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)

Paige Elizabeth Lunsford - 2013

Paige Elizabeth Lunsford was a severe autistic girl aged only 14 when she was transferred to Carlton Palms Educational Center because her old group home could not handle this girl who was unable to speak due to her illness.

Ten days she lasted before she died after having been strapped down to a bed. She wore soft helmet, face mask and arm splints to prevent her from injuring herself.

She was vomiting. Still they didn't take her to a hospital where she could be treated. Instead they strapped her to a bed. Five days and night took it before she died. It was not a nice way to go.

The facility is now being investigated. It was far from the first incident involving Carlton Palms Educational Center.

But for Paige Elizabeth Lunsford it was the last. She died aged only 14.

May she find peace where she is now.



Sources:

• Teen's death, abuse complaints, arrests bring state pressure on Carlton Palms (Orlando Sentinel)
• Bound to bed: a girl’s agonizing death (Miami Herald)

Joseph Winters - 2013

14 year old Joseph Winters died within a day after having arrived at Rose Rock Academy in Oklahoma City.

The employees stated that he had to be restrained. Why is not to be known because the cameras which should have brought evidence to the case just happened to be broke in that very room where he died.

So while the authorities are trying to find out what happen, they will face tough challenges when the evidence isn't to get hold on.

For the family of this poor boy it means that they will never know what caused his death.

It is tragic.

May he find peace where he is now.



Sources:

• Teen boy with autism dies at treatment facility (KFOR news)
• Autistic boy, 14, 'suffocates and dies on first day at treatment facility after staff had to restrain him' (The Daily News)