Autopsy Reveals Asphyxiation Death at NC Wilderness Camp; Camp Loses License

The death of a 12-year-old boy at Trails Carolina, a wilderness therapy camp in North Carolina, has been ruled a homicide due to asphyxia from smothering. The boy died less than 24 hours after arriving at the camp, where he was placed in a bivy—a small tent resembling a sleeping bag. The autopsy revealed that the bivy's inner mesh panel was torn, and staff used an opaque, non-breathable outer layer instead, which prevented proper ventilation and visibility. Despite routine checks, the boy could not be seen moving inside the bivy and was found unresponsive the next morning. Emergency personnel were unable to resuscitate him, and he was determined to have been dead for several hours. The camp has since lost its license, and authorities are continuing their investigation.