The district attorney decides not to file charges in the death of a 12-year-old at a North Carolina wilderness camp

by Junna Base November 6, 2024

LAKE TOXAWAY, SC (FOX Carolina) – Prosecutors have decided whether or not to file charges in the death of a child at the Trails Carolina Wilderness Camp in Transylvania County.

In February 2024, officials said the 12-year-old’s body was found frozen dead and “cold to the touch” after search warrants were executed at the camp. Officers noted in the arrest warrant that he had a CPR mask over his face and was wearing a hoodie and undershirt, but no pants or underwear. They added that his pants and underwear were lying next to him.

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District Attorney Andrew Murray announced Nov. 6 that his office would not pursue involuntary manslaughter charges after a thorough review of all the evidence and facts surrounding the tragic suffocation death of a man.

Officials issued the following statement on the decision:

“This is an incredibly heartbreaking case and our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones at this deeply difficult time. Our office has carefully reviewed all available evidence, including autopsy reports, witness statements, the voluntary interviews of four camp counselors who were at the cabin with the victim on the night of February 2, 2024, numerous crime scene photographs, personnel files, camp logs, and seized physical evidence. The coroner’s report does not indicate that the victim suffocated on his first night in camp when he was forced to occupy a personal sleeping bivouac. The investigation determined that the victim’s death was the result of asphyxia, which, while tragic, was not due to criminal intent or recklessness, which would warrant a criminal charge of involuntary manslaughter under the law.

Trails Carolina protocols require camp counselors to place new wilderness campers in a personal sleeping bivouac equipped with a sleeping bag on their first night at camp. The bivouac’s zipper was equipped with an alarm mechanism that would sound an audible alarm if the zipper’s contacts were disconnected. The purpose of the alarm was to prevent a minor from running away at night. The evidence revealed that on the night of the victim’s unfortunate death, four adult camp counselors were stationed at the cabin, along with five underage campers. Although four camp counselors reported hearing the victim thrashing back and forth and babbling incoherently in his sleeping bag, none of the counselors reported hearing anything resembling phrases like “I can’t breathe.” “Help” reminded. In addition, the minors staying at the cabin were interviewed by Department of Social Service investigators several days after the victim’s untimely death, and their statements corroborate the interviews with the camp counselor that the victim was audibly and physically upset because had to sleep in the bivouac.

None of the minors reported hearing sad words. The investigation reveals that while counselors knew the victim was agitated and distressed by being forced to sleep in the bivouac, they never had the impression that he was suffering from any medical distress until they tried to rescue him to wake up in the early hours of the morning.

The law required us to meet a high threshold when considering involuntary manslaughter charges. While we are deeply saddened by this tragedy, we must follow the law and make decisions based on the evidence and our legal standard of proof, which is beyond a reasonable doubt.”

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The district attorney decides not to file charges in the death of a 12-year-old at a North Carolina wilderness camp

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