Dark Downeast

The Dark History and Demise of Élan School (Maine)

Élan School was founded as a drug treatment program in 1970, pairing controversial confrontational attack therapies with education, all in the wooded setting of Poland, Maine. It's founders, Joe Ricci and Dr. Gerald Davidson, promised rehabilitation, reform, and a future for many children of wealthy and well-known parents.When outside state officials took a closer look at what really went on behind closed doors, it was just the beginning of unending allegations and controversy.For more information and resources on the Troubled Teen Industry, visit <a href="breakingcodesilence.net" target="_blank">breakingcodesilence.net</a>. View source material and photos for this episode at <a href="https://darkdowneast.com/elanschool/">darkdowneast.com/elanschool</a>Follow @darkdowneast on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/darkdowneast/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/darkdowneast">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@darkdowneast">TikTok</a>To suggest a case visit <a href="http://darkdowneast.com/submit-case">darkdowneast.com/submit-case</a>Dark Downeast is an audiochuck and Kylie Media production hosted by Kylie Low.

Dark Downeast: Maine and New England's True Crime Podcast digs into the decades-old and modern day cases that prickle the history of Vacationland and beyond – the unsolved homicides, undetermined deaths, unexplained disappearances and other dark stories of New England.

Investigative journalist and storyteller Kylie Low gets straight to the story with a mix of narrated episodes and documentary style production featuring interviews with surviving family and friends and insight on the investigations from detectives and sources who know these cases best.

This is heart-centered, ethical true crime, bringing light to stories you’re not hearing on other podcasts. It is Dark Downeast's mission to honor the legacy of the humans at the heart of each story and bring new attention to the cases still awaiting justice.