In March, I published a story about a Starfish resident charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing his housemate 13 times with a kitchen knife. One month later, the victim filed a $20 million lawsuit against Starfish Recovery & Wellness in Richmond Circuit Court. I previously reported that the accused assailant had pending assault and […]
At approximately 10:45 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2025, 19-year-old Jose Martinez allegedly stabbed one of his housemates 13 times with a kitchen knife at a Richmond recovery residence run by Starfish Recovery & Wellness. The victim suffered a punctured lung along with multiple other stab wounds, and required surgery to repair his diaphragm, according to […]
A newly obtained, redacted police report documents a woman’s assault allegation against Frank Bellanger, owner and CEO of Starfish Recovery & Wellness. The report classified the February 2025 incident as a simple assault, but noted the officer responded to a potential sexual assault. This document comes on the heels of extensive reporting on Bellanger, including […]
Last winter, Melissa saw a notification on her daughter Elizabeth’s email account: a $50 payment from Starfish Recovery. When asked about her involvement with Starfish, Elizabeth divulged that Frank Bellanger — owner and CEO of the Richmond recovery housing company — had been paying her for “content.” At the time, Elizabeth was in and out […]
Former female residents of Starfish Recovery & Wellness allege sexual misconduct by CEO Frank Bellanger.
People battling addiction say they were degraded, discarded and sworn to silence in this VARR-certified recovery organization. The CEO’s own words support their claims.
Richmond’s Starfish Recovery & Wellness allegedly steers sober home residents to River City Comprehensive Counseling for Medicaid kickbacks