- A 12-year-old boy died less than 24 hours after being sent to the Trails Carolina camp from New York
- Police have said the camp did not fully cooperate with the investigation and staff at the hut the boy was assigned to were placed on leave.
- In 2014, a 17-year-old boy died of hypothermia and suffered a broken hip after running away from the camp
A 12-year-old boy died a day after being taken to a controversial “troubled youth camp” in North Carolina as police say staff are not helping with the investigation.
Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office said the unnamed teen was transported to the Trails Carolina camp Friday by two men from New York with his parents’ permission.
After admission, he was assigned to a cabin where he could stay with other children and four adult staff members.
Around 8:10 a.m. Saturday, a 911 caller reported that the 12-year-old was not breathing. Police said rescue efforts were initiated at the scene and then halted as the child appeared to have been deceased for some time.
“The child was sent to Winston Salem for autopsy because his death appeared suspicious as he had arrived at the camp less than 24 hours before his death,” police said.
A 12-year-old boy died a day after being brought from New York to Trails Carolina Camp in North Carolina. Police said his death appeared suspicious
The forensic pathologist said an investigation revealed that the death did not appear to be natural, but the manner and cause of death are still pending.
The sheriff’s office said, “Trails Carolina Camp has not fully cooperated with the investigation.”
On Tuesday, investigators obtained two search warrants for separate locations in the camp. One location is the camp where the incident occurred and the second location is where the other campers who were in the cabin at the time of the boy’s death were moved.
The camp told police that staff members assigned to the hut where the incident occurred had been placed on leave.
This is what a spokesperson for Trails Carolina says FOX Carolina“We are shocked by the tragic loss of a young life and our deepest condolences go out to the student’s family and loved ones.”
“Our priority is to recognize and respect the unfathomable impact on their lives and maintain the integrity of the investigation into the cause. We are cooperating fully with investigators and have engaged external professionals to assist us in conducting our internal investigation.”
According to the organization, this is the second death in the wellness camp Hendersonville Times-News.
In 2014, 17-year-old Alec Sanford Lansing of Atlanta died after venturing into the camp’s woods alone.
An autopsy revealed that the teen’s cause of death was hypothermia and that he had a broken hip.
In 2014, 17-year-old Alec Sanford Lansing of Atlanta died after venturing into the camp’s woods alone
Jeremy Whitworth (pictured) is the co-director of the Trail Carolina camp. According to the camp’s website, their mission is to give children the self-confidence, coping mechanisms and communication skills that will help them become the best versions of themselves.
According to the camp’s website, their mission is to give children the confidence, coping mechanisms and communication skills that will help them become the best versions of themselves. Wilderness therapy costs between $600 and $1,000 per day.
The camp, led by co-director Jeremy Whitworth, offers wilderness therapy programs for young boys (10-13), young girls (10-13), teen boys (14-17), and teen girls (14-17).
Kathleen Reilly visited the camp when she was 16 years old in 2012 and spread the word WBTV“It’s beyond cruel.”
‘We once went 17 days without showering. We were constantly denied basic hygiene. It’s just, that was, again… “it’s just part of the process, yeah, I’m in the woods,” she said.
‘It’s just not normal. It’s not human and it’s just not…. You still don’t even want to admit what it does to your brain. It’s like it’s still there and they have power over you.’