Teen Colony In The Woods’ Is Just A Rumor

March 22, 2018

Crestview, FL — It may sound like a story from a supermarket tabloid or maybe a sequel to “Lord of the Flies,” but investigators from the Crestview Police Department assure residents there is no feral colony of five dozen homeless teens living in the woods somewhere in the city.

“We’re not sure how the rumor started, but we can tell you it is not based on fact,” Investigator Ralph Garrett said.

Inv. Garrett said various incarnations of the rumor have surfaced in recent weeks, and have taken on such a life of their own that a local pastor has even made it his church’s mission to help the non-existent group of supposedly homeless teens.

“When you find out that there are over 60 homeless teens living in the woods in Crestview, what will your response be?” asked one of the congregants of Pastor Justin Theowl Hunter’s Summit Church in a February Facebook post. “What if that was your teen or your niece or nephew?”

While Crestview Police earlier this year located three homeless youths — the kids were placed in the care of the Department of Children and Families and now are back home, Inv. Garrett said — searches of the area in which the rumored teen colony was supposed to be yielded no result.

“There isn’t even enough room in those woods for 60 kids,” Inv. Garrett said.

Though the rumor has been debunked, Inv. Garrett said the tall tale has had one positive outcome.

“It shows once again that many people in Crestview have big, Godly hearts and were immediately inspired to want to help the kids they heard about,” Inv. Garrett said.

by Brian Hughes
Public Information Officer | Crestview Police Department