Unknown - 2002

Years have gone by but today 14 years ago an unnamed 15-year-old girl died while she was forced to attend the now closed infamous Catherine Freer Wilderness program. It is was the second death that year at this program and one out of 3 death while the program was operating, which made it one of the most deadliest wilderness programs to attend.

The founder closed the program years later without warning so the employees and students at a boarding school the owner also ran was caught by surprise. Everything was really for profit and had nothing to do with the woman the program was named after. The owner just happens to know her.

It is very sad that this girl remains unnamed because it wasn't her fault that she was thrown into this dangerous enterprise. Based on what marketing material looked like and the little knowledge about the real danger of wilderness programs, it wasn't the fault of her parents either.

It was a tragedy waiting to happen but who could have prevented it? None.

May she find peace where she is now.


Sources:

• Staff list (HEAL-online)
• Factsheet about the program (Fornits Wiki)
• Wilderness therapy school closes abruptly (Albany Democrat Herald)

Charles William Chase Moody - 2002

17-year-old Charles Moody was sent to the wilderness program named "On Track Wilderness". During the hike the counselors decided to restrain him and that caused his death burried live under a pile of counselors without being able the breathe properly.

His death was only one out of many death which occured in similar matter.

The Brown Schools which operated the wilderness program closed only a few years later. Lawsuits were taking their toll on the organization.

However the closure of both wilderness program and the schools came too late for Charles Moody. May he find peace where he is now.


Sources:

• When discipline turns fatal (American Statesman - Project Nospank)
• A Father's quest (NBC Dateline)
• 358. On Track Wilderness Program (1000 places You don't want to be as a teenager)

Maria Mendoza - 2002

The type of restraint method used on 14-year-old Maria Mendoza has been shown to be deadly. It was known before she died but training of the employees were not good enough and that caused her untimely tragic death. The restraint was investigated and later ruled a homicide by the Harris County medical examiner's office.

The facility later changed their approach but it was too late for poor Maria.

May she find peace where she is now.


Sources:

• Girl's restraint death is ruled a homicide (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
• Krause: Common restraint used on girl who suffocated (Your Houston News))

Connie Irene Munson - 1980

This poor girl tried to escape a place so horrible that it is only fitting that it is now burned down to the ground. The authorities tried several times to intervene but it took them too long to be successful. The families were properly kept in the dark about what took place there.

Many years have passed and so many years later we should have been able to state that such places were of the past. But today there are still teenage girls out there who experience the same horrors which led to her escape which ended to tragically for her when she was hit by traffic on a nearby road.

May she find peace in her next life. A peace she unfortunately was not allowed in this life.


Sources:

• THE MYSTERY OF CONNIE MUNSON – 1980 (BETHESDA HOME FOR GIRLS) (Missing TTI victim teens)
• Connie Munson - Bethesda Home for Girls (Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora )

Bobby Sue Thomas - 1996

To restain someone while they are lying on their stomach can result in their death. This is known and accepted today. It was also known in 1996 but there was no training of employees how to do it otherwise.

It resulted in the death of Bobby Sue Thomas after the employees decided to restrain her due to some kind of conflict between them and the girl.

Her life was cut short due to lack of proper training. Tragic for both her and the family she left behind.

May she find peace where she is now.


Sources:

• The silent death of americas children (Citizens Commission on Human Rights International)
• Child protection? (U.S. Politics Online Forum Archives)
• Northwood Children's Home and Miller Dwan (Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora )