New Hampshire settles youth center abuse case for $10 million - The Daily Reporter - Greenfield Indiana

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- The New Hampshire attorney general's office has reached a $10 million settlement with Michael Gilpatrick, who alleged he was gang-raped in a stairwell at the Youth Development Center in the 1990s. His lawsuit was poised to be the second of over 1,300 cases to go to trial, but both parties chose to settle out of court. This settlement is notably four times the maximum available to individuals submitting claims through the state's abuse victims' fund.

Gilpatrick, now 41, was sent to the youth facility at age 14 and claimed he suffered severe sexual and physical abuse at the hands of staff members. His allegations included repeated rapes and violent assaults, leading him to describe the mental torment he endured during his time in the facility. In a prior interview, he expressed the profound impact this abuse had on his life, noting that it transformed him into a "monster" before he ultimately worked towards healing.

In the legal proceedings, Gilpatrick detailed one horrifying incident in which he was physically restrained by staff members while another perpetrated a sexual assault. This prompted criminal charges against several former staff, including Brad Asbury, who was sentenced to up to 40 years in prison for his involvement, while Stephen Murphy's trial ended in a mistrial. The alleged abuse has been characterized by Gilpatrick as a coordinated effort by a group of staff he termed a "hit squad."

The settlement spares Gilpatrick from enduring what would likely have been another emotionally taxing court trial, as he has already faced intense scrutiny in criminal cases related to his abuse. He had kept silent about his experiences for years due to the involvement of authority figures in his trauma, but eventually found the strength to speak out, realizing he was not to blame for the abuse he suffered.

The youth center, named after former Governor John H. Sununu, has faced increasing scrutiny since investigations began in 2019, resulting in numerous arrests of former counselors. With the facility's capacity dramatically reduced, lawmakers have approved its closure in favor of a smaller institution to better serve children accused of serious crimes.