Police Investigated Threats to Castlewood Personnel

Law enforcement records responsive to Castlewood Treatment Center reveal the St. Louis County Police Department investigated threats of violence directed at staff members of the turmoil-prone facility in 2019. The threats were publicly posted in a Facebook group designated as an online support resource for victims accusing the center of malpractice and a variety of unethical actions. Police documented that administrators of the Facebook victim advocacy group, Castlewood Victims Unite, repeatedly addressed the threats and emphasized the group did not condone violence in any form. The threats were periodically posted for about a year, according to police.

Castlewood Treatment Center, rebranded Alsana in recent years and permanently closed in 2024

The ill-fated Missouri clinic, one in a national chain of residential treatment facilities supposed to assist patients with recovery from eating disorders and other addictions, drew widespread attention in 2011 when news began to surface of allegations made by Lisa Nasseff. She stated Mark Schwartz administered psychotropic drugs and regressive hypnosis, inducing false, supposedly repressed memories of rape and abuse sustained from a satanic cult, while ostensibly treating her eating disorder. Nasseff reported this took place over a 15-month period while she stayed at Castlewood Treatment Center.

Schwartz and his wife, Lori Galperin, who was also a staff member, were accused of cultivating stories of satanic ritual abuse and lengthening the stays of patients whose health insurance would provide coverage for extended periods. At least three more reported victims came forward, resulting in several lawsuits that were settled in 2013. Schwartz and Galperin resigned but Castlewood problems continued.

The Justice Department announced that it reached a settlement in 2013 with the company about HIV discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The clinic denied eating disorder treatment and space at the facility to an individual with HIV, even against the recommendations of its own medical staff who advised that the facility was equipped to safely and effectively handle the situation. Under the settlement, Castlewood paid some $115,000 in compensation to the person who was perpetually led to believe they were on a waiting list as their disorder worsened. Castlewood was also ordered to pay an additional $25,000 in civil penalties.

The chain of clinics, which included locations in Missouri, Alabama and California, was sold in 2017. Within about a year Castlewood was rebranded as Alsana, but by 2024 the operation was permanently closed. The closure was celebrated by Castlewood Victims Unite.

St. Louis County Police Department records obtained by Expanding Frontiers Research indicate officers responded to a request for increased patrol the evening of Aug. 22, 2019. Further investigation revealed employees at Alsana, formerly Castlewood, had become aware through a company-wide email of threats of violence repeatedly posted as comments on the Castlewood Victims Unite Facebook page. Personnel at the clinic informed police of the history of the facility and provided responding officers a printout of the company-wide email, which was taken into evidence.

One of the approximately 100 staff members told police that although threats were being leveled and the clinic was subject to handling medical emergencies, including patients who might commit self-harm, that during eight hours of a twelve-hour shift, there was no phone, internet, and an almost non-existent cell phone signal. Police documented the person indicated they were "not aware of any other mental health facility where suicidal and homicidal ideation, and intent, are a common place with no basic security features (i.e; no lock down drills, no gate, and no cameras)."

The circumstances surrounding threats to staff as documented by St. Louis Police Department in 2019:

Documentation of Castlewood Victims Unite Facebook administrators denouncing violence in response to the threatening comments:

Records responsive to Castlewood were initially obtained from the FBI through the Freedom of Information Act. The material was heavily redacted and several questions arose about the circumstances. The FBI file did, however, contain a brief reference to the FBI-St. Louis Joint Terrorism Task Force receiving a notification from “St. Louis County PD Intelligence.”

A records request was then submitted to St. Louis County PD under the Missouri Sunshine Law. The subsequent release from St. Louis County clarified the nature of the information withheld in the FBI material. A folder containing FBI and St. Louis County responses may be viewed. Minor redactions were voluntarily added by EFR to protect select personal identifiable information that is not exempt from disclosure under Missouri law enforcement records legislation.

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