Mocobizscene- The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office reported that a young boy from New York arrived at Trails Carolina Camp on Friday, February 2nd. Located at 500 Winding Gap Road, the camp is known for its wilderness therapy program, which caters to children and teenagers between the ages of 10 and 17 who face mental health challenges, as stated on their website.
The boy was placed in a cabin with other young people and four adult staff members, according to officials.
On the morning of February 3rd, a distress call was made to 911 at around 8 a.m. to report that the boy, who had just arrived at camp the previous day, was unresponsive and not breathing.
According to the sheriff’s office, firefighters were called to the scene and initiated CPR on the boy. However, they had to cease their efforts as it was determined that the boy had already passed away for quite some time.
Deputies from the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office arrived at 9 a.m. to gather evidence in response to the incident. The young boy was taken to a nearby hospital, where the medical examiner noted that his death seemed suspicious as he had only been at the camp for less than 24 hours before his passing.
According to a forensic pathologist, the death of the boy does not seem to be natural, although the exact cause of death is yet to be determined.
Search warrants were obtained, and investigators searched the camp where the boy died and another camp location at 618 Sundance Lake Road in Pisgah Forest on February 6th. The campers were also transported to this location after the tragic incident.
The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office stated that the investigation has faced challenges due to a lack of full cooperation from Trails Carolina Camp. The staff members assigned to the boy’s cabin at Trails Carolina Camp have been placed on leave. The investigation is still ongoing, and it will take several months for the report from the state’s Chief Medical Examiner to be available.
The agencies involved in this case are the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, Transylvania County Department of Social Services-Child Protection Services, Lake Toxaway Fire and Rescue, Transylvania County EMS, and the N.C. Medical Examiner’s Office.
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