A youth wilderness therapy camp in North Carolina, Trails Carolina, is currently under investigation following the suspicious death of a 12-year-old boy less than 24 hours after his arrival. The incident occurred last week and has drawn attention from the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, which released details surrounding the tragic event.
The boy, whose identity has not been disclosed, was transported from New York to the camp by two men, according to his parents. After his intake at Trails Carolina, he was assigned to a cabin with other minors and supervised by four adult staff members.
The following morning, at approximately 8:10 a.m., a distressing 911 call reported the child was not breathing. Despite efforts by camp staff to perform CPR, and the presence of a CPR mask at the scene, the rescue operation ceased upon the arrival of fire rescue personnel and deputies, who concluded the child had been deceased for some time.
The sheriff’s office has conducted search warrants at Trails Carolina Camp and another location in Pisgah Forest, where the juvenile campers from the affected cabin were relocated.
The investigation has been complicated by what the sheriff’s office describes as less than full cooperation from the camp. Additionally, the staff members from the involved cabin have been placed on administrative leave.
Preliminary examinations by the medical examiner and a forensic pathologist suggested the death did not occur under natural circumstances, although the exact manner and cause of death are pending further investigation. The medical examiner’s final report, however, may take several months to be completed.