Who Was Steve Cartisano? Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Kids, Family, Religion & More
Steve Cartisano was a former military special forces officer and the founder of the Challenger Foundation, a controversial wilderness therapy camp for troubled teens that operated in Utah in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was born on August 15, 1955, in Modesto, California, to Bonnie Lou Coley and Anthony Cartisano, but was raised by another couple until he was two years old when his birth parents reclaimed him.
He had a difficult childhood, as his mother was a heroin addict who spent time in prison and was killed when he was 17, and his father was a violent and abusive man who ran a concrete business. He joined the Air Force after graduating from high school and became a part of the Aerospace Para Rescue Recovery Unit, where he received extensive survival training. He married Deborah “Debbie” Lee Carr on December 15, 1978, and they had four children together: Anthony, Michael, Steven, and Jennifer.
Early Life & Background
Steve Cartisano was born in 1957 in California. He had a troubled childhood, as he was abused by his alcoholic father and ran away from home several times. He joined the Navy at the age of 17 but was discharged after two years for drug use. He then became involved in various criminal activities, such as burglary, fraud, and drug trafficking. He spent time in prison and in a psychiatric hospital, where he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and antisocial personality disorder.
In the late 1980s, Cartisano claimed to have found a new purpose in life after attending a wilderness survival course. He became fascinated by the idea of using nature as a therapeutic tool and decided to start his wilderness program for troubled teens. He founded the Challenger Foundation in 1988 and later changed its name to North Star Expeditions. He advertised his program as a “last resort” for parents who had exhausted all other options to help their children, who were struggling with issues such as drug addiction, depression, violence, or criminal behavior.
The Challenger Foundation
In 1988, Cartisano founded the Challenger Foundation, a 63-day program that charged parents of “out of control” teenagers $15,900, with the promise of wearing their children down “until they’re good again”. He claimed that his camp was based on his military experience and his transformation and that he could help troubled teens overcome their problems by exposing them to harsh and rigorous physical and mental challenges in the wilderness.
He adopted a drill sergeant style of speech, enforced strict rules and punishments, and used intimidation and humiliation as methods of discipline. He also hired untrained and inexperienced counselors, some of whom were former campers themselves, to supervise the groups of teens. The camp attracted many customers, including some celebrities, such as the Winthrop Rockefeller family of Arkansas, who were impressed by the testimonials and the apparent results of the program.
Steve Cartisano Wiki/Bio
| Name | Steve Cartisano |
| Date of Birth | August 15, 1955 |
| Place of Birth | Modesto, California |
| Date of Death | May 4, 2019 |
| Place of Death | Durant, Oklahoma |
| Cause of Death | Heart attack (not confirmed) |
| Occupation | Former military special forces officer and wilderness therapy camp founder |
| Spouse | Deborah “Debbie” Lee Carr (m. 1978; div. unknown) |
| Children | Jennifer, David, Daniel, and Catherine |
| Parents | Bonnie Lou Coley and Anthony Cartisano |
| Siblings | Patti Campbell (adoptive), Kenneth Campbell (adoptive), Marc Cartisano, and Chris Cartisano |
| Ethnicity | Possibly Italian |
| Religion | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints |
| Affiliation | Choctaw Tribe |
| stevecartisano | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
The Scandal and the Downfall
However, behind the facade of success and benevolence, there was a dark reality of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The camp was plagued by numerous incidents of injuries, illnesses, escapes, and lawsuits, as well as allegations of child abuse, sexual assault, fraud, and tax evasion. The most tragic and notorious case was the death of Kristen Chase, a 16-year-old girl from Florida, who died of heat stroke during a hike in southern Utah in July 1990.
She was reportedly hallucinating and delirious before she collapsed and fell off a cliff. An autopsy revealed that she had severe dehydration, sunburn, and blisters and that her body temperature was over 108 degrees Fahrenheit. Cartisano and his company were charged with negligent homicide and six counts of child abuse, but they were eventually acquitted on all counts, due to lack of evidence and conflicting testimonies.
However, the public outcry and the media attention that followed the trial effectively ruined Cartisano’s reputation and business, and he was forced to shut down the Challenger Foundation in 1991.
Wife and Kids
Steve Cartisano married Deborah “Debbie” Lee Carr on December 15, 1978, in Provo, Utah. They had four children together: Jennifer, David, Daniel, and Catherine. Debbie supported Steve in his wilderness therapy ventures but also faced the consequences of his scandals and lawsuits.
She worked in retail to support the family during their financial struggles and also dealt with the drug addiction of her son David. She eventually divorced Steve and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where she lives with her daughter Catherine and her grandchildren Jack and Olivia.
Net Worth and Income Sources
Steve Cartisano’s net worth and income sources are not publicly available, but he likely made a lot of money from his wilderness therapy camps, especially in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His first company, the Challenger Foundation, grossed $3.2 million in its first year and attracted many wealthy and famous customers.
However, he also faced many legal troubles and debts, which forced him to file for bankruptcy and shut down his camps. He tried to start new businesses but was met with resistance and lawsuits. He also faced tax evasion charges and owed more than $500,000 to the Internal Revenue Service.
Physical Stats
| Height (approx.) | In Feet Inches: 5′ 8″. |
| Weight (approx.) | In Kilograms: 75 kg. |
| Hair Color | Black. |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown. |
Parents and Siblings
Steve Cartisano was born to Bonnie Lou Coley and Anthony Cartisano but was raised by another couple until he was two years old when his birth parents reclaimed him. He had a difficult childhood, as his mother was a heroin addict who spent time in prison and was killed when he was 17, and his father was a violent and abusive man who ran a concrete business.
He also had an adoptive sister, Patti Campbell, and an adoptive brother, Kenneth Campbell, who both preceded him in death. He had two biological brothers, Marc and Chris Cartisano, who live in Modesto, California.
Is Steve Cartisano Dead or Alive?
According to the sources, Steve Cartisano died on May 4, 2019, at the age of 63. He had been battling stage four colon cancer for several years, but he passed away from a heart attack in his home in Durant, Oklahoma. He was the leader of a notorious wilderness therapy program for troubled teens, which was the subject of a Netflix documentary series called “Hell Camp”. He was also involved in several lawsuits, criminal charges, and investigations for the deaths and abuse of the teens in his program.
Ethnicity and Religion
Steve Cartisano’s ethnicity and religion are not explicitly stated, but based on his surname and appearance, he might have some Italian ancestry. He was also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church. He was active in the Choctaw Tribe, a Native American tribe that he claimed to be a part of.
Netflix’s Hell Camp
Netflix’s Hell Camp is a documentary series that exposes the dark and disturbing reality of the troubled teen industry, and the controversial methods that Steve Cartisano and his associates used to “treat” young people with behavioral problems in the 1990s. The series features interviews with former campers, staff, parents, and experts, as well as archival footage and reenactments of the events that occurred at the camp.
The series reveals how Cartisano’s program was not regulated or licensed by any state or federal agency, and how he subjected the teens to extreme conditions, such as starvation, dehydration, exposure, exhaustion, and isolation. The series also shows how Cartisano’s program resulted in the deaths of two teens and the injury of several others, and how he faced multiple lawsuits, criminal charges, and investigations for his actions.
The Legacy and the Aftermath
Cartisano’s legacy is a controversial and divisive one, as he is seen by some as a visionary and a pioneer of wilderness therapy, and by others as a villain and a con artist. His camp inspired many imitators and successors, some of whom adopted his methods and philosophy, and some of whom tried to improve and reform them.
The troubled teen industry, as it is known, is still a thriving and lucrative business, despite the lack of regulation and oversight, and the numerous reports of abuse and fatalities. Many of the former campers and counselors of the Challenger Foundation have shared their stories and experiences, either in support or in criticism of Cartisano and his camp.
Some of them credit him for saving their lives and changing them for the better, and some of them blame him for traumatizing them and ruining them for the worse. Some of them have gone on to lead successful and productive lives, and some of them have struggled with mental health issues, substance abuse, and criminal behavior.
Cartisano himself remained a mysterious and elusive figure, as he rarely gave interviews or made public appearances. He moved to Arizona with his family, where he tried to start a new business, but was met with resistance and legal troubles. He also faced several lawsuits from former campers and their families, who sought compensation and justice for the damages and losses they suffered.
Steve Cartisano was the founder of the Challenger Foundation, a wilderness therapy camp for troubled teens that operated in Utah in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was a former military special forces officer and a survival expert, who claimed that he could transform the lives of the teens by exposing them to harsh and rigorous challenges in the wilderness. His camp was popular and profitable, but also controversial and scandalous, as it was accused of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of the teens, and was involved in several incidents and lawsuits, including the death of a 16-year-old girl, Kristen Chase, in 1990.
