And, what you have described *is* a murder.
They had complete physical control over this boy and they knew he was injured and failed to get him prompt medical attention and he died as a result of that negligence.
That's "depraved indifference" and it *is* a murder.
It's also a "felony murder" depending on the laws in Missouri.
If Missouri has a "felony murder" law, and most states do, if a person dies (even one of the perpetrators, much less one of the victims) during the commission of a felony (like felony child abuse), every person who participated criminally in that felony is guilty of murder one in that death.
That means the staffer that beat him up, the staffer that threw him in isolation, and every staffer that encountered him from the time he began to need the medical care until he died, and participated in helping cover up the death, by being a felony accomplice to felony child abuse is guilty of murder one in his death.
I'm not a lawyer, this is not specific legal advice, but for a layman, I'm reasonably savvy.
The "felony murder" rule can spread that guilt onto an awful lot of accomplices in a hurry.
It wouldn't extend to any of the students because they were prisoners and had a severe lack of control of the situation and whether they participated or not--so "junior staff" are probably not liable even if they *percieved* themselves as having power---because the reality is they could have been busted down to the lowest levels of powerlessness at the whim of the real paid staff.
So if you weren't on the lowest level and are feeling survivor guilt that you couldn't manage to save this boy, or if any other kid witnesses are afraid to come forward, *don't be*.
You're clean of liability (or your lawyer, even a public defender, can *easily* make you "clean" if anybody even remotely tries to imply you have responsibility. You're clean in this.) and it's the staff and owners' asses that are hanging in the wind.
Just like child molesters try to convince their victim that the victim will be in trouble if he/she tells, to keep the victim quiet and protect the criminal abuser, the Thayer owners or staff may have tried to intimidate you and suggest that you students/inmates would have liability.
If they did, they were just snowing you to try to frighten you into being their patsy and protecting their worthless criminal asses.
Don't buy into it. Call that paper and ask to talk to the news tip line, leave your name and number and tell them you were at Thayer witnessed part of the situation in the Thayer 14 year old boy's death.
I sometimes rag on the mainstream media and reporters and such, but when a scandal is going on and you know things about it and the authorities really want to look the other way, the newspaper reporter is your very best friend.
Also call the ACLU. They won't get off their asses for much dealing with this industry, but maybe a dead kid will get through to them that it's a serious problem.
It helps that the Thayer folks are a pack of religious fanatice, because the ACLUers generally hate those guys.
(I'm *not* criticizing your faith if you're Christian, or the faith of anyone else sent to Thayer. But the Thayer staff and owners don't seem to fit any rational person's definition of "Good Christians.")
Julie
