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Residents allege abuse, medical neglect and deaths at local discipleship homes during council public comment
Summary
Multiple speakers used the public‑comment period to describe alleged abuse, medical neglect and a 2021 fatal stabbing connected to local discipleship homes (identified by speakers as RISE/Bridal Discipleship). They urged city action to investigate or close the homes; the council did not take action during the meeting.
During the public‑comment period at the Sept. 25 Abilene City Council meeting, several speakers described alleged patterns of abuse, medical neglect and criminal incidents tied to local discipleship homes they identified as “RISE” or “Bridal Discipleship.” Speakers urged the council and city officials to investigate and to pursue enforcement or closure of facilities they said operate with unsafe conditions.
Eddie Pugh described the Nov. 24, 2021, fatal stabbing of a resident he identified as Matthew Fouse at a men’s discipleship home and said the home’s intake and oversight practices left residents at risk. Pugh told the council he…
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