > > They did nothing terrible to me. I just didn’t wanna be there. (I now donate to them every year) > > So…grain of salt folks. Don’t suppose it was [Camp Joslin](https://www.bartoncenter.org/), was it? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/46 "2025-07-05T15:33:05Z")
Can’t seem to find any update on the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/47 "2025-07-05T15:50:08Z")
Since minors are involved, there are probably some pretty strict limits on what the authorities are allowed to make public. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/48 "2025-07-05T19:42:45Z")
We all agree on this. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/49 "2025-07-18T22:21:44Z")
Here’s a quasi-update. TL : DR - another story took precedence for this rural police department, and no arrests have been made in this case so far. > **[Church camp, dragged body investigations ongoing, Louisa County sheriff says](https://www.kwqc.com/2025/07/18/church-camp-dragged-body-investigations-ongoing-louisa-county-sheriff-says/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLnpuFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEyM1JQTFVHQ01OTks0dU5xAR5kH2EybwoTFYg1wAwOQuMtLl57n1CAFapX0s7suW35EGkybGJfy4AULQeBjQ_aem_XFwWm1KDPwZi_xVXP6lAag)** > > An investigation into possible abuse at church camp is ongoing with no arrests made. State investigators helping with that case then had to pivot after reports of a van dragging a body down a gravel road. A man has been charged with abuse of a... As for the breaking news, this is a not-uncommon thing, and even has its own Facebook page. I have a friend who buys their annual calendar. The most infamous incident was in the spring of 2020, when it claimed a truck that was hauling toilet paper, and during a rainstorm, no less. > **[Davenport's Truck-Eating Bridge](https://www.facebook.com/people/Davenports-Truck-Eating-Bridge/100064791365961/)** > > Davenport's Truck-Eating Bridge. 1,600 likes · 2 talking about this. Davenport's Truck Eating Bridge ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/50 "2025-07-18T23:32:52Z")
Oh ho! so they’ve got their own [Storrowing](https://www.nbcboston.com/investigations/storrowed-truck-photos-names/3472819/) bridge! ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/51 "2025-07-19T14:52:13Z")
> Sgt. Kary Conger of the Louisa County Sheriff’s Department is part of the investigation, **which she said includes Iowa’s Department of Criminal Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation**. Conger confirmed that no arrests have been made and she " … can’t say yes or no" on if arrests are imminent because the investigation “is still going on.” > > Louisa County Attorney Adam Parsons confirmed no charges have been filed. “It’s premature of me to say anything without the investigation being complete,” Parson said when asked if he expected charges would be filed. > **[No arrests, no charges five weeks after removal of children from Columbus...](https://qctimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_5afbbaec-4b48-4d29-9eda-80befa4ff1d4.html)** > > It's been five weeks since 88 children were removed from a camp near Columbus Junction. No one has been charged with a crime. Has it been mentioned here that the FBI is involved in the investigation? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2025, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/52 "2025-07-19T22:58:07Z")
That’s understandable, because of the possibility of kidnapping having happened somewhere along the way. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/53 "2025-07-21T13:47:42Z")
The FBI only has jurisdiction in a limited number of cases, but they often assist local police departments. The lack of arrests and charges, five weeks later, looks to me like the original raid was bigotry-motivated overreach and they’re now flailing to find something, anything, they can charge someone with, to cover themselves. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730/54 "2025-07-21T18:05:44Z")
There are a huge number of facilities for “troubled teens” and there are problems with many of them: > **[The Shadow Penal System for Struggling Kids](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/10/18/the-shadow-penal-system-for-struggling-kids)** > > The Christian organization Teen Challenge, made up of more than a thousand centers, claims to reform troubled teens. But is its discipline more like abuse? **As ‘troubled teen’ industry scrutiny builds, litigation follows** [https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/column-troubled-teen-industry-scrutiny-builds-litigation-follows-2024-07-12/](https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/column-troubled-teen-industry-scrutiny-builds-litigation-follows-2024-07-12/) > **[Missouri boarding school closes as state agency examines how it responded to...](https://apnews.com/article/missouri-boarding-school-abuse-closure-abm-ministries-2f57812c370e767fcebbef25eb290455)** > > A rural Missouri boarding school at the center of abuse allegations has closed its doors. Meanwhile, a state agency is looking at itself to determine if it failed to adequately address past concerns about the school in calls to an abuse hotline. It’s possible the Columbus Junction facility has some of these problems. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-junction-iowa-88-children-taken-from-church-camp-reported-6-16-2025/1019730.md?page=2)