A 12-year-old boy from New York tragically lost his life during his first night at Trails Carolina, a program in North Carolina designed for adolescents with behavioral or emotional issues. The incident, which occurred in February, is now under investigation as a homicide.
According to a recently released autopsy report, the boy suffocated after being directed by camp staff to sleep in a fully enclosed bivy sack, a type of sleeping equipment typically made of waterproof material. The cause of death was determined to be asphyxia due to smothering, with the manner of death classified as homicide.
The family of the deceased boy, who resides in New York, has chosen to keep his identity private and has declined to provide further comments at this time. Family representative Robert J. Higdon Jr. conveyed this decision to the public.
The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office has taken on the investigation into the tragic incident. While no arrests have been made yet, Detective John C. Nicholson mentioned that there are suspects in the case. However, he refrained from disclosing further details, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Authorities in North Carolina have initiated the process to permanently revoke the license of Trails Carolina, the nature camp where the incident took place. Despite this, Trails Carolina retains the option to appeal this decision.
