In a harrowing tale of neglect and systemic abuse, a teenager adopted from Haiti was left unclaimed in a now-closed Jamaican rehabilitation school after severe mistreatment.

Elijah Goldman, 17, faced a series of harrowing challenges, abandoned by his adoptive parents in a foreign facility known for harsh conditions, Mail Online reported.

Mark and Spring Goldman, a wealthy Christian couple from Traverse City, Michigan, adopted Elijah and another girl from Haiti when he was just 11 years old. The couple's decision seemed driven by goodwill, but it spiraled into a grave nightmare for Elijah as his adolescence unfolded.

Elijah initially lived a seemingly normal life with the Goldmans. However, trouble began when Mark and Spring discovered Elijah's engagement in watching pornography. His behavior, deemed unacceptable by his adoptive parents, marked the beginning of his tumultuous journey through several behavioral modification facilities.

Elderly Couple Reacts to Teen's Troubling Behavior

As a response to what they considered severe addiction to pornography and sex, the Goldmans sent Elijah to the Atlantis Leadership Academy in Jamaica, hoping to rectify his behavior. This move came after stays in two other behavioral facilities in the U.S., where Elijah's struggles continued unchecked.

The Atlantis Leadership Academy, where Elijah ended up, became the center of controversy soon after. Allegations of mistreatment, including waterboarding and beatings, surfaced, prompting intervention by international children's rights advocates.

Abuse and Neglect at Jamaican School

In the wake of the scrutiny, the Academy was shut down. Despite the closure and alarming reports of abuse at the facility, Mark and Spring Goldman refused to bring Elijah back home. They left him stranded without support, exacerbating his plight and leading to severe criticisms of their actions as adoptive parents.

Elijah found refuge with a teacher in Arizona after being removed from the facility in February 2025 as part of a group of six American boys who were extracted amidst horrifying abuse claims. The teacher provided him a stable home, a stark contrast to the neglect he'd endured.

Legal Challenges and Social Support

In September 2024, Elijah bravely attended a Traverse City court hearing discussing his custody. This marked a pivotal moment in his long and painful quest for justice and stability. Charges of child abuse, bodily harm, and assault were subsequently filed against five employees at the Jamaican facility in April 2025.

Celebrities like Paris Hilton, who has openly criticized such rehabilitation institutions, attended the hearing, showing vigorous support for Elijah and other victims. Hilton's presence underscored the widespread indignation concerning the mistreatment of children in behavior modification programs.

Vigilance of Children's Rights Advocates

Dawn Post, a children’s rights attorney, highlighted the egregious negligence displayed by the Goldmans. Post asserted that they were fully aware of the abuse and yet chose not to intervene or provide necessities to Elijah during his time at Atlantis.

Elijah’s emotional state through these trials has been one of resilience and pain. He has expressed gratitude towards his adoptive parents for the life opportunities provided through his adoption but also profound hurt due to their abandonment.

His story, which now includes recovery and healing, highlights the wider issues within international and domestic child welfare and adoption systems. It draws critical attention to the need for reform and vigilance to protect children uprooted from their native countries and placed into environments that may not always have their best interests at heart.

Paris Hilton's efforts and the support provided by children’s rights advocates signify a positive movement towards recognizing and addressing the failures in protecting vulnerable children like Elijah. As this case continues to unfold, it serves as a poignant reminder of the need for systemic change and more robust protective measures for adopted children worldwide.