A Chicago Counselor's Dark Legacy: Trust Betrayed
Edmund Rivers Accused of Assaulting Five Young Boys
A former mental health counselor at a Chicago hospital is now facing serious charges. Edmund Rivers, 68, is accused of sexually assaulting five young boys between 1996 and 2004 at Hartgrove Behavioral Health Hospital (now known as Hartgrove Behavioral Health System) in the city's Austin neighborhood.
Charges and Allegations
Rivers is charged with:
- Three counts of criminal sexual assault
- Two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault
Prosecutors allege that Rivers assaulted the boys in various locations within the hospital, including:
- Patient rooms
- A seclusion room
- A cafeteria bathroom
- A gym equipment room
The victims reported that Rivers threatened to sedate them if they did not comply with his advances.
Civil Lawsuit and Additional Allegations
Several victims came forward after hearing about a civil lawsuit filed last year against Hartgrove and its parent company, Universal Health Services. The lawsuit, filed by an Illinois man (anonymously named as John Doe 1), alleged that multiple staff members sexually abused him as a child. The lawsuit also claimed that Hartgrove and Universal Health Services were negligent in their duties.
The case has since been consolidated with other civil lawsuits against the hospital and Universal Health Services, all alleging sexual abuse of patients at the facility. In a court document filed earlier this year, the plaintiff's attorneys stated that they represent more than 150 people alleging abuse at the Chicago Hartgrove facility.
Response from Hartgrove and Universal Health Services
Neither Hartgrove nor Universal Health Services has responded to requests for comment.
Broader Implications
This case raises serious questions about the safety and well-being of patients in behavioral health facilities. It also highlights the importance of accountability and transparency in these institutions.
U.S. Senate Report on Abuse in Residential Treatment Facilities
Last year, a U.S. Senate committee published a report titled "Warehouses of Neglect" following an investigation of allegations of abuse and neglect at residential treatment facilities operated by companies including Universal Health Services. The report found that these companies aim to maximize profit by filling their facilities while reducing the number and quality of employees. Children at these facilities suffer from:
- Sexual, physical, and emotional abuse
- Unsafe and unsanitary conditions
- Inadequate provision of behavioral health treatment
