A significant fire recently destroyed a building at a defunct private institution for troubled teenagers in Poland, Maine, which had previously been at the center of controversy related to abuse allegations. This site was notably mentioned during the murder trial of Michael Skakel, a cousin of the Kennedy family.

The Elan School had remained unoccupied since its closure in 2011, and at the time of the fire, there was no electricity in the affected building. Fire Chief Thomas Printup reported that the structure was fully engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived on the scene Sunday morning. Currently, an investigation is being conducted by the state fire marshal to determine the cause of the incident.

During Skakel’s 2002 trial, testimonies revealed that he allegedly confessed to his classmates at Elan about killing his neighbor, Martha Moxley, in Greenwich, Connecticut, back in 1975. Skakel was ultimately convicted, though that conviction was later reversed on appeal.

Elan was known for its unconventional and often controversial methods of treatment, which included strict disciplinary measures for students who fell short of expectations on work assignments overseen by peers and staff. In 2016, the Maine State Police looked into the 1982 death of a student from Elan who died during a boxing match against another student. However, no charges were filed in relation to that incident.

The institution was founded in 1970 by Joseph Ricci, a former heroin addict who also owned the Scarborough Downs harness-racing facility. Ricci passed away in 2001, leaving behind a complex legacy intertwined with the troubled history of the school.