12-year-old camper's death at Trails Carolina Camp ruled a homicide
Bivy material fell onto the child's head and face, preventing breathing
Cause of death was asphyxia from smothering
Child could not reach the bivy opening to escape
In a shocking turn of events, the cause of death for a 12-year-old camper at Trails Carolina Camp has been revealed by the North Carolina Medical Examiner. The child's death was ruled a homicide, with the cause of death being asphyxia due to smothering. The young boy was found inside a bivy with the waterproof material fallen onto his head and face, preventing him from breathing. The outer opening of the bivy was fully secured and closed with an alarm, but the child could not reach it. This tragic incident has led to a thorough review of the autopsy report by the Transylvania Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the District Attorney of Prosecutorial District 42. The Transylvania County Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney will also be meeting with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to discuss further actions. This incident has raised concerns about safety measures at Trails Carolina Camp, and an investigation is underway by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that all protocols were followed. The full report can be found below:
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Camp, deputies release conflicting statements as investigation continues into 12-year-old’s death
Camp where 12-year-old died has license officially revoked by NCDHHS
12-year-old boy’s death at Trails Carolina camp ruled a homicide according to autopsy report
Boy had ADHD, anxiety, migraines and social challenges including ‘a very hard time making friends’
Accuracy
Boy died less than 24 hours after arrival at the camp in February
Autopsy listed cause of death as ‘asphyxia due to smothering’
Inner mesh panel of boy’s bivy was torn, outer door panel sealed instead of camp’s protocol
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in the way it presents the cause of death without linking to peer-reviewed studies which have not been retracted. It implies that the cause of death was due to smothering by covering the nose and mouth with a non-breathable material, but does not disclose that this information comes from an autopsy report and not from peer-reviewed scientific research. Additionally, it presents the camp's protocol for placing children in bivvies overnight as a fact without disclosing that this is the camp's stated policy and not an independently verified fact.
The boy died in February, less than 24 hours after having arrived at Trails Carolina...
The camp has said it routinely placed children in bivvies overnight for their safety when they arrived.
The autopsy report said the inner mesh panel of the boy’s bivy was torn, so counselors sealed the outer, weather-resistant door panel instead...
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains a few informal fallacies and an example of inflammatory rhetoric. It uses a quote from the autopsy report which is not a fallacy but does not attribute it to the author, which could be misleading. The author also describes the boy's death as 'asphyxia due to smothering' without providing context that this was determined to be a homicide, potentially implying it was accidental. Additionally, the article includes inflammatory rhetoric by stating 'The camp did not immediately provide a comment...', suggesting dishonesty on the camp's part.
The boy died in February, less than 24 hours after having arrived at Trails Carolina...
The autopsy report said the inner mesh panel of the boy’s bivy was torn, so counselors sealed the outer, weather-resistant door panel instead...
The camp has said it routinely placed children in bivvies overnight for their safety when they arrived.
The cause of death of a 12-year-old camper at Trails Carolina Camp was revealed to be asphyxia due to smothering.
The child's death was ruled a homicide.
The child was found inside a bivy with the waterproof material fallen onto his head and face, preventing him from breathing.
The outer opening of the bivy was fully secured and closed with an alarm, but the child could not reach it.
Accuracy
The cause of death was ruled as 'asphyxia due to smothering' in the autopsy report.
The outer waterproof opening of the bivy was fully secured with an alarm due to a broken mesh layer and a thick plastic sheet canoe surrounding it, restricting breathing.
12-year-old boy died on February 3, 2024, at Trails Carolina wilderness therapy camp in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina.
The cause of death was ruled as ‘asphyxia due to smothering’ in the autopsy report.
He was brought to Trails Carolina from his New York home due to ongoing behavioral issues and had a history of anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and migraines.
The boy was found unresponsive in a cabin with other adolescent camp attendees and adult counselors less than 24 hours after arrival.
He was placed to sleep in a bivy on the night of February 2, 2024, and upon arrival had no health complaints or abnormal behavior.
Routine checks were performed throughout the night but due to the opaque layer of the bivy being closed, he could not be visually seen or checked on.
He was found unresponsive and turned around in his sleeping bivy with his head at the enclosed end and his feet near the opening.
The outer waterproof opening of the bivy was fully secured with an alarm due to a broken mesh layer and a thick plastic sheet canoe surrounding it, restricting breathing.
He was not wearing any pants when found, which was a common practice for him at home.
Accuracy
The cause of death was ruled as 'asphyxia due to smothering'' in the autopsy report.
The boy had a history of anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and migraines.
He was brought to Trails Carolina from his New York home due to ongoing behavioral issues.
Less than 24 hours after arrival, he was found unresponsive in a cabin with other adolescent camp attendees and adult counselors.
He was placed to sleep in a bivy on the night of February 2, 2024.
A short time later, a counselor noted he was moving around again but stopped moving shortly after.
Routine checks were performed throughout the night, but due to the opaque layer of the bivy being closed, he could not be visually seen or checked on.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains a few informal fallacies and an appeal to authority. The informal fallacies include a hasty generalization and an ad hominem attack. The appeal to authority involves citing the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' citations against Trails Carolina Camp.
The 12-year-old boy had a history of anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and migraines.
The autopsy report states the boy's cause of death as "asphyxia due to smothering." It also states the manner of death to be homicide.
During travel to the camp and after arrival, the boy reportedly had no health complaints or abnormal behavior.
The report says that based on multiple accounts and the investigation, the boy was placed to sleep in a bivy without issue.
The autopsy report states the cause of death was smothering and ruled it a homicide
He was placed in a bivy tent with thick plastic on the mat, mummy sleeping bag, and counselor beside him
The outer weather-resistant door of the bivy was secured instead of the inner mesh panel, restricting breathing
Accuracy
The boy was restless and mumbling in sleep the night before death
The outer door panel of the bivy was sealed instead of camp's protocol
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position of the death being a homicide. The article does not disclose any sources and makes no mention of any opposing viewpoints or evidence. The author also uses emotional manipulation by describing the boy's death as a 'tragedy' and 'homicide', implying that someone is to blame for his death.
An autopsy report states that a 12-year-old boy, who died less than 24 hours after arriving at the Lake Toxaway-based camp, died of ‘smothering’ and ruled it a homicide.
The next morning, the decedent was found on his right side, his head was at the foot of the tent, which tapers on the end. They state that he was cold to touch and unresponsive.
With this combination of factors, the death is best certified as homicide.
Boy found turned around in bivvy with feet at opening and head at enclosed end
Autopsy notes warning that outer opening of bivvy should not be fully secured as it could cause breathing restriction
Accuracy
12-year-old boy's death at Trails Carolina ruled a homicide by the state medical examiner
Boy died less than 24 hours after arrival at the camp in February
Autopsy listed cause of death as 'asphyxia due to smothering'
Bivvies typically include warnings against fully enclosing weather-resistant outer layer due to potential breathing restriction
Deception
(0%)
The article makes several statements that imply deception. The author states that the death was ruled a homicide by the state medical examiner and implies that this is significant, but she does not provide any context or explanation as to why it is significant. She also quotes the autopsy report stating that the cause of death was asphyxia due to smothering, but she does not explain how this relates to a homicide. The author also states that authorities immediately began investigating and sent the body for an autopsy after determining that the death did not appear natural, but she does not provide any evidence or explanation as to why they believed it was not natural. The article also implies that camp personnel deviated from standard protocol by using a damaged bivvy and securing the boy under an opaque covering, but it does not provide any information about what the standard protocol is or why this deviation is significant. These statements are emotional manipulation and selective reporting as they are presented in a way to create a sensationalized narrative without providing enough context or evidence to support the implications.
He was found dead inside the bivvy he had slept in, which is a small, enclosed tent where campers sleep inside of a sleeping bag. The bivvy is usually secured with an internal mesh door, but the one the boy was using had been torn.
All other causes of death were ruled out, including disease, complications from his prescription medication and illicit drugs.
The death of a 12-year-old boy at Trails Carolina earlier this year was ruled a homicide by the state medical examiner.
Authorities in Transylvania County removed all other campers from Trails Carolina after the boy’s death and suspended admissions. In May, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced they would revoke the camps license.
