Therapist helped juveniles escape Ramsey County facility, charges say

A therapist working at a Ramsey County treatment facility for boys in trouble with the law helped a teenager she was inappropriately involved with escape, along with a second juvenile, according to charges filed Friday.

Karen A. Meyer, 29, of St. Paul, allegedly showed preferential treatment to a 17-year-old at Boys Totem Town, meeting with him several times a day while seeing other clients two or three times a month. Authorities allege that she helped him and a second juvenile plan and execute their Feb. 11 escape from the facility by providing him with $100 and transportation.

Meyer, who was a contract employee at Boys Totem Town, was charged in Ramsey County District Court with one count of aiding an offender.

According to the complaint: Police apprehended the second teenager with the help of a GPS bracelet he was wearing. The 17-year-old was not found.

On Feb. 15, police learned from staff at the facility that Meyer, an independent mental health therapist, was possibly involved in the escape.

"Staff had received information that the defendant was meeting with the [17-year-old] multiple times a day," the complaint said. "Other clients would request to meet with her and she would not have time to see them."

A staff member had overheard the second juvenile telling others that Meyer helped with the escape by providing transportation and money.

Authorities also learned that Meyer had called a friend, a Ramsey County probation officer who once worked at Boys Totem Town, on Feb. 14 and confessed that the 17-year-old had been at her home.

"He came here, and I let him in to use the bathroom," Meyer allegedly said. "He was freaking out."

Meyer allegedly told her friend that the teen had gone home on a pass within the previous two weeks. He had called Meyer and said he used marijuana and was worried he would get in trouble so he was going to flee the facility.

Meyer's friend urged her to report the phone call, but Meyer did not.

A third juvenile at Boys Totem Town told police that Meyer and the 17-year-old had an "intimate relationship."

"[The 17-year-old] told [the third juvenile] that when he turns 18 [that] he and the defendant are going to get married," according to the complaint.

The juvenile told police that on one occasion he was in Meyer's office using her cellphone to access Facebook while Meyer and the 17-year-old "were kissing and making out on the couch," the charge said. Meyer allegedly told the juvenile not to tell anyone.

The juvenile also told police that Meyer was supposed to pick up the two escaped teenagers on McKnight Road and drive them to a spot on White Bear Avenue.

Police went to Meyer's apartment on University Avenue on Tuesday.

"… She then stated, 'He isn't here.' Police asked, 'Who?' She said that [the 17-year-old] was not there," the complaint said.

Meyer was arrested. She declined a police interview.

Ramsey County attorney spokesman Dennis Gerhardstein said the charge against Meyer "best fits the information we have to date," but that the investigation is ongoing.

Chris Crutchfield, a spokesman for Ramsey County Community Corrections, said the county contracted with Meyer but would not say how long she worked at Boys Totem Town because of the active police investigation. Meyer is no longer employed there, he added.

Meyer's criminal case file did not have an attorney listed, and a message left at a number listed for her was not returned.

Chao Xiong • 612-270-4708

Twitter: @ChaoStrib