Hello folks. Today’s story is a tragic one. A recent autopsy has ruled the death of a 12-year-old boy at a controversial wilderness therapy camp in North Carolina as a homicide.
The boy, whose name has not been released due to his age, died from asphyxia due to smothering after being at the Lake Toxaway-based camp for less than 24 hours. Let’s dive into the heartbreaking details.
The state’s chief medical examiner’s autopsy report revealed that the boy had no significant natural diseases that could have caused or contributed to his death. The only findings were swelling of the brain and mild bruising on his thigh and leg, without any significant internal injuries.
On his first night at the camp, the boy was made to sleep in a bivy bag, a type of sleeping bag that converts into a one-person shelter. The autopsy indicated that the solid outer layer of the boy’s bag was zipped up because the mesh layer was torn. Commercially available bivy products commonly warn that fully securing the opening can lead to condensation and breathing restriction.
Tragically, the boy’s bivy bag was also closed with an audible alarm to prevent him from opening it himself. The autopsy report noted that this combination of factors, including the compromised sleeping area and the inability of the boy to remove himself, led to his death being certified as a homicide. Elevated temperature may have also played a role, as the boy was partially undressed, and the construction of the sleeping area could have increased environmental temperature.
Counselors at the camp failed to check on the boy properly because they could not see through the opaque outer panel of the bivy bag. Additionally, the autopsy revealed the absence of three clonidine tablets from the boy’s medication, although testing did not detect an elevated or toxic level of clonidine in his system.
The boy was found dead on February 3 in a cabin at Trails Carolina, having been sent there by his parents from New York for reported behavioral issues. On his first night, the boy was restless and mumbling in his sleep. A camp counselor reported that the boy was “thrashing about,” but he had no known history of seizures. The next morning, the boy was found on his right side with his head at the foot of the bivy bag, already beyond life-saving measures due to rigor mortis.
#Breaking: The official autopsy report for the 12-year-old boy who died in February in the care of Trails Carolina wilderness therapy camp was released Monday afternoon, showing his cause of death as asphyxiation and manner of death — homicide. https://t.co/6gKH4ZFQmp
— WLOS (@WLOS_13) June 24, 2024
Following the boy’s death, Trails Carolina halted new admissions to the camp as the investigation continued. Fox News Digital has been in contact with Trails Carolina, who previously stated there was “no evidence of criminal conduct or suspicious acts” and that they were complying with law enforcement. The Transylvania Sheriff’s Office has also stated they are reviewing the medical examiner’s report and will meet with the District Attorney.
