Lenny Ortega - 2006

Lenny Ortega died when he was only 16 years of age.

His death was the second death at Star Ranch. It was an accidental death. The poor boy was swept away by a creek and downed.

The case was investigated and the conclusion was that the boy hadn't been properly protected and warned against the dangerous waters, so the Ranch was closed down.

It was a tragic accident and a terrible loss for his family.

May he rest in peace.

Sources:

• Youth swept down creek dies (By Gerard MacCrossan, Kerrville Daily Times, June 1, 2006 - from Hope4Kidz)
• Victims 2005-9 (Fornits Wiki)

Angellika Arndt - 2006

This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Angellika (Angie). That is the first line on her memorial site. It is rare to learn of such a meaningless, unnecessary and tragic death as she met only aged 7.

After a rough start she found a family where she was loved. She lived a normal family life.

The dark clouds came when it was recommended that she should receive some treatment to prepare her for life in school. Her family approached what they believed was professional, but they were fooled by the marketing Northwest’s Rice Lake Clinic used to get patients to their firm.

The problems started as soon as she entered the clinic. According to a DHFS report, Angie was restrained nine times for one to two hours each time, once for “gargling milk” and was put in 18 “timeouts”, all within 31 days.

That is not a professional approach. Problems at a child aged 7 are not met with restraints and time-outs. It is a slow process gaining the trust by the child which is needed. However a professional approach demands properly trained staff and it seems that that was something the management of this clinic was not prepared to pay for.

She was crushed to death under a staff member basically because there was a management too focused on profit.

It was meaningless. It was unnecessary. It was a tragedy.

May she rest in peace.

• Her memorial site
• Victims 2005-2009 (Fornits Wiki)
• Death of 7-year old Angellika Arndt results in closure of Northwest’s Rice Lake Clinic Press-release by CAICA on Webwire