Boy, 12, Dead After Just 24 Hours at Wilderness Boot Camp, Found Without Pants

The parents of a 12-year-old boy think Trails Carolina might be just the place to help their son. Trails Carolina claims to be a Leader in Wilderness Therapy, offering an Adventure Wilderness Program for children who have behavioral or emotional difficulties. The parents say their boy is transported by two men from New York to Trails Carolina Camp at Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. Their son arrives at the camp in an agitated state. He is assigned to a cabin with other children as well as four adults.  In less than 24 hours, the 12-year-old boy from New York, is dead.

A counselor explained to investigators that the boy was required to sleep on the floor inside a sleeping bag. The sleeping bag is inside a small tent called a "BIVY".  According to search warrant documents, around midnight the boy started to experience a panic attack. Counselors told investigators they checked on the boy again at 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. At 7:45 am the boy was found dead.  According to the search warrant, when investigators arrived at the scene, CJH was stiff and "cold to the touch".  He was lying on his back, his arms were on his chest, and his "knees bent upwards toward the sky".  Also in the search warrant, investigators noted spots of bleeding under the skin, "possible petechiae" in the boy's lips and eyes. This is considered a sign of asphyxiation. The warrant also notes a CPR mask was covering the boy's face and he was not wearing any pants or underwear. His pants and underwear were lying next to his shoulder

Early in the investigation, Detectives with the Transylvania County Sherrif's office attempted to interview other juveniles at Trails Carolina when the boy died. However, camp staff members refused to allow investigators to interview or even see any of the other juveniles. Trails Carolina says the search warrant contains "misleading statements" saying they won't discuss some details "out of respect for the family and the investigation."  In a statement Trails Carolina says they did not prevent children from speaking to investigators claiming they asked parents for permission for any children involved to speak with law enforcement and state agencies, and quote "we complied with each parent's preference. as we are required to do." Children were moved to the area to protect them from seeing what was happening, not to avoid investigators.

In response to the recent suspicious death of a 12-year-old at Trails Carolina, North Carolina health officials ordered the removal of all children from the nature therapy program.

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