BENSON, Minn. - Lack of proper communication by a staff member at a Benson residential facility that provides therapeutic programs for girls - including those who have been sexually exploited - may have contributed to the criminal sexual assault of a 15-year-old program participant who ran away and was found in Iowa three days later.
In an amended investigation memorandum issued last week, the Department of Human Services said an unidentified staff member at Heartland Girls Ranch was responsible for "serious" maltreatment of the victim.
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As a result of the investigation, the staff member was disqualified from providing direct contact services and Heartland implemented changes to increase communication with staff members.
The incident happened in September when a girl at the residential program - which uses horses as part of the therapy for girls ages 12-21 - left for several short "home visits" with family members.
The girl has a history of "running from home and meeting with random" individuals met through social media and had been a previous victim of sexual exploitation, physical and sexual abuse and had a high risk of suicide and impulsive behavior, according to the Department of Human Services report.
As a result, her access to cell phones had been restricted while at Heartland.
Heartland apparently had conflicting information in their files about who had legal guardianship for the girl, who moved to the Heartland Ranch in July.
According to the Department of Human Services report, the Heartland supervisor believed two family members were the current sole guardians of the victim, when in fact the court had ordered that Wright County Health and Human Services have interim legal custody.
Wright County case workers were supposed to have been notified about the child's actions, and the family members said they assumed Heartland was communicating with the county.
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In September, the Heartland staff member approved a home visit with the girl and her family.
But on Sept. 4, the girl used a family member's cell phone and communicated with an older individual.
The family member quickly ended the visit, returned the child to Heartland and told the staff member what had happened.
Because of that cell phone use, the staff member extended the child's stay at Heartland and gave her an essay assignment but did not set additional home visit restrictions.
The report indicates there's confusion about whether or not Wright County case workers were notified about the cell phone incident.
Given the girl's risk history, Wright County case workers said if they had been informed about the cell phone contact, they would not have approved a second home visit.
The Heartland staff member, however, allowed the girl to go on another home visit a few days later, and on Sept. 10, she took a family member's cell phone and ran away.
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The family called 911, Heartland and Wright County.
On Sept. 13, law enforcement found the girl in Iowa with an older individual whose vehicle had run out of gas.
The girl had been sexually assaulted and had bruising on her neck, indicating she may have been choked, according to the Department of Human Services report.
The report said because of the girl's vulnerabilities with "sexual abuse and sex trafficking," there was a failure by the Heartland staff member to protect the girl from harm.
It was determined that the staff member was responsible for substantial neglect and serious maltreatment and her conduct resulted in criminal sexual conduct against the victim.
The staff member can appeal the outcome of the report.
Because Heartland is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, that agency was given a copy of the report for review of possible licensing violations.
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The police investigation into the case was still ongoing when the report was completed, according to the memorandum.
