No Criminal Charges Filed in Tragic Wilderness Camp Death
- A 12-year-old boy died from suffocation while at a wilderness camp in North Carolina in February 2023.
- Investigators determined the staff's actions did not meet the legal threshold for involuntary manslaughter charges.
- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is revoking the camp's license due to safety violations.
In February 2023, a 12-year-old boy suffocated during his first night at a North Carolina wilderness camp. He was required to sleep in a fully enclosed sleeping sack—a bivy—despite showing signs of agitation about the situation. The local district attorney, Andrew Murray, concluded that the investigation revealed no criminal intent or recklessness that would warrant charges for involuntary manslaughter. Murray highlighted the necessity to abide by legal standards and cited the absence of evidence to suggest negligence or harm by the camp staff. Following the incident, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services moved to revoke the camp's license, documenting various violations that posed a threat to the safety of its clients. The camp, Trails Carolina, expressed sorrow over the incident while simultaneously defending its actions and supervision leading up to the tragedy.