2 Youth Workers Charged in Asperger Boy Death

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http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695218011,00.html

2 youth counselors charged in California boy's death

14-year-old was staying at treatment center in Draper

By Pat Reavy and Palmer

Deseret Morning News

Published: Oct. 12, 2007 12:14 a.m. MDT

Two counselors at a residential youth treatment center in Draper

where a 14-year-old boy died in June were charged Thursday in

connection with the boy's death.

Deborah Cole and , from Youth Care Inc., 12600 Minuteman

Drive, each face one count of abuse or neglect of a child, a third-

degree felony.

On June 27, n Blum of California was suffering bowel and

stomach problems. He had been vomiting and suffering from diarrhea

all night, said Draper Police Sgt. Gerry Allred. Rather than

contacting the on-call nurse as the facility's policy dictates, the

boy was simply given some medicine and put in a separate room away

from the rest of the boys, he said. The next morning, the boy, who

was listed as a disabled child because he had Asperger's syndrome,

was found dead on his mattress.

" There was no really good reason why they didn't take him ... no

explanation except they just thought it was an upset stomach, " Allred

said.

An autopsy determined the boy had an obstructed bowel that

deteriorated as the night went on, Allred said. The on-call nurse,

who was later interviewed by police, said if she had been called to

look at the boy she would have advised he immediately go to the

hospital, he said.

The Utah State Medical Examiner concurred, " if medical intervention

had been obtained, (the boy's) death would have been preventable, "

according to court documents.

The boy's mother, Dana Blum, said she is appalled that workers at the

facility didn't take him to an emergency room. Any time a child dies

while in the care of a licensed facility, the facility should be shut

down immediately, she said.

Blum has filed a complaint with the Utah licensing board and is

waiting for the investigation to be completed.

She hopes the individuals who operated the facility will be held

accountable along with the workers.

" I don't wish them any ill, I would just like to see justice done for

my son, " she said.

The facility issued a statement shortly after the boy's death saying

it was the result of a " medical condition. " The group home is

operated by Aspen Education Group, based in Cerritos, Calif. It is a

division of the CRC Health Group, which runs boarding schools,

outdoor education programs and weight-loss camps.

Ironically, the charges came one day after the Government

Accountability Office in Washington, D.C., found thousands of abuse

allegations at camps and other private treatment facilities around

the country.

Blum hopes the national attention will result in stricter standards

and more accountability across the board.

n was placed in the facility following treatment at a

California hospital. Blum said she researched Youth Care Inc.

extensively before sending her son there.

" This is double-edged sword for me, " she said. " I am not a deadbeat

mom. "