A teenager who died at a popular Utah boarding school last year had an “easily treated” infection that was cured with simple antibiotics, his autopsy revealed.
What’s more, the manager at the stay-at-home rehab center denied Taylor Goodridge’s cries for medical attention, her parents’ lawyers claim – citing newly released reports.
In a statement Friday, they said unreleased reports – the latest development in the state’s investigation into the girl’s death – showed the girl vomited several times in the days before her death at Diamond Ranch, a facility for troubled youth.
Allegedly complaining for weeks – vomiting violently while pleading with staff for help, her lawyer said – the girl eventually collapsed before quickly dying of an unknown illness on December 20.
The family immediately filed a lawsuit against the school, which was then placed on probation by the state. The girl’s parents previously expressed the belief that their daughter died of sepsis, although an autopsy now shows she died of peritonitis – an infection that affects a person’s stomach lining.
Taylor Goodridge, 17, died on December 20 after collapsing inside Diamond Ranch Academy in Hurricane, Utah
Diamond Ranch Academy – a 108-bed juvenile rehabilitation program at Hurricane – is currently being sued by the girl’s parents over her death. It describes itself on its website as a ‘world-class residential treatment center and therapeutic boarding school for teenagers’
Attorney Alan W. Mortensen wrote in a press release: ‘[Taylor] vomited several times for over a week before he died.’
Citing newly released state records along with the family, the attorney further revealed: ‘[Diamond Ranch] begging staff [Diamond Ranch] management to take him to the hospital for days before he died.’
The statement went on to reveal the girl’s cause of death — weeks after a February report from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services found she had demonstrated signs of illness since October, but never admitted to hospital.
According to his family’s attorney, the state has determined that Goodridge developed symptoms as early as December 9.
The first symptoms of peritonitis, according to Johns Hopkins, are usually vomiting and a swollen abdomen – both of which were exhibited by a Native American teenager before he died.
Dean Goodridge’s father previously said that when Taylor entered the facility he was in “very good health”, according to his father.
“This is this young teenager sent to Utah from Washington state to try and help him get his life back together,” Mortensen said.
“And before they knew it, he died of what we believe will eventually prove to be sepsis.” And without explanation,’ said the lawyer.
As well as Taylor complaining about her pain, the teenage girl also begged staff for help in the weeks leading up to her death, her father’s lawsuit says.
Even after Taylor passed out from her own vomit and had a stomach that was “so distended that anyone could see,” the staff continued to ignore her.
Taylor’s father claims he had a distended stomach before his death
Lawyers believe the teen died of sepsis and not of a heart attack as the school had claimed
Dean, through his attorney, said he believed the treatment his daughter was receiving may reflect similar experiences by other students who “often are ignored or told they are faking their illness.”
Mortensen also said school officials told the teenager’s family that he was taken to hospital after a heart attack and later died as a result of the incident. His family believed he died of sepsis from an untreated stomach problem.
The lawsuit claims the father felt comfortable sending his daughter to school after reading the guarantees promised by the school.
“We recognize how difficult it can be to make the decision to intervene on behalf of your child,” the Diamond Farming Academy’s Parental Guidelines read, according to the lawsuit.
“We also recognize how difficult it can be to leave the upbringing of your child in someone else’s hands.” Please rest easy in knowing that we take our responsibilities very seriously,’ the manual continues.
The academy also promised parents it would “treat every student as if they were our own daughter or son.”
It is unclear what Taylor is being treated for.
Dean Goodridge with Taylor (bottom right) and Taylor’s two siblings
The cause of death of the teenager (left) has not been determined
Taylor’s father shared the news of his daughter’s death on Facebook the day before Christmas
In a Facebook post made on Christmas Eve, Dean shared the news of Taylor’s death with friends, saying the family plans to resolve the situation.
“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever written,” wrote Dean.
“We don’t know what happened, we will find out what happened,” said the grieving father.
Dean, who lives in Washington state, said the young girl “means a lot to her family,” including her siblings who love her dearly.
Amber Wigtion, Taylor’s mother, spoke to ABC 4 Utah and sobbed as she discussed how Taylor’s death impacted her and her family.
Wigtion appears against a backdrop reading ‘shut down Diamond Ranch Academy’ while talking to a local news outlet.
‘They [her siblings] it’s kinda hard too, especially my nine year old, she really looks up to her big sister,’ said Wigtion.
The mother said Taylor was a huge influence on her siblings and everything she did, her siblings wanted to do too.
Everything Taylor does, her sisters want to do too, according to her mother
Taylor’s mother, Amber Wigtion, speaks to ABC 4 Utah in front of a backdrop that reads ‘shut down Diamond Ranch Academy’
In a statement, Berlian ranch academy says:
“We are fully and transparently cooperating with the State of Utah as they investigate this tragedy.
‘Student safety is our number one priority and we continually strive to provide the best possible care for our students and their families.
It is Diamond Ranch Academy’s policy not to comment publicly on pending litigation.’
This is a lawsuit filed by Dean Goodridge
Dean accuses the school of neglecting his daughter’s problems for weeks before her death
The facility, which bears a shining testimony on its website, costs up to $7,000 per month according to one outlet.
On Facebook, there are entire Facebook groups devoted to those attending Diamond Ranch Academy.
The group called ‘I Survived Diamond Ranch Academy’ has over 1,000 members and was formed in 2011.
