Gina Score - 1999

Gina Score committed minor crimes. She stole food and had a weight problem. Here in 2013 we are so enlightened that we know that she should have got some counseling. Maybe an in-patient treatment program would be the best but still counseling because it was not the actions of an evil criminal mastermind.

It was a girl basically reaching out for help.

But in 1999 the governor of South Dakota was William John "Bill" Janklow. He had his mind set to be tough on crime among youth hoping to scare them straight.

Gina Score was sent to the State Training School in Plankinton. It was a boot camp where the teenagers were forced to run in a very hot weather every day. July 21st, 1999 - only five days after she had arrived, Gina Score collapsed during the run. They believed that she was faking her situation, but it was for real.

She died there. Basically she was murdered there.

The boot camp shut down when everyone realized that the path promoted by the governor was no real answer to juvenile crime.

But it was too late for Gina Score.

She was only allowed 14 years on this planet.

May she find peace where she is now.


Sources:

• Former Plankinton Inmate Looks Back At Death (KELOLAND TV)
• Barnett on Gina Score: 'We killed her' (Madison Daily Leader)

Levi Snyder - 2010

For 17 year old Levi Snyder june 12, 2010 was the last day of his short life.

He was found dead at New Hope Carolinas treatment center.

He had complained about chest congestion and had been at the Hospital just days before.

An investigation was started but no official reason for his untimely tragic death was ever made public.

The treatment center has a long history of police being called to the facility and a number of indicents involving criminal sexual conduct, assault and battery, and missing persons.

17 year is too early to die.

May he rest in peace.

Sources:

• Teenager found dead at Rock Hill psychiatric center (NUNYA)
• Victim list (Fornits Wiki)

Jason Tallman - 1993

Jason Tallman was only 12 years old when he was sent to Kid's Peace against the wishes of the family. He had hoped for a school where he could have continued to live at home.

He arrived at the facility May 11. May 12 he was death.

The cause of death was a failed restraint attempt. 85-pound boy ran out of air when two adult employees grabbed him and held him down on the floor.

Only one of the employees were prosecuted but no justice was found.

The system was not cut out for a small boy like Jason suffering from the illness he struggled with. The facility was his death sentence and the family could only watch and learn how their son was crushed.

Kidspace continued to be in operation claiming more lives.

May poor Jason find peace where he is now.


Sources:

• Jason’s Story (By Rick Tallman)
• The Tallman Story : Death and the High Cost of Kidspeace
• Victims - 1990s (Fornits Wiki)

Katherine Rice - 2008

Katherine Rice became only 16 years of age.

Somehow she got hold of methadone inside a treatment facility. What the methadone did at that place and how it entered the facility known as Kidspeace remains unanswered. Kidspeace is the totally wrong name for such a place.

Her death was the third death at this KidsPeace group home located in the North Whitehall Township.

Why wasn't the place investigated before? Why was there no change in the methods used at the facility?

Even the death of Rice did not end the methods used at the facility.

December 2011 there was an assault on an employee. May 2012 there was a fight at the facility.

The management seems useless caring about the patients.

It is not known that she did so she ended up there, but no crime can be so horrible that she should be exposed to neglect.

We can only hope that she has found peace where she is now.


Sources:

• Girl who OD'd at KidsPeace dies (The Morning Call)
• Teen who OD'd at KidsPeace dies (Topix.com)
• Woman allegedly choked another at KidsPeace in North Whitehall Township (Lehigh Valley)
• North Whitehall: Assault reported at Kids Peace (The Morning Call)
• Victims 2005-9 (Fornits Wiki)

Diane Harris - 1990

17 year old Diane Harris was restrained for 10 minutes before her body suddenly convulsed and then went limp. For good measure, they continued restraining her for 10 more minutes. She never moved again.

That became the end for a girl which the employees stated had a bad attitude. The punishment the employees gave her as result of this poor attitude was death.

According to an article in year 2000 her case was one of at least 18 where the patients died as result of the employees restraining them.

Restraint should be the very last option but in 1990 the doctors would not be bothered and restraint was used where situations could have been talked down with a little patience.

The answer to deaths like her is prosecution and legislation. It is so costly compensation to the family left behind that the facilities would be forced to secure their residents or being forced to shut down.

17 year old Diane Harris had relatives who will miss her forever. It is not to understand how much they suffer.

Let us hope that she found peace where she is now.


Sources:

• Deaths of mentally retarded while bound cause concern (By Karisa King, San Antonio Express-News: Metro and State, October 21, 2000)
• Victims - 1990s (Fornits Wiki)