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North Carolina officials have decided to remove all children in the care of a nature-based children’s therapy program following the death of a 12-year-old boy from New York.
The state Department of Health and Human Services said Friday that all children will be removed from Trails Carolina and that all new admissions have been suspended.
“Although the investigation is ongoing and we cannot comment on specific details, it was determined that action was necessary to ensure the health and safety of the children,” the agency said in a news release.
PRE-TEEN BOY DIES 1 DAY AFTER ENROLLING IN CONTROVERSIAL NORTH CAROLINA THERAPY CAMP: ‘SUSPICIOUS DEATH’
Health officials notified parents of the decision and the children will be temporarily placed in the care of the Transylvania County Department of Social Services, officials said. Health officials did not say how many children were removed from the program.
In a letter from the state Department of Health and Human Services to Trails Carolina, the agency said the suspension of new admissions will remain in effect until April 14.
“The Secretary has determined that the character and degree of the conditions at Trails Carolina are detrimental to the health or safety of the children in his care,” wrote Chief Deputy Secretary Mark Benton.
In response to the move by state health officials, Trails Carolina said parents were “intimidated” into picking up their children. carolina fox reported.
CHARGES FILED FOR MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF COLLEGE STUDENT LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
“The children were receiving high-level clinical care for complex mental health diagnoses that required experienced professionals with full knowledge of critical medications and specialized treatment regimens. Typically, locating alternative programs and matching children for placement takes several weeks,” the organization said in a statement. . “This negligent and reckless action by the State denied parents the opportunity to continue to adequately care for their children. 100% of parents did not want their children to leave the program.”
The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office executed two search warrants as part of its investigation into the boy’s death less than 24 hours after he enrolled in the wilderness program. The warrants include affidavits revealing the shocking scene first responders encountered when they arrived on February 2.
The boy was lying on his back in CPR position on the floor of a cabin, authorities said. He had his knees bent, his arms across his chest and his body “cold to the touch,” according to the warrant. Detectives also noted discoloration of the child’s skin and possible bruising near his eyes.
Camp counselors told detectives they didn’t know why the boy wasn’t wearing pants or underwear.
“Once they rolled the body, (the child) began foaming at the mouth, which could indicate that he had ingested some type of poison,” the warrant states.
Authorities said Trails Carolina “has not fully cooperated” with the investigation. The group previously told Fox News Digital that the order contained misleading statements.
“There are details we will not address at this time out of respect for the family and the investigation that is still ongoing,” the group said. “The children were moved from the area to protect them from seeing what was happening, not to avoid investigators. We are a mental health facility that treats children with serious and complex mental health diagnoses. Not moving the children from the area would have damaged their mental well-being.”
Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
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