Nine women who say they were placed in a Lebanon faith-based residential program as minors have filed a federal lawsuit accusing staff of years of abuse, forced labor and trafficking. The complaint, filed Wednesday, names Central Indiana Teen Challenge, now operating as The Refuge Girls Academy, along with two program leaders. The plaintiffs allege that while they lived at the facility between 2013 and 2019, they endured extended isolation, harsh punishments and unpaid work in dangerous conditions. Their attorneys say they are seeking both money damages and systemic changes to keep other teens from facing similar treatment.
What The Lawsuit Alleges
The complaint paints a picture of tightly controlled lives and repeated coercion. According to CohenMalad, LLP, the filing says girls were locked in a so-called "safe room" for long stretches, sometimes for weeks at a time, and forced to keep eating even while vomiting. Food was allegedly "moldy, stale, [and] outdated." The suit also describes invasive searches, round-the-clock surveillance and extensive unpaid labor, including landscaping, kitchen cleaning and a claim that girls were told to cut grass on their hands and knees with child‑safety scissors for hours.
The Case And Who's Suing
The lawsuit is captioned Dupuis et al. v. Indiana Teen Challenge, Inc., d/b/a Central Indiana Teen Challenge n/k/a The Refuge Girls Academy and was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana as Case No. 1:2026cv00700. The public docket, as reflected on Justia Dockets, lists nine plaintiffs, including Emily DuPuis and Eliana Greenfield, and names Indiana Teen Challenge and two individuals, Dave Rose and Dawn Rose, as defendants.
Federal Trafficking And Labor Claims
The women bring multiple federal claims, saying the program’s practices violated the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and related forced-labor laws. The complaint asserts causes of action under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1584, 1589, 1590 and 1595, among other provisions, according to CohenMalad, LLP. Those statutes sit alongside a broader body of law interpreting the Thirteenth Amendment’s ban on slavery and involuntary servitude, outlined by the LII.
Program's Public Face
Publicly, the organization presents a very different image. The Refuge Girls Academy website bills the facility as a faith-based residential program in Lebanon for girls ages 13 to 17, offering academics, therapy and vocational opportunities on its campus. It lists contact information and a Lebanon, IN, P.O. Box for inquiries, according to The Refuge Girls Academy.
What's Next
Attorneys for the plaintiffs say their investigation is ongoing and that they are inviting other former residents to reach out for confidential consultations. Any answers, motions or other responses from the defendants will appear in the federal docket as the case progresses, with filings available through the public record on Justia Dockets.
