Five teens have died in (UT) programs since 1990

[hurrikayne]

Article Last Updated: 09/12/2008 07:43:04 PM MDT

Since 1990, five teens have died while in the care of Utah-based wilderness therapy programs.

1.  Michelle Sutton, 15, of California, died May 9, 1990, from altitude sickness, dehydration and heat exhaustion while hiking with Summit Quest of St. George. No charges were filed. Her parents sued the program, physicians and a psychologist. Summit Quest settled in 1992 for its remaining insurance policy funds -- $345,000 -- and a judge dismissed claims against the others.

2.  Kristen Chase, 16, of Florida, died June 27, 1990, of heatstroke on a hike in Kane County with the Challenger Foundation program of Escalante. Owner Stephen Cartisano was charged with negligent homicide and child abuse related to other students in the program. A jury acquitted him, but state officials banned him from working with child-treatment programs in Utah. Chase's parents sued Challenger and Cartisano, settling in 1994 for $260,000 in insurance funds.

3.  Aaron Bacon, 16, of Arizona, died March 31, 1994, of peritonitis and a perforated ulcer, while on a wilderness trek in Garfield County with North Star Expeditions of Escalante. Staff members were charged with felony neglect and abuse of a disabled child. A jury convicted supervising counselor Craig Fisher, who was sentenced to a year in jail. Others pleaded guilty to reduced charges. The program closed before a licensing hearing was held.

4.  Katie Lank, 16, of Virginia, died Jan. 13, 2002, after she was injured while hiking with Redrock Ranch Academy of St. George. She fell about 70 feet into a crevasse and died in a hospital three weeks later. No charges were filed. Her parents sued the program and two staff members and settled for a confidential amount. The program closed.

5.  Ian August, 14, of Texas, died July 13, 2002, of the hyperthermia (heat illness) while hiking with Skyline Journey of Nephi. Program supervisor Mark Wardle and a counselor were charged with child abuse homicide. The charges against the counselor were dropped after she testified for prosecutors and a judge found there was not enough evidence against Wardle to take the case to trial. Later, an administrative law judge found evidence of licensing violations. The program was closed in 2003. Wardle and his father have since opened another wilderness camp: Distant Drums Beginnings in Nephi.

    SOURCE: Salt Lake Tribune reporting

http://http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10438495

[psy]

It's higher than five...  but *sigh*...

[Anonymous]

http://teenadvocatesusa.homestead.com/INMEMORIAM.html

[hurrikayne]

Well, while we are aware of that, the mainstream media isn't necessarily.  At least they are reporting a LITTLE about the situation.  We can certainly enlighten them, but only if we write & direct them to those people that know, like teenadvocateusa, fornits, isaccorp, etc...

[Anonymous]

Last year it was 8: Utah's residential treatment programs: Eight dead kids and counting.... Somehow they were able to bring 3 back to life again.

Salt Lake Tribune had an article about a suicide at Aspen Achievement Academy. It was a boy who hang himself after he was exiled to the wilderness program because he reacted to the death of his brother.

Something it wrong with this article.

[hurrikayne]

Well, they didn't bother to do that much research, clearly...a few dozen E-mails from people who are a little more versed in what's been happening in the troubled teen industry might convince them to look into the situation a little closer.  I would encourage all fornits posters to contact the Salt Lake Tribune & point out their shortcomings with this particular article.