Kriti Mehrotra
If there’s one thing HBO Max’s ‘Teen Torture, Inc.’ makes evident, it’s that most of the harrowing experiences Allen Knoll endured as a youngster were not isolated in any way, shape, or form. That’s why he took all his grief, pain, as well as trauma related to the troubled teen industry and transformed it into a drive to help those who can not or have not been able to help themselves. After all, he knows his alma mater, Bethel Boys Academy and Agape Boarding School, were not the only youth treatment establishments to have faced severe allegations of abuse over the years.
Allen Knoll Still Struggles With His Past
Although born and raised in an admittedly broken home in the Seattle Metropolitan Area of Western Washington, it wasn’t until Allen was nine that his world truly shattered apart for the worst. That’s when a family friend whom he believed to be an uncle molested him, driving him to begin acting out — per his account, he did so because he simply didn’t know how to voice his feelings. The truth is his mother was already taking him to family counseling owing to their household situation, but he vehemently maintains, “I don’t care what anybody says, I was a good kid.”
Allen concedes he was always rather hyperactive, yet it wasn’t until after the incident that he became intense and went as far as to threaten to burn himself with a clothing iron one day. His mother and second stepfather had to hold him down until an ambulance arrived, following which a counselor suggested he be sent to Bethel Boys Academy for behavioral correction. So, at age 10, he was packed away to Mississippi, where his biggest shock was that his family allegedly didn’t see any issue leaving him in a place where his fellow “students” were all bigger and older.
Allen has alleged he was physically and emotionally abused at this facility in the years that went by, especially since he backtalked, yet what hurt him most was his family’s alleged abandonment. He has actually conceded it wasn’t the reported water-related tortures, dog chases, or fights that have stayed with him nearly as much as the feeling he didn’t have anybody looking out for him. The fact he was later transferred to Agapé Boarding School in Missouri, where he endured similar conditions for the ensuing two and a half years, didn’t help in any way, shape, or form either. Yet alas, the truth is that many of his fellow attendees not only saw him for who he really is but were also rooting for him — something he now knows thanks to reconnections.
Allen Knoll is an Advocate, Author, and Entrepreneur Today
It was around 2018 that Allen chose to come forward with his experiences for the first time, and he did so with a book titled ‘Surviving Bethel: A True Story of Surviving Torture and Abuse.’ Then came his decision to co-found a non-profit, Troubled Teen Advocate Group — this Board of Directors member was (and still is) gradually healing, so the hope is to bring about change. As if that’s not enough, he has since even co-established Bowsher and Knoll Enterprises LLC with fellow survivor Dave Bowsher, where both of them serve in equal capacity as producers too.
Coming to Allen’s advocacy, he is determined to bring reform to the troubled teen industry so as to ensure no one else ever has to go through what he did and that fellow survivors know they are not alone. That’s why he has never shied away from speaking before Congress or even testifying in front of various state leaders on related matters in the hopes they pass bills that will really protect the youth. In fact, in 2021, Allen, Dave, and several of their fellow survivors reportedly played a key role in helping Missouri turn two bills into law, both of which are dedicated to protecting the state’s teens on every level.
Allen Knoll Prefers to Lead a Relatively Private Life
Despite Allen’s undeniable public standing, it appears as if he wishes to keep the details of his personal life well away from the limelight and quite private these days. However, from what we can tell, he is involved in a happy, healthy relationship as of writing, but simply chooses not to share much about his partner or them as a romantic couple. All we know is that they often spend quality time with Dave Bowsher, his wife Laura, and their three kids, indulging in good food, great drinks, and even better adventures. Furthermore, it’s imperative to note this Seattle resident is an outdoor enthusiast, nature lover, and sports fanatic, with his all-time favorite team being the Seattle Seahawks.
Read More: Dave Bowsher: Where is the Bethel Boys Academy Survivor Now?
