LOCAL 10
Autopsy: No Injuries On
Teen Who Collapsed, Died
POSTED: 7:44 am EDT August 16,
2006
 LAUDERHILL,
Fla. -- An autopsy found no signs of injury on the body of a
13-year-old boy who died while attending a private military
academy's camping trip Saturday, but the Back to Basics Christian
Military Academy has been operating without the proper permits,
Lauderhill officials said Tuesday.
Back to Basics Military Academy was sent a letter to cease and
desist Tuesday, said Planning and Zoning Director Earl Hahn. The
school did not have an occupational license or a special exception
use permit to operate out of a strip-mall, officials said.
"They can't operate," said Lauderhill code enforcement supervisor
Jim Notarianni. "They are done here."
The academy has 10 days to either get a license or stop operating
in that location. After that, it could be fined.
Alex Cullinane died while attending the school's four-day training
and leadership corps campout at Oleta River State Park. He got out
of bed in the middle of the night to tell a drill sergeant he did
not feel well and collapsed on the way to the bathroom, police and
the academy's principal, Lynda Browne, said.
Although an autopsy found no signs of injury to Cullinane's body,
the medical examiner was waiting for toxicology results to determine
if dehydration, disease or a congenital condition was to blame.
The boy's mother, Dena Cullinane, said the school told her that her
son was eating and drinking at the start of the camp, but was seen
by students throwing food away later in the week.
Victor Jusino said his sons told him Cullinane continuously threw
away food after the 33 cadets arrived at the campsite early
Wednesday.
"They described to me that he wasn't eating," Jusino said. "He
wasn't feeling well. His stomach was hurting him and the heat was
getting to him."
Dena Cullinane said that her son wasn't in top shape, but he
wasn't a sick child.
Despite the death, parents said Monday that they would continue to
place their trust in the academy.
"It's a concern to all parents, of course, to have your children
safe," parent Lynne Miller said. "…I have total faith in the school
and the drill sergeants."
Now that school could have to find a new location if the proper
permitting is not obtained.
The Lauderhill academy subcontracts with Juvenile Military
Training and Leadership Corp. Certified National Guard drill
sergeants run the camp, Browne said.
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