Trails Carolina: All young campers removed from wilderness camp after 12-year-old boy's death

NORTH CAROLINA, TRANSYLVANIA: After the death of a 12-year-old at Trails camp, local social services workers are removing all children who were enrolled in the western North Carolina wilderness camp.

Parents were also notified that their children were removed from Trails Carolina Camp in Lake Toxaway and into the temporary care of the Transylvania County Department of Social Services, per the New York Post.

What happened at Trails Carolina? 

The North Carolina therapy wilderness witnessed an awakening incident where a camper died less than 24 hours after being admitted. The camp was ordered to shut down this week, and all current campers were taken into state custody.

"While the investigation is ongoing and we cannot comment on specific details, it was determined that action needed to be taken to ensure the health and safety of the children,” a state Department of Health and Human Services press release says.

Eighteen children were affected, according to Trails Carolina, which lashed out at the state’s action on Friday, February 16. It called the move “reckless” and accused local law enforcement of bias.

The statement said, "The children were receiving high-level clinical care for complex mental health diagnoses requiring experienced professionals with full knowledge of critical medications and specialized treatment regimens,” adding, "This reckless move by the State denied parents the opportunity to continue to care for their children in the appropriate manner.”

State officials mandated on February 12 that the wilderness treatment program cease accepting new participants and immediately implement safety precautions for children. This suspension, which is an unusual move for state regulators, will be in place until April 14.

The death of boy at Trails seems 'suspicious' 

This move by officials came nine days after the 12-year-old boy from New York was found dead at a camp cabin in Lake Toxaway, 140 miles west of Charlotte.

The boy had arrived at the program less than 24 hours earlier. How the boy died has not yet been determined, authorities say. But the death appeared “suspicious,” according to the Charlotte Observer.

According to the sheriff's office, a forensic pathologist informed investigators that the death did not seem to be natural. Trails Carolina challenges that assessment, arguing that the boy's death was "accidental" and that there is no proof of "criminal conduct or suspicious acts."

“The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office has maintained a biased approach in what appears to be an attempt to close a program that has successfully treated and helped restore and heal more than 2,700 families and saved lives,” the statement released on Friday said.

Search warrants reveal that the deceased youngster was discovered cold, rigid, and foaming at the mouth the following morning after apparently suffering a panic episode the night before.

The reason behind the boy's mouth foaming is unknown, but an affidavit from a detective who got the search warrant states that it "may have indicated that he ingested some sort of poison."

Investigators were informed by a camp counselor that the youngster had to sleep on the ground inside a sleeping bag that was inside a bivy bag, a little tent. According to the counselor, the boy was checked on February 3 at 12 am, 3 am and 6 am at 7.45 am, the boy was discovered dead.

But when investigators arrived that morning, the boy’s body was stiff and “cold to the touch,” the search warrants said. Four adults were assigned to the cabin where the boy died, and all reportedly were placed on leave, the sheriff’s office said.

The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office said on Friday it is “actively pursuing the investigation daily and cooperating with Transylvania County DSS and the Dept of Health and Human Services in their investigations.”

Who runs Trails Carolina? 

As per Trails Carolina's official website, back in 2008, Graham Shannonhouse founded it to provide real help for struggling kids and teens and their families.

For context, Trails Carolina takes children from 10 to 17 years on wilderness expeditions, and its therapists meet with children every week. The program helps minors with a variety of conditions, including depression, anxiety, and anger management problems.

It's not the first time, that concerns about Trails Carolina have been voiced. Earlier in 2014, 17-year-old Alec Lansing died after running away from the program.