(NewsNation) — A 12-year-old boy’s death following his arrival at a North Carolina nature-based therapy program appeared unnatural, but the cause is still pending, according to authorities.
An autopsy was performed because the death at Trails Carolina in Lake Toxaway appeared suspicious since it occurred less than 24 hours after the boy arrived, the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Wednesday.
The forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy told investigators the death appeared to not be natural, but the manner and cause of the boy’s death are still pending. Additionally, the medical examiner’s report may not be available for months, authorities said.
On Feb. 2, the boy traveled from New York to North Carolina accompanied by two adult male guardians with permission from his parents, according to the sheriff’s office. After intake, the preteen was assigned to a cabin with other minors, and four adult staffers were assigned to the cabin.
Around 8 a.m. the next morning, staff called 911 when the boy did not respond to attempts to wake him, the program said. Staff said CPR efforts were made and CPR masks were found on the scene, the sheriff’s office said.
Upon law enforcement’s arrival, they initiated rescue efforts, but reported that the child had been deceased “for some time.”
The camp maintains its cooperation with authorities, but the sheriff’s office contradicted this, stating, “Trails Carolina Camp has not completely cooperated with the investigation.”
Trails Carolina wrote in a statement, “Our priority is to acknowledge and respect the unfathomable impact on their lives and maintain the integrity of the investigation into the cause.”
Trails Carolina’s internal investigation and an investigation by outside professionals found no evidence that the program failed to supervise or caused harm or that the facility’s conditions were unsafe or unhealthy, the program said.
Trails Carolina said preliminary findings don’t suggest foul play and the program was not made aware of any suspicious findings. Conversations with officials and preliminary reports indicate it was an accidental death, the program said.
Trails Carolina, located about 35 miles southwest of Asheville, describes itself as a nature-based therapy program that helps 10- to 17-year-olds “work through behavioral or emotional difficulties, build trusting relationships with their family and peers, and achieve academic success.”
This is not the first death that has occurred at Trails Carolina. In 2014, 17-year-old Alec Lansing died after running away from the camp, according to WYFF. He fell from a tree into a stream and broke his hip. He was found several hours later, and an autopsy confirmed he died of hypothermia.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.