Boy Dies in Apparent Suicide at CYA Facility

A 16-year-old ward at a California Youth Authority facility in Norwalk has been found dead of an apparent suicide in a case certain to draw new attention to the agency’s safety procedures.

Although the death of the teenager would be the first suicide in more than 1 1/2 years at a CYA facility, authorities were scrambling to determine how the youth, unidentified because of his age, could have hanged himself Thursday night in a room equipped with a video camera.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with the family of the youth,” Acting CYA Director Jerry Harper said.

Added one official involved in the investigation: “We are taking this [apparent suicide] seriously . . . we want to know to what extent this reflects operational problems that we need to address.”

The death, which occurred at the Southern Youth Correctional Reception Center and Clinic, is being investigated by the CYA, the Sheriff’s Department and the state office of inspector general.

The center, which houses about 460 offenders, is one of two in California where youths are held for evaluation before being assigned to long-term CYA facilities.

In this case, according to CYA officials, the boy arrived at the reception center Dec. 7 for his evaluation. His stay there was only slightly longer than the 45-day average.

George Kostyrko, communications director for the CYA, said the teenager was found unconscious in a room at 7:30 p.m. and pronounced dead at Norwalk Community Hospital.

Citing laws of confidentiality and an ongoing investigation, Kostyrko said he could not disclose why the youth was in custody or the circumstances of the apparent suicide.

Other sources, however, said the teenager had been put in the room after some episode of mischief.