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Wilderness Camp Death Suit Settled

February 1, 2002

The mother of a 15-year-old boy who died on a wilderness school trip in 2000 in far northern Lake County has settled her wrongful death lawsuit against the Obsidian Trails Outdoor Program for an undisclosed amount.

Lynn McAward, of Hillsboro, sent her son, Eddie Lee, to the Bend-based therapy program because he had behavior problems.

She never saw him alive again. The teen died at a remote campsite on Bureau of Land Management lands in far northern Lake County while reportedly being restrained on the ground by counselors, although court documents suggest he also was beaten.

No criminal charges were filed, but McAward sued for $1.5 million in Deschutes County Court.

‘‘There is no justice in a settlement,’’ McAward said Wednesday. ‘‘Nothing will bring back my son. The only thing you can hope for is that nothing will happen to another family.’’

The boy’s death sparked calls for state oversight of the industry. The 2001 Legislature required all programs operating in Oregon to be inspected and licensed by the state by March 1.

In addition, Lee’s death resulted in a decision by the BLM’s Lakeview District to revoke Obsidian’s permit on Dec. 18, 2000. The BLM currently permits only one other youth therapy program in far northern Lake County, Sagewalk.

Court documents say McAward was told before sending Lee to the program that physical force would not be used.

An autopsy found Lee died from internal bleeding from a tear to his left vertebral artery, most likely from hyper-rotation of the head and neck. The boy’s stomach also was punctured, his liver lacerated and he had multiple head bruises as a result of blunt force traumas from someone hitting his head, the court documents say.

The medical examiner declared the death a homicide.

Chris Folsom, general manager of Obsidian Schools, formerly Obsidian Trails, said his program remains committed to helping troubled kids.

‘‘It was a tragedy,’’ he said. ‘‘I think the fact that it spurred the state of Oregon to create licensing, which we all wanted, is a good thing.’’

Four youth therapy programs have applied for state permits under that new law. The Department of Human Services is preparing to visit the offices and camping and hiking bases of each, Vic Congleton, a state licensing manager, said Wednesday.

 

 
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