Thomas Varnadoe - 1934

Thomas Varnadoe was convicted of trespassing and as result of this he was sent to Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys. The death certificate says pneumonia, but sadly the death certificates issued in Florida connected to the juvenile prison system have seen to have been falsified so we cannot be sure of how he died.

Trespassing is not supposed to carry a death sentence. However it was what this conviction resulted in for this boy who was 13 years old at the time.

It was sad and a tragedy for his family.

May he find peace where he is now.


Source:
Remains of 2 more boys identified at shuttered Florida reformatory (CNN)

Earl Wilson - 1944

Earl Wilson, who was 12 years old in 1944 was suspected to have been killed by other boys. He was buried in an unmarked grave at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida together with many other boys, who is yet to be identified. We would have like to post this entry on the date of his date, but sadly none cared to put even his death down on record.

It is always a tragedy when such a young life is cut short. As the facility functioned as a prison, he must have been convicted of some crime. But surely not a crime which should have resulted in a death sentence. A death sentence was however what he got when he was sent to this poorly regulated facility where none seemed to have been hired to counsel these boys back to a normal productive life. The focus was punishment and revenge on the behalf of the society.

It is very sad for this family. We can only hope that he has found peace where he is now.



Source:
Researchers Identify Two Sets of Boys Remains at Notorious Dozier School (NBC News)