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)

Ian Mulhare - 2004

A 16 year old boy from Pennsylvania was sent to Syracuse in Utah to live at a restricted treatment facility where he was allowed no contact with friends and limited communication with parents and extended family.

Feeling isolated he decided to take his own life. He hanged himself in a bathroom. The facility was being required by state licensing officials to take "corrective action".

At little too late for the poor boy who until 2023 was unnamed.

It was a tragedy caused by using in-patient treatment instead of out-patient treatment. To ensure success the teenager in treatment needs support from both family and friends - especially when the treatment takes place many states away.

May he rest in peace.

Sources:

• Teen facility targets suicide prevention - State ordered steps be taken after hanging (Deseret News)
• Four recent Utah deaths in treatment programs (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Forty-nine States Slowly Realize Utah Is Not Safe Place for Children (MartyG Reports)

Mark Soares - 1998

When 16 year old Mark Soares according to staff was acting out they restrained him manually. He told them he couldn't breathe but they didn't listen. When he became unreponsive it was too late. He had been held in a headlock which had damaged an artery.

In inquest was held but the instructions to the staff was so weak so they hadn't voilated any protocol. The facility has used a lot of time to prevent new deaths and have revised their protocols.

Unfortunately it was too late for Mark Soares.

May he rest in peace.



Sources:

• DA office probe to determine if criminal conduct involved. (Boston Herald)
• Lessons Unheeded, Lives Lost (Hartford Currant)

Noel Patrick "Sandy" Bailey - 2007

A military school decided to expell the young man. His family knowning that it would crush his world asked the school to wait to tell him their decision until they could be with him and take him home right away.

The school neglected the plea from the family and as result his jumped to his death from the top-floor of the building.

The family sued and won in court but it would not give them their son back.

It is a tragedy which could have been avoided. He was far away from his family and support network. Today when firms fire people they have counselors ready to support people who are laid off. There was no support for this young man and it is just that the school had to pay when they didn't do their job in a proper manner.

May he find peace where he is now.


Source:
Settlement reached in suit over Massanutten Military Academy cadet's death (NV Daily)

Isabel Jamison - 1994

Isabel Jamison was sent to Bellefaire to get help. Unfortunately it was not what she got. An employee took advantage of her and the result was a severe depression which sent her to a more restricted department inside the residential treatment facility. She was punished for being a victim.

She got medication for her depression but the employees failed to monitor whether she got them on a regulare basis. She stored them until she had enough to overdose from the medication.

This poor girl was failed in so many ways that it is hard to write about. Her family might have believed that they made a good choice by opting for treatment but the reality is that she got hell.

May she rest in peace.

Sources:

• Cleveland Academy of trial attorneys - september newsletter
• Bellefaire JCB residential treatment center experiences (Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora)