Del’Quan Seagers - 2015

15-year-old Del’Quan Seagers died while placed at the AMIkids Sand Hills. The circumstances remain a mystery and the management did little to help out in this matter.

In fact at the time of his death investigation was ongoing about possible cover-up of violent events conducted at this facility. There also seems to have been gang related rituals involving punching. The facility claimed that it was an asthma which caused his death but there seems to be more to it.

For his family who not only lost this young man but also his father, it was a tragedy. We can only hope that the circumstances surrounding his death one day will be fully explained but the state does not seem to care.

May he find peace where he is now.

Sources:

• Mom of teen who died at South Carolina juvenile camp demands justice (CBS News)
• Family says teen who died at wilderness camp for non-violent offenders was beaten to death (Sankofa Online)

Chris Campbell - 1997

13-year-old Chris Campbell was put in an isolation cell. For reasons unknown the employees decided to enter the cell and restrain him which led to his tragic death. It is unclear what forces adults to place an only 13-year-old child in an isolation cell.

It is unclear why the employees then wanted to restrain him on the top of that. He was not alone in the isolation cells. Articles speak of children having spent 280 days in an isolation cell. Surely they do not expect children to return to society unharmed and in a normal condition after such an ordeal.

It was only 20 years ago they did that. Hopefully they have changed procedures since.

It is a tragic and unnecessary death. May he find peace where he is now.

Sources:

• Lawsuit: Youth spent 280 days in isolation at Iowa Juvenile Home (The Desmoines Register)
• IJH is in need of a major overhaul (The Gazette)
• juvenile home (Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism)