Deaths of 12 kids at cruel 'wilderness therapy' camps including choking on vomit
Horrific death cases involving teenagers are mounting at infamous "therapy camps" across the US, which are mainly located in remote and rural areas.
The latest case of a 12-year-old child from New York who was found dead inside the facilities of Trails Carolina has sparked horror, bringing the notorious multi-billion dollar industry of the camps, where children are forced into cruel conditions, back into the spotlight. The body of the boy involved in the most recent case earlier this month was discovered by investigators on February 3, less than 24 hours after he was transported to the camp in South Carolina, reportedly involuntarily.
An autopsy found that his hip was broken and that he had died of hypothermia. Police have blasted the camp for being uncooperative with the investigation, although the organisation has denied it.
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Regardless, the camp was forced to shut down while the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office continues to look into the incident to try and uncover the exact circumstances under which the boy lost his life. The 12-year-old child's passing follows a series of suspicious deaths over the years that have been linked to similar camps claiming to deal with "troubled" adolescents in several states. Here's a look at some of the most horrific past cases.
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2016: Lane Lesko
Lane Lesko escaped Summit Achievement and tragically died during a police encounter (New Hampshire Attorney General's Office)Lane Lesko, a 19-year-old from Ann Arbor, Michigan, had escaped from a youth camp called Summit Achievement when he walked towards police officers saying, "Just shoot me, just kill me!" resulting in his untimely demise, on June 21, 2016. Police had earlier tried to stop him after he stole a car, leading to a high-speed chase.
The young man was dealing with mental health struggles including bipolar disorder, and was on the autism spectrum. He had a history of legal troubles, including convictions for offenses such as unlawfully driving away a vehicle and home invasion.
2014: Alec Lansing
Alec Sanford Lansing's lifeless body was found in a stream in a remote part of the Nantahala Forest, 12 days after he ran away from Trails Carolina in November 2014. He was 17. An autopsy found that his hip was broken and that he had died of hypothermia.
Investigators, who were at the scene when Lansing's body was found, said they saw evidence of removed moss from a tree that leaned over the small stream. They suggested that the teenager might have climbed the tree and fallen into the shallow stream, breaking his hip from the fall. He then died of hypothermia as he was unable to escape from the freezing water.
Alec Lansing's body was found after running away from Trails Carolina, succumbing to hypothermia (No credit)
Daniel Huerta perished in a car crash while being driven by camp staff (No credit)2011: Daniel Huerta
Daniel Huerta died in a car crash as he was driven by a member of staff at AMIkids Big Cypress, a camp at Ochopee, Florida. It is unclear whether he drowned or died due to other injuries sustained in the crash when the car he was in struck a road sign and overturned in a canal. Johnson Atilard, the driver, also died at the scene while six other passengers survived. The camp has shut down since.
2007: Caleb Jensen
Caleb Jensen was 15 years old when he died (No credit)Caleb Jensen died at the age of 15 after he was sent to Alternative Youth Adventures, a court-ordered wilderness camp in Colorado as part of a state juvenile justice system intervention. His lifeless body was found bundled in a sleeping bag soaked with his own faeces and urine.
During his time at the camp, Caleb had reportedly developed a severe staph infection that was neglected by the staff, leading to his death in a soiled sleeping bag. Autopsy reports and court documents revealed a failure to respond adequately to his medical needs, despite clear symptoms and complaints.
Although a Colorado grand jury indicted individuals at the camp for manslaughter and fatal child abuse, not all charges were upheld in court. The teenager's family filed a lawsuit seeking $45million (£35million) in damages against the camp and its staff, as well as Utah's Child and Family Services and Juvenile Justice Services. Utah later discontinued its contracts with wilderness camps.
2002: Ian August
Ian August collapsed and passed away during a forced desert hike in central Utah (No credit)In the summer of 2002, 14-year-old Ian August was forced on a desert hike in the midday heat during his stay at a wilderness therapy camp run by Skyline Journey in central Utah. The child was reportedly in poor physical condition, being overweight at 5 foot 2 inches and 200 pounds.
Despite complaining of thirst and stopping walking, Ian was forced to carry on until he fell unconscious. Because of the remote location that the group was in, and the wrong information given to the rescue team, an ambulance wasn't able to arrive until two hours later, but it was too late as the child had passed away by then.
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One of the camp employees, Leigh Hale, a licensed emergency medical technician, was accused of either failing to recognise the signs of Ian's distress or ignoring them, leading to reckless disregard for his symptoms and signs of trouble. Hale and another employee of the camp, Mark Wardle, went to court for the child's death, as well as the camp that employed them.
2002: Katie Lank
Sixteen-year-old Katie Lank, hailing from Virginia, lost her life on January 13, 2002, after an injury she sustained while hiking with Redrock Ranch Academy of St. George. She fell approximately 70 feet into a crevasse and succumbed to her injuries three weeks later in a hospital.
Despite the devastating incident, no charges were pressed. However, her parents pursued legal recourse against the program and two staff members, ultimately reaching a confidential settlement. The program later ceased operations.
2002: Charles Moody
Later that year, on October 14, 2002, Charles Moody, a 17-year-old teenager, died of traumatic asphyxia after he was restrained face-down on the ground by counselors at the therapeutic wilderness camp, On Track. The camp was owned by the Brown Schools, where Chase was staying to help control his anger and behavioural problems.
The situation escalated when Chase broke a camp rule by talking in his tent after lights out, and the counsellors' response to this led to a physical confrontation. The restraint position used by the counselors prevented Chase from breathing properly, causing him to vomit and subsequently choke to death on his own vomit. It was reported that he was held in this position for nearly 30 minutes before help was called, but by the time emergency services arrived, it was too late.
The Travis County Medical Examiner officially determined the cause of death to be traumatic asphyxiation. However, the Brown Schools disputed this finding and suggested that Chase died from "excited delirium syndrome," a controversial diagnosis often associated with deaths in custody which involves a rapid onset of extreme agitation and aggression that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
2001: Anthony Haynes
Anthony Haynes died from dehydration and near drowning at Charles Long's boot camp (No credit)Anthony Haynes, a 14-year-old boy, was sent to Charles Long's boot camp in Arizona, after exhibiting behavioural problems, such as slashing his mother's car tires and shoplifting. Haynes died in July 2001 while at the boot camp, after collapsing in the triple-digit desert heat.
Before he collapsed, the teenager began behaving erratically, eating dirt, and hallucinating. After falling unconscious, he was taken to a hotel room by a counselor and other boys, where he was placed in a shower. During this time, he inhaled water, compounding his already severely dehydrated state.
When the counselor informed Long about Haynes' condition, Long directed them to bring the boy back to the boot camp instead of seeking immediate medical assistance. Haynes died at the camp, despite later attempts to resuscitate him.
The cause of death was determined to be complications from near drowning and dehydration. In 2005, Long was convicted of reckless manslaughter, and his camp was shut down.
2000: William 'Eddie' Lee
15-year-old William Edward Lee lost his life on September 18, 2000, while he was being restrained by staff members of the Obsidian Trails wilderness camp, located in a remote patch of the south Central Oregon desert. The boy had been taken to urinate and then refused to return to the campsite.
When the staff attempted to bring him back to the camp, Lee resisted, and the instructors fought him and forced him down until he wasn't breathing anymore. The autopsy found that Lee died from an injury to an artery on the left side of his neck near the base of his skull, and also suffered two fractures in two vertebrae in his neck. The camp staff members were later charged with criminally negligent homicide over Lee's death.
Aaron Bacon suffered acute peritonitis after days of hiking at North Star Expeditions (No credit)
Caleb Jensen's neglectful treatment at Alternative Youth Adventures led to a fatal staph infection (No credit)1994: Aaron Bacon
Much like all other cases, Aaron Bacon, 16, lived a harrowing ordeal over many days while staying at North Star Expeditions, a wilderness therapy program in Utah. He died on March 31, 1994, of acute peritonitis resulting from a perforated ulcer that developed following several days of hiking through the rugged terrain of Escalante River Canyon in southern Utah.
Aaron documented his continuous abdominal pain in his journal until, on the day of his death, he succumbed and was found unconscious and pulseless in the back of the camp's pickup truck.
1990: Michelle Lynn Sutton
Michelle Lynn Sutton passed away due to altitude sickness and heat exhaustion during a hike (No credit)Fifteen-year-old Michelle Sutton, a resident of California, tragically passed away on May 9, 1990. Her death was attributed to altitude sickness, dehydration, and heat exhaustion while on a hike with Summit Quest of St. George.
No charges were initially filed, but her parents pursued legal action against the program, physicians, and a psychologist. In 1992, Summit Quest reached a settlement, using its remaining insurance policy funds totalling $345,000 (£272,500), while claims against the other parties were dismissed by a judge.
1990: Kristen Chase
Kristen Chase collapsed and died from exertional heat stroke during a forced hike (No credit)On June 27, 1990, Kristen Chase, 16, collapsed and died while hiking atop the Kaiparowits Plateau in southern Utah with three other teenagers. The girl, who was from Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida, was attending a camp called Challenger, which she had joined just three days prior to her death after a decision by her mother and stepfather, as it was reported at the time.
An autopsy showed that she died of exertional heat stroke, likely complicated by altitude and extremely high temperatures. Counselors who were with the girl at the camp reported that the group was on a "forced hike" and that Kristen had collapsed from heat exhaustion several times the day before she died.
The camp's operators, founder Stephen Cartisano and field director Lance Jagger were charged with negligent homicide, a misdemeanour, in connection with the girl's death as well as with five counts of child abuse for mistreatment of other teens. Challenger, which charged parents $15,900 (£12,500) for attendance, later filed for bankruptcy.
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