ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica – A second American boy of the eight who were removed from the Atlantis Leadership Academy in Treasure Beach following allegations of abuse is to return to the United States as early as next week.

Attorney Michael McFarland, representing the boy and his mother, made the revelation while speaking at a press conference at the Jack Sprat Restaurant in Treasure Beach on Wednesday.

“I can only speak on behalf of my client. We received news today that he could be coming home as early as next week,” McFarland said.

The eight boys, ages 14 to 18, were earlier this year removed from the American-run boarding school by Jamaica’s Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) in response to abuse allegations. Seven of the teens are currently in the custody of Jamaican child welfare authorities while the 18-year-old was sent back home in February.

READ: Paris Hilton outraged by abuse allegations at school for troubled teens

McFarland revealed that his client “will be going back with his mother for the time being.”

“The other boys, I am not at liberty to comment on what I learned today at the hearing. But it is fair to say… weeks as opposed to months,” McFarland added as he fielded questions from journalists about the timeline of the boys’ return to the US.

The attorney went on to encourage staff and possible eyewitnesses to step forward with information, noting that he was most interested in accountability.

“We encourage staff, the police, especially if you are a witness, to any of the abuse that occurred as recently as February, or as long ago, as 2019 or before, please come forward,” said McFarland.

“Some of the boys have echoed that some of the staff were kind to them. No one has come forward to us directly yet. However, we encourage them to do this because if they have information that could help these boys in any way, and help hold this institution accountable, that’s what we’re interested in doing,” added McFarland

McFarland’s sentiments were echoed by institutional child abuse survivor, Chelsea Maldonado, who also took to the podium at the event to encourage staff and others to speak up.

According to Maldonado, in 2001, when she was only 17-years-old, she was forcibly brought to Treasure Beach by her father.

Maldonado alleged that her father granted legal guardianship of the then teenager to Tranquility Bay, a for-profit specialty boarding school operated by Americans under the umbrella of the Worldwide Association of Specialty programmes.

“I’m sharing it because I identify with and understand the allegations the boys have made. I believe them because I have been inside one of these facilities myself and lived through before. I know what it feels like to not be believed. I know how desperate it feels to be unheard and misunderstood. It has been 23 years since I left Tranquility Bay. It is mind blowing but I’m back here in Treasure Beach again, not to enjoy this lovely community but instead, because of alleged abuse that has occurred in another so called specialty boarding school, Atlanta’s Leadership Academy,” said Maldonado

“Please don’t be scared to come forward. I hope our presence today makes it clear that you are safe, that you’re not alone in the site and that you have the support of so many people around the globe. Please help us in finally ending this abusive industry and ensuring that no more children are abused in the name of treatment,” added Maldonado.

Maldonado argued that specialty boarding schools aimed at ‘troubled teens’ do not help children or families, instead she described them as an exploitative business that only benefits LLCs and shell corporations in the United States.

Similarly, prominent children’s rights attorney Dawn J Post used the occasion to shed light on adoption subsidy misuse, as it was revealed that some of the boys at the institution were adopted.

“In the US most of the youth adopted from foster care have a monthly subsidy that is attached to their care,” explained Post, who noted that the subsidy continues to be paid even if the children are not in the adoptive parent’s home.

“Several of the youths who were removed and in Jamaica’s custody were adoptees whose families did not want them, who were refusing to cooperate with the Embassy, or Child Protective Family and Services Agency for their return; leaving these youth abandoned in Jamaica’s custody,” she added.

American celebrity and child’s rights activist Paris Hilton, who also spoke at the press conference, has thrown her support behind the eight boys.

Hilton, herself an alleged victim of institutional child abuse, said she was “horrified” by the abuse allegations.