Katie Horn woke to a hushed voice with a thick Eastern European accent the night she was kidnapped.
“Katherine … Katherine,” the woman said. “It’s time for your discharge.”
The girl in the desert
How far will parents go to save depressed kids? This N.J. teen was kidnapped and sent to wilderness therapy.
Katie Horn spent much of her childhood alone on a yellow swing in her Holland Township backyard, waiting for her parents' screaming to end. “She saw a lot of discontent,” said her mother Jenn. “And it was ugly.”
Editor's Note
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can be reduced. If you are in crisis, call the National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 9-8-8 or visiting 988lifeline.org.
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About the Authors
About the Reporting
Portraits of a Crisis is an occasional series shining light on the experiences of teens during an alarming mental health epidemic. To share your story, contact Adam Clark at aclark@njadvancemedia.com.
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