An investigation into human trafficking has seen almost 90 children removed from an Iowa Bible study camp, as sheriffs probe child abuse claims.
Shekinah Glory camp in Columbus Junction, Louisa County, was raided on Thursday and Friday (June 12 and 13) after a 15-year-old Texan boy reportedly called authorities saying he did not want to attend.
Following this, the 88 children that were present at the camp were taken to child protection workers at Wapello Methodist Church, which is located around 15 minutes east of the camp, in Wapello - a small town close to the Illinois border.
The kids were later placed in protective custody.
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Louisa County Sheriff Brandon Marquardt said on Tuesday (June 17) that no arrests had been made, and added that police couldn't reveal details of the ongoing investigation.
The group is operated by the Kingdom Ministry of Rehabilitation and Recreation, a religious charity which lists David Cung Nuam, Sui Hlawn Sang, James Hei as ministers on its website.
Its mission statement reads: "Assisting individuals in breaking free from addiction through God's Word, offering food and shelter to those in need, and supporting individuals during fasting and prayer."
Victor Bawi, son of one of the camp's ministers, has since spoken out claiming that nothing happened to the teen, while insisting parents of the children who were taken away from them wish to send their kids back.
"We never harmed that child. We loved him. We bought him like $400 shoes, clothing, everything," he told KWQC.
"Of course I'm upset. The children are pretty upset too, the ones that are with us - well, there's no children with us - but the ones that were with us, and then hopefully this can be resolved soon.
"If they want to investigate, they can investigate. We're innocent. They're not going to find anything. We never abused anyone."
He continued: "You can ask the children as well, they were having fun. During the scene where they took away the children, they were crying. One of my sisters, they had to give her oxygen. She wasn't breathing. She was sad.
"We hope that the children are well and they can come back. We talked to the children and their parents. They want to come back. They want to send their children back."
The pastor of the methodist church where the children were taken to explained that most did not stay the night and by Monday there were no children at the church, while noting that between 80 and 88 children arrived at the property.
Explaining what takes place at the Christian camp, Bawi told WQAD8: "What we try to do is, we take care of adults and children who are under the influence of drugs, alcohol, nicotine.
"The adults and children, we take care of them, we provide food for them. The children we separate from the adults. We separate the boys and girls. We care for them, we provide for them. This summer camp."
UNILAD has contacted both the Kingdom Ministry of Rehabilitation and Recreation, and Louisa County Sheriff's Office for comment.
Joe Yates