CAICA REPORT:

 Abuse and death of:

Roberto Reyes: Thayer Learning Center

Thayer Learning Center
Died November 3, 2004
15-years old

News articles re Robert Reyes' death

Excerpts from the Missouri Department of Social Services Investigative report

By Isabelle Zehnder

2004©

 www.caica.org

A review of investigative reports shows there are conflicting testimonies as to what happened surrounding the death of Roberto and surrounding the overall care of cadets at Thayer Learning Center (TLC) - a boot camp for youth who are troubled and in need of special care.

It is apparent after reading the Missouri Department of Social Services Investigative report that Roberto had been taking drugs, was found in a gutter before he was admitted to TLC, and was exhibiting signs of illness that were unattended. It was reported cadets were exposed to asbestos during a clean up of the building.

A former staff member testified that two boys who failed to run the required laps were tied behind a 4-wheeler and dragged until they feel down and agreed to complete the run.

The former employee further testified mail to and from kids to their parents was censored. She further reported that the first thing that happens after being admitted to TLC is all of the kids' medication is taken away from them and that it has "a real physical affect" on some of the kids. Some girls complained of backaches and unexplained vaginal bleeding.

During her employment at TLC that lasted on a few months she saw several staff who were fired. The reasons she alleges they were fired was the owners believed staff were plotting against them, if staff talked to the kids, or if staff were nice to the kids.

It was further reported that Roberto repeatedly fell down and complained he was in pain and that he was sick. He threw his body to the ground repeatedly and staff believed he was just faking and defiant.

After only a couple of weeks at TLC Roberto collapsed and died. The cause of death was

From October 10, 2007, news article, U.S. Rep wants fed probe of Mo. boot-camp death:

Roberto Reyes, of Santa Rosa, Calif., had been at Thayer Learning Boot Camp and Boarding School in Kidder, for less than a week when he died after being bitten by a spider in November 2004, according to his autopsy. The Caldwell County coroner said at the time that the autopsy concluded that the death was an accident and said Reyes could have been bitten before he arrived at the camp.

The GAO report presented to the committee yesterday said Reyes had more than 30 cuts and bruises on his body when he died. The staff had interpreted Reyes’ symptoms – including falling down frequently, complaining of muscle soreness, vomiting and involuntarily urinating and defecating on himself – as rebellion.

After complaining of illness, Reyes was forced to the ground and held there on several occasions, according to the report. On one occasion, he had a 20-pound sandbag tied around his neck when he was too sick to exercise.

Reyes was placed in the “sick bay” the morning of the day he died, where a staff member checked on him mid-afternoon and found he had no pulse. The staff then called 911 and Reyes was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A state investigation found that Reyes might have survived if he had earlier medical attention and that records at the camp may have been falsified. No criminal charges were ever filed, though Reyes’ parents filed a wrongful death suit that was settled out of court for about $1 million, according to the GAO.

The GAO concluded this was one of the worse cases they had learned about.

Another death investigated by the GAO was the death of Aaron Wright Bacon.

BACKGROUND:

Robert Reyers' cause of death was said to be from a probable spider bite and lack of medical care. Reyes died of rhabdomyolysis. This can be caused by severe exertion, trauma, and heatstroke. All likely consequences of the regime at Thayer Learning Center. Without the basis of any evidence the coroner claimed Reyes died of a probable spider bite. However, they could not even find a spider bite on his body. Additionally, spider bite is not one of the causes of rhabdomyolysis.

It was later discovered Reyes had more than 30 cuts and bruises on his body when he died (see above.)

NEWS ARTICLES

REFERRALS: CAICA is not a referral agency. CAICA does not refer to or promote facilities or transport companies for children or teens. CAICA warns parents that the parent pay / parent choice programs ie. Residential Treatment Centers, Therapeutic Boarding Schools, Behavior Modification Programs, Christian Programs, Positive Peer Culture Programs, etc., are not regulated by the Federal Government and that it is a "Buyer Beware" industry. CAICA provides the following for parents: Message to Parents, Help for Distraught and Desperate Parents, and Questions to Ask and Warning Signs.

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