I guess I need to qualify that statement a little better. At a reputable psychiatric hospital, kids wouldn't be dying of heatstroke ormedial neglect from unqualified staff thinking kids are "being manipulative" (because they've been trained to believe that about the kids) in the numbers/percentages we seem to be seeing in the TTI. It's definitely more than "1 or 2", but Whooter knew that already.
One month after that broadcast, the parents of 15-year-old Erica Harvey (pictured) of Phoenix brought her to the program to deal with her depression and drug use.
"She pleaded with us, 'Daddy, please don't make me go,'" her father Michael said in an interview with ABC News Monday. "All my instincts said, 'Leave this place now,' and I didn't trust my instincts."
Within a day, Erica was dead, after collapsing on her first wilderness trip from heat stroke and dehydration.
Erica is not the only victim. No national statistics are currently kept, but a 2005 survey by the Department of Health and Human Services found that 33 states had recorded more than 1,600 incidents of abused children in similar programs that year, according to the GAO.
The parents of scores of children who died or were abused in therapy programs and boot camps are now coming forward, on Web sites and in Congress, to demand a crackdown.
Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., has pushed to improve oversight of the programs. Miller asked the Government Accountability Office to study allegations and cases of negligent deaths and abuse in such programs, and will chair the hearing.
The GAO's findings appalled him, he said.
"Kids being forced to eat their own vomit, to eat dirt, to not be allowed to go to the bathroom...all in the idea that somehow this is building character," he said.
The parents of 16-year-old Aaron Bacon of Arizona say abuse at a wilderness camp in Utah led to the death of their son in 1994.
Aaron "began to complain of a stomach ache, and they called him a faker and a slacker," Sally Bacon told ABC News. "He was in so much pain that he could not carry his pack...They humiliated him, called him names and decided that since he couldn't carry his pack, his food was in his pack so he would go without food."
Like the Harveys, the Bacons will also testify at Tuesday's hearing, chaired by Rep. Miller.
Aaron lost 23 pounds in his month at the camp before he died, because no one realized he had an infected, perforated ulcer, the GAO said. The condition "would have been treatable provided there had been early medical attention," the report states. A draft of the report was obtained by ABC News.
After Aaron's death, the state of Utah revoked the program's operating license, and the program closed three months later, the GAO reports.
Bacon_071010_mn Click here to read part of Brian Ross' interview with Sally Bacon and her husband Bob.
A spokesperson for the industry's association says such deaths are tragic and agrees new regulations are needed so that good programs can continue to operate.
"We cannot afford to take these away from the parents as an option," Jan Moss, president of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs. "However, they must be regulated."
But the GAO investigation also found many programs lack the trained counselors or therapeutic procedures they promise.
In February 2001, the parents of 14-year-old Ryan Lewis took him to an outdoor therapy program in West Virginia after he was diagnosed with clinical depression and twice attempted suicide. The program billed itself as being especially prepared to handle cases like Ryan's, the Lewises told ABC News.
One day after threatening to kill himself, Ryan was left alone, accused of being manipulative.
"That night at approximately 7:30 in the evening, he walked off by himself to his camp site and he hung himself," Paul Lewis recounted.
Paul and his wife found out later that despite the operation's marketing, the program Ryan attended had no procedures for handling suicidal behavior by its enrollees.
Alex Cullinane, 13 years old. Back to Basics Christian Military Academy; subcontracts with Fort Lauderdale-based Juvenile Military Training and Leadership Corp. The camp is run by certified National Guard drill sergeants. His death is under investigation. 15-year old squad leader Brandon Scott believes he died of dehydration. He did not eat for days, according to other children, and complained of stomach pain. He died in the middle of the night after getting up to use the bathroom.
Alex Harris, 12 years old. Hope Youth Ranch Minden. Died of dehydration and blow to the head, allegedly when he was dropped on his head. He was forced to run, said he was thirsty, withheld water, he died of dehydration.
Anthony T. Haynes, 14 years old. America's Buffalo Soldiers (Arizona). Dehydration and near drowning
Charles Collins, Jr., 15 years old. Camp Oakland/Crossroads for Youth. Died after allegedly being forced to exercise at the facility after they were told he had an enlarged heart and should not participate in such activities.
Dillon Taylor Peak, 14 years old. Peace River Outward Bound camp in DeSoto County. Officials say Dillon apparently died of a severe case of encephalitis. The death remains under investigation. According to an article listed on the ACLU website, Dillon died after becoming ill and suffering seizures. His parents claim he didn't get medical treatment soon enough, and a state investigation released in January found that, while Outward Bound staffers weren't guilty of neglect, they failed to follow strict guidelines that would have sent Peak to the hospital instead of back to his tent.
Elisa Santry, 16 years old. Outward Bound, Utah. Elisa was found dead 5 hours after she was separated from her group when she was hiking in 110 degree weather in the Utah wilderness. Cause of death is being investigated.
Gina Score, 14 years old. South Dakota Training School, Plankinton, SD. Collapsed (hyperthermia), left out in sun for 3 hours....internal temp at least 108
Ian August, 14 years old. Skyline Journey of Nephi, Utah. Hyperthermia Hiking
Jamie Young, 13 years old. Ramsey Canyon Hospital & Treatment Center, Arizona. Autopsy found that death was caused by heatstroke with dehydration triggered by 10 times the lethal levels of an antidepressant
Kristen Chase, 16 years old. Challenger Foundation. Heatstroke
Mark Soares, 16 years old. Wayside Union Academy. Cardiac arrest from physical restraint; aides thought teen was faking unconsciousness
Nicholas Contreras, 16 years old. Arizona Boys Ranch. Prolonged and serious medical neglect and openly abusive treatment per investigative summary. From one article: "In one case, Contreraz was forced to do pushups with his head over a bucket of feces-smeared clothing..."
Roberto Reyes, 15 years old. Thayer Learning Center.
Robert Reyers' cause of death was said to be from a probable spider bite and lack of medical care. Reyes died of rhabdomyolysis. This can be caused by severe exertion, trauma, and heatstroke. All likely consequences of the regime at Thayer Learning Center. Without the basis of any evidence the coroner claimed Reyes died of a probable spider bite. However, they could not even find a spider bite on his body. Additionally, spider bite is not one of the causes of rhabdomyolysis.
