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8:49 PM 10/16/1996
Teen's death at private youth center ruled homicide
By S.K. BARDWELL
Copyright 1996 Houston Chronicle
The death of a 17-year-old boy in a privately owned Houston youth
detention facility has been ruled a homicide.
The Progressive Youth Center at 7103 Peerless in southeast
Houston began accepting youths last spring under a contract with the
Texas Youth Commission.
On Sept. 26, Bobby Randolph, convicted of assault as a juvenile
and paroled to the Progressive Youth Center in July, got into a
fight with one of the center's caseworkers.
Houston police called to the facility were told the caseworker
had been trying to avoid Randolph, but the youth became increasingly
aggressive and finally shoved his hand into the caseworker's face.
The caseworker wrestled Randolph to the floor, holding him there
until another employee could help. Arriving officers began
handcuffing Randolph and noticed he was not responsive.
Randolph was later pronounced dead at Ben Taub Hospital, and an
autopsy was ordered. This week, that autopsy was concluded and
Randolph's death was ruled a homicide.
The teen died of asphyxia due to compression of the neck, medical
examiners said.
No charges have been filed. Homicide investigators said the case
would be referred without charges to a grand jury.
No one answered the phone at the center Wednesday.
Youth commission spokeswoman Adrianna Cuellar said the agency's
clients were removed this week because the facility's provisional
license, issued by the state last year, had expired.
The Department of Protective and Regulatory Services had decided
not to issue a nonprovisional license because of numerous violations
of state regulations, spokeswoman Linda Edwards said.
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