June 28, 2007
By Nathan C. Gonzalez
Draper police are investigating the Thursday morning death of a 14-year-old resident of a local center for troubled teens, said Sgt. Gerald Allred, a police spokesman.
About 3 a.m., the boy fell ill and complained about having stomach and bowel problems, Allred said. Center staff then placed the teen in a separate room to prevent other children from getting sick.
Staff tried to wake the boy around 7 a.m. and found him dead. "We are interviewing everyone involved and that was in the unit at the time," Allred said. "We are not ruling out anything at this point."
Police are awaiting an autopsy. In February, the boy entered at the private facility that counsel teens needing special attention or help with learning and personality issues, Allred said. "
(Teens) are put in there by their parents, to teach them the extra skills they need," Allred said. The Division of Child and Family Services licenses the facility but will not review the case until after the police investigation is concluded, said division spokeswoman Carol Sisco.
