Episode Details

*Content warning: institutional child abuse, childhood abuse, death of a child, suicide, psychological, physical and sexual violence, abduction, kidnapping, disordered eating, stressful themes, disability abuse, ableism, PTSD, medical abuse and neglect. 

*Meg Appelgate’s Work:

Meg Appelgate’s website here: https://megappelgate.com/my-story/ 

Meg Appelgate’s nonprofit, Unsilenced here: https://www.unsilenced.org/ 

Meg Appelgate’s memoir, Becoming UNSILENCED: Surviving and Fighting the Troubled Teen Industry: https://megappelgate.com/book/ 

*Free + Confidential Resources + Safety Tips: 
somethingwaswrong.com/resources   

Please note: Kenny Pannell and Mary Alexine have never publicly responded to allegations against them. They appear to be no longer involved with Chrysalis in Eureka, Montana since its sale to Embark Behavioral Health. Chrysalis opened in 1998; however, the exact year when Kenny and Mary left is not readily available information.

*Correction: In a previous draft of this episode, we incorrectly reported that, "Intermountain Hospital in Boise, Idaho, which is still in operation and under the ownership of Intermountain Health." which is incorrect. Intermountain Health has no affiliation with Intermountain Hospital. We apologize for the error and appreciate it being brought to our attention. Thank you! 

*Sources 
Adverse events in children: predictors of adult physical and mental conditions, Pub Med
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25225793/ 

Breaking Code Silence
https://www.breakingcodesilence.org/ 

Chrysalis, InnerChange
https://innerchange.com/programs/chrysalis/ 

Chrysalis School, Unsilenced
https://archive.unsilenced.org/program-archive/us-programs/montana/chrysalis-school/ 

Consonance Capital Partners Acquires Majority Stake in Youth-Focused Embark Behavioral Health, Behavioral Health Business 
https://bhbusiness.com/2023/02/09/consonance-capital-partners-acquires 

Highland Park teen's death leads parents to call for change in troubled teen industry, NBC 5 Chicago
https://www.nbcchicago.com/investigations/highland-park-teen 

The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Health and Development in Young Children. 
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8882933

Intermountain Hospital, Unsilenced
https://archive.unsilenced.org/program-archive/us-programs/idaho/intermountain-hospital/ 

Meg’s Testimony – Chrysalis School and Intermountain Hospital, Unsilenced
https://archive.unsilenced.org/megs-story/ 

Parents say Discovery Ranch Academy’s negligence led to their son’s death in new lawsuit, The Salt Lake Tribune
https://www.sltrib.com/news/health/2025/05/17/parents-sue-utahs-discovery-ranch/