Owners of Trails Carolina, a wilderness therapy program with a dark history in Western North Carolina, misled parents about the true nature of the program and charged "exorbitant" fees, two new lawsuits claim.
Trails Carolina had its license revoked and was forced to close after a 12-year-old boy suffocated to death during his first night in the program.
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North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services found several violations while investigating the death, during which time all children were removed from the property.
But, Trails Carolina was just one program run by a company that has about 15 across the country: Family Help & Wellness. The parents who filed Friday's lawsuits are suing that company, too.
Trails and Family Help & Wellness failed to provide adequate medical care, food, clothing and shelter to the kids in their care "despite the façade of providing a safe and therapeutic residential and wilderness program for children and young adults," the lawsuit states.
Read the full story at WCNC.com.
Previous coverage
- 'Suffocation is always possible': NC report reveals sleeping arrangements may have contributed to boy's death at NC wilderness camp
- NC wilderness therapy camp for teens 'Trails Carolina' has license revoked
- Children removed from NC wilderness therapy camp after 12-year-old boy dies
- Former campers raise concern about NC wilderness camp where 12-year-old died