Paedophile village is home to 200 perverts where parents won't let kids outside

28 July 2023 , 23:42

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Over 300 sex offenders are all living in one neighbourhood (Image: BBC)

A horrifying paedophile village is home to more than 200 sex offenders who were banned from joining any other community.

Around 80 per cent of the residents of Miracle Village, near the city of Pahokee, Florida, are ex-convicts who have served prison time for crimes against minors.

Many of them are banned from living within 1,000ft of schools, playgrounds, nurseries or parks. So in 2009, Dick Witherow, a pastor with the Christian group Matthew 25 Ministries, decided to create a safe haven for Florida's paedophiles.

The community, best known as Miracle Village, recently officially changed its name to Restoration Destination after becoming well-known through the media. "Restoration Destination is a prison re-entry residential campus providing essential services to individuals transitioning from incarceration back into society," their website reads.

One of the buildings in a small neighbourhood known as 'Restoration Destination' - home to more than 200 paedophiles (BBC)

"It is a place where they can learn valuable skills, receive support and guidance, and prepare for life outside prison. Re-entry can be a challenging experience for those who have been incarcerated, and our residential community is an excellent resource to help them navigate this difficult transition. We have provided a safe and supportive environment that helps men and women successfully transition back into society."

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But other law-abiding residents are less than impressed with the occupants.

A woman who lives nearby said it was 'frightening' when the sex offenders began moving into the nearby neighbourhood, saying: "I used to keep little daycare kids... and they sent me a paper saying they were moving in."

Sex offenders are held to a strict set of laws, including one that says they must announce to all residents that they are moving in and let them know of their previous sex crimes. The religion-based 'village' screens individuals and usually rejects those with a violent history.

Florida's 'sex offender village' offends neighbours and parents who are scared to let their children go out alone (BBC)

"That's why I don't let my daughter walk anywhere," said one father when media teams asked him how he feels about his neighbours.

"Our office regularly receives calls from all parts of the country from people not knowing where else to turn," Restoration Destination wrote on its site. "Often, we’re able to help with advice and referrals and offer prayer. We’ve been described as a 'beacon of hope' for the hopeless."

The residents include a man who was convicted at age 18 of attempting to have sex with a nine-year-old. Another resident, Pat Powers, moved to Miracle Village after serving 12 years in prison as a sex offender after abusing students he was giving sports coaching to.

A Florida sex offender village has left residents of the neighboring community too afraid to let their kids walk the streets alone (BBC)

While some of these men think they shouldn't be judged so harshly, Florida State Senator Lauren Book runs a charity with her father working to prevent sexual abuse in children, she says, "I get angry when I hear 'we have served our time.'" Ms Book has publicly told her story of sexual abuse when a live-in nanny assaulted her repeatedly. "There wasn't a day which went by which I did not suffer sexual, physical or emotional assault," she continued.

Her father, Ron, said, "I do not believe these people can be rehabilitated. I don't lie awake at night thinking how can I stick it to these bastards and dirtbags, these scum buckets, but when we think about we are going after them."

"If you commit a crime against a kid, we will treat you differently. You stole my daughter's childhood. Go to hell, you son of a bitch, and that is why we require you to be registered."

Yelena Mandenberg