Steve Cartisano had four kids with his spouse Debbie. Who are they and what are the kids doing these days? Plus, find out about fan reaction to the family.
The buzzed-about Netflix documentary Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare chronicles the 63-day program Steve Cartisano helmed in Utah that noticed kids suffering — at least one died — underneath brutal stipulations supposed to serve as remedy.
Steve died in 2019 consistent with Variety, and he by no means confronted prison fees for the loss of life, or any alleged abuse of the "troubled" campers whose folks paid large money for what was supposed to be rehabilitation.
However, his circle of relatives is left to face the tune after the documentary has horrified audience. Among those who have been deeply affected by Steve's movements at Challenger Camp had been his kids. Here's what we find out about where they are today.
Who are Steve Cartisano's kids and where are they now?
Steve had four kids together with his spouse, Debbie: Jennifer, David, Daniel, and Catherine, or “Catie."
We know that Catie struggled with substance abuse previously, but now works as a mental health therapist and a licensed substance use disorder counselor in Salt Lake City.
Meanwhile, David has also dealt with substance abuse, and is presently in jail in Texas, having faced charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Although his sentence doesn't end until 2027, David has the possibility of parole in March 2024.
Steve Cortisano’s two kids being dope fiends and crack heads, one of them still in prison and then him dying of cancer 😂😂 sometimes karmas just a little too sweet #HellCamp pic.twitter.com/zPsNGdkvL9
— e (@bountyispeng) January 1, 2024Less is known about Daniel, who works in IT in Oklahoma City, and clearly prefers to keep a low profile.
Jennifer meanwhile is a mom also based in Oklahoma, but not too much is known about where she is today.
'Hell Camp' has clearly given the Cartisano kids reason to stay out of the spotlight.
Hell Camp is nothing if not shocking. As such, viewers have reacted to the documentary with disgust on social media.
"I'm now going to watch Hell Camp on Netflix and consider how I would NEVER discuss to my folks once more if they pulled that s--t on me," one individual commented.
Just finished watching this.I'm absolutely appalled that parents paid $15-30k for someone to molest,abuse & torture their kids to "teach them discipline". All to avoid being a parent & accepting the behaviors were due to their bad parenting #Netflix #hellcamp pic.twitter.com/zDK9Z1KQuK
— Adriana Otero (@_adrianaotero) January 2, 2024"The Hell Camp document is wild. How used to be the founder not at fault?" wondered anyone else. "One can only hope karma will get the rest of this disgusting circle of relatives!" another viewer seethed.
But even without the lashing on X, with allegations that Steve may have groomed his own daughter, it's understandable that the family would have a very difficult dynamic and want to stay out of the spotlight.
It's also worth considering that since family members defended what Steve did, they are also targets for frustration and anger.
A famous daughter went to a hell camp: Paris Hilton.
Much has been made about the connection between a very famous early 2000s celebrity and a hell camp. Paris Hilton has been outspoken about having attended a similar program to Challenger Camp, but her alleged abuse did not happen at the hands of Steve.
Yes, she appears in the documentary, but Paris attended another program at Provo Canyon School, which has no association with Steve, per ScreenRant.
But Paris feels very passionately about advocating for survivors of abuse at so-called therapy camps like Challenger and the one she attended — which is why viewers see her in Hell Camp.
Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare is available to stream on Netflix.
If you or someone you know needs help, use SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator to find support for mental health and substance use disorders in your area or call 1-800-662-4357 for 24-hour assistance.
Report online or in-person sexual abuse of a child or teen by calling the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 or visiting childhelp.org. Learn extra about the warning signs of child abuse at RAINN.org.
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